Your journey begins in Puerto Montt, Chile, with boarding between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs. After all mandatory briefings, the ship sets sail towards the Gulf of Corcovado.
In the Chilean Patagonia, one of the southernmost regions of the world, sail between massive blue-hued glaciers and the sharp peaks of the Andes mountains. This untamed terrain is home to fjords, channels, and islets with beaches teeming with marine wildlife, birds, and stunning natural landscapes best accessed by ship or Zodiac.
On this wilderness expedition, visit Puerto Cisnes, the San Rafael Bay and Glacier, the Gulf of Penas, the isolated village of Puerto Eden, the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego, and the Beagle Channel.
Day 1 - Puerto Montt, Embarkation
Your journey begins in Puerto Montt, Chile, with boarding between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs. After all mandatory briefings, the ship sets sail towards the Gulf of Corcovado.
Day 2 - Chonos Archipelago
At the far east of the Chonos Archipelago, weather-dependent, explore a temperate rainforest and subantarctic coastal ecosystems on Kent Island. Often linked to the mysterious Isla Friendship, the island combines natural beauty with local lore, including UFO sightings, miraculous healings, and stories that blur the line between myth and reality.
Day 3 - Caleta Tortel
After crossing the storied Golfo de Penas, discover Caleta Tortel, a coastal village nestled between the mouth of the Baker River and a quiet cove along the Baker Channel. Stretching for kilometers, the small town is made up of stilt houses in the traditional Chilotan style, perched above the shoreline. There are no conventional streets here. Instead, wooden walkways, built with Guaitecas cypress, wind through the village, giving it a remarkable look and a unique culture.
Day 4 - Pío XI Glacier
The expedition continues navigating south towards the Messier Channel. We sail through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59-foot-wide) English Narrows on our route to Pío XI glacier, to take a closer look at the Southern Icefield. Pío XI is the largest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere beyond Antarctica. Unlike most glaciers and despite global warming, Pío XI has experienced significant growth in recent decades, being the only one to expand steadily every year.
Day 5 - Madre de Dios Island
Today, we venture to Madre de Dios Island, a remote and rarely visited land in the Chilean fjords. Known for its spectacular limestone cliffs, caves, and glaciers, Madre de Dios Island reveals a striking landscape shaped by strong winds and the sea. Experience its rugged beauty and remoteness, where untouched nature and striking geology converge at the edge of Patagonia.
Day 6 - Las Montañas Channel
Sail through a breathtaking fjord in Chile’s Aysén Region, a 60-kilometer stretch framed by steep, snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Along the way, waterfalls cascade through lush temperate rainforests, and glaciers spill directly into the sea. If conditions permit, prepare to disembark for an up-close encounter with the majestic Bernal Glacier.
Day 7 - Torres del Paine National Park
Step ashore and board a private bus that will take you into the heart of Patagonia’s most iconic landscapes, where granite towers pierce the sky, turquoise lakes shimmer, and a diverse array of wildlife roam freely amid the untamed wilderness.
Day 8 - Strait of Magellan and Seno de Agostini
While heading south along the Magellan Strait, we enter the secluded fjords of Tierra del Fuego and discover the remote coastline of Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a vital feeding ground for whales in the southern hemisphere. Later during the day, we aim to reach Seno de Agostini, a spectacular fjord framed by steep mountains and hanging glaciers cascading from the Darwin Range. If conditions allow, we disembark at the Aguila glacier.
Day 9 - Darwin Mountain Range and Glacier Alley
The Beagle Channel, a narrow waterway shared by Chile and Argentina in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, is named after the fires seen in Indigenous settlements by early European explorers. As we sail through this remote passage, dramatic ice formations
descend from the snow-capped Darwin Range into the sea. Along Glacier Alley and Yendegaia National Park, we pass five majestic glaciers: Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche. Conditions permitting, we access the Garibaldi fjord, surrounded by hanging glaciers and waterfalls close enough to touch. Together with the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage, the Beagle Channel is one of only three routes connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in South America.
Day 10 - Yendegaia National Park
Once a private ranch, the remote and beautiful Yendegaia National Park now protects pristine forests, rivers, and fjords. Enjoy the striking contrast between the southern Andes and the island’s open plains, home to guanacos, foxes, and soaring condors.
Day 11 - Ushuaia, Argentina, Disembarkation
Ushuaia, Argentina, Disembarkation.
Please consider that our voyages are expeditionary in nature. This means, that there are no concrete itineraries, your Captain and Expedition Leader will utilise their vast experience to chart the best course for your expedition depending on the climatic and environmental conditions. Mentioned highlights and wildlife cannot be guaranteed.
Our Sea Kayaking program is an exclusive experience under the guidance and leadership of an experienced Kayak Master, who takes our guests on a sea journey through icy waters while observing massive glaciers and aquatic wildlife.
M/V Magellan Explorer, a brand new expedition vessel, will join the Antarctica fleet for the 2019-20 season.
MV Magellan Explorer features 50 passenger suites and cabins in five categories of accommodation, including dedicated single cabins. The cabins are very spacious, ranging in size from 40 m2 (440 sq. ft.) to 20 m2 (220 sq. ft.). All double cabins have two twin beds that can be configured as one queen-size bed, offering great flexibility to our guests. 42 cabins feature a large window and a private balcony, while 8 cabins feature a porthole. All cabins feature a private bathroom and a sitting area.
Public areas include a large, forward-facing observation lounge, an observation deck, a dining room that accommodates all guests and expedition staff in a single sitting, two meeting rooms, a gift shop, a protected outdoor barbecue area, a gym, and a sauna. The bow of the ship is accessible to guests to offer expansive views during exploration. Optional adventure activities, such as kayaking and snowshoeing, are available.
Specific measures have been taken to minimize MV Magellan Explorer’s carbon footprint, including state-of-the-art engines that meet MARPOL’s stringent Tier III emission standards. To minimize fuel consumption, a waste heat recovery system recycles the heat produced by the ship’s engines and repurposes it to power the ship’s heating system and to warm the water used on board.
Amenities & Services
Public areas include a spacious forward-facing observation lounge and bar that is also used to deliver briefings and educational presentations. The bow of the ship is accessible to guests; together with the outdoor observation deck it offers expansive views and close contact with the natural environment during exploration. The dining room accommodates all guests and expedition staff in a single sitting. There is also a meeting room, a library, a gift shop, a protected outdoor barbecue area, a gym, and a sauna. Adventure activities, such as kayaking and snowshoeing, are available.
The Vessel's Features
The ship is being built to the latest Polar Code specifications and carries a Polar Class 6 ice-class (Lloyd’s Register PC6). For comfortable navigation, the ship features stabilizers; for maneuverability, she features bow and stern thrusters. For safety in navigation, there is an ice-detecting radar. And to reduce the environmental footprint, the vessel is equipped with an energy-recovery system that recycles the heat produced by the engines to warm up the ship and its water supply.
| Luxury star rating: | 5 |
| Guests #: | 69 |
| Crew #: | 60 |
| Ice Class: | PC 6 |
| Speed: | 14 |
| Refurbished: |
| Year built: | 2019 |
| Length: | 90m |
| Width: | 16 |
| Draft: | 4 |
| Tonnage: | 4900 |
| Registry: | Bahamas |
| Elec Outlets: |
We understand that the trip of a lifetime takes planning, so we make the financial commitments easy to manage.