Follow the path of famous explorers around the end of the world on a unique small ship cruise. We'll visit such celebrated sights as Cape Horn, Marinelli and Pia Glaciers, and the charming town of Puerto Williams before venturing to Magdalena Island. Magdalena is home to a natural reserve of Magellan penguins, cormorants, and other sea birds. The Mare Australis was built specifically to cruise Patagonia along the spectacular waterways around the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel.
Day 1: Punta Arenas (D).
This afternoon in Punta Arenas you board the Mare Australis, a newly constructed, state-of-the-art small cruise ship. As you make yourself comfortable, you'll depart towards the 'End of the World'. The upper deck of the Australis provides an excellent vantage point of the unspoiled wilderness surrounding you. During your Patagonia travels through the mystical Straits of Magellan towards Tierra del Fuego, wend your way through a maze of channels that takes you past hundreds of tiny islands.
Day 2: Ainsworth Bay - Marinelli Glaicer - Tucker Islet (B,L,D)
As dawn breaks you'll enter Almirantazgo Fjord where, weather permitting, you'll see the magnificent Darwin Mountain Range in the distance. Once you reach Ainsworth Bay you'll take to the land, leaving your boat in the shadow of the distant Marinelli Glacier. You'll walk from the beach through native woods and quiet trails, Listen as your guides share their insight about the area's ecology.
Eventurally, you'll come to colony of elephant seals and have an excellent opportunity to see a great variety of native bird life. Back onboard the Mare Australis, you will visit Tucker Islet, where you'll sight colonies of Magellanic penguins and Cormorants from the zodiac boats.
Day 3: Pia Glacier (B,L,D)
Today you’ll land near Pia Glacier and take a short walk to an observation point and view the glacier’s source, Darwin Mountain Range. The entire glacier is visible from where you’ll stand.
While you absorb the magnificence of the glacier’s anatomy, you’re treated to a thunderous concerto of cracking and calving ice dropping into the bay. You’ll next enter the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel, sailing through Glacier Avenue and passing by a succession of glaciers named Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland.
Day 4: Cape Horn - Puerto Williams (B,L,D)
Tour the Chilean fjords and visit the beaches by zodiacs. Navigating through the Beagle Channel, you'll disembark at Cape Horn National Park. Cape Horn marks the southernmost point in South America and protrudes into the Drake Passage, the Antarctic strait connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
You’ll safely explore this natural sea wall before traveling to Puerto Williams. This quaint outpost, with less than 2,000 inhabitants, is surrounded by splendid waterfalls, lakes and clear, cool rivers ripe for fishing. The afternoon is yours to enjoy; take an optional tour of the cultural history museum, a flight over the impressive Cape Horn, or just relax and wander through town.
Day 5: Ushuaia (B,D)
Day 1 of 4 day cruise. Early this morning you'll arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia is the entrance to the Tierra del Fuego National Park and you use this base as a jumping off point to explore all the wonders of this landscape where the forests and mountains meet the sea.
Passengers disembark from the Punta Arenas-Ushuaia sector at 8:00 a.m., and the 4 day/3 night cruise that travels from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas along a different route begins in the afternoon.
If you're doing the 8-day journey, the day is free to explore the area as you wish. If you're ending your travels here, we can make arrangements for your return flights home.
Day 6: Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay (B,L,D)
Day 2 of 4 day cruise. Today you'll revisit Cape Horn National Park's spectacular cliffs that rise almost 1,400 feet from the sea. Strong currents in the surrounding seas, and icebergs abound, "rounding the Cape" proved a hazardous undertaking in the time of the great sailing ships. Later stop at Wulaia Bay. Once the site of one of the region’s largest native settlements, Wulaia Bay is also renowned for the spectacular beauty of its vegetation and geography. Walk through a Magellanic forest filled with Lengas, Coigües, Canelos, ferns and other species to reach a look-out point.
Day 7: Chico Inlet (B,L,D)
Day 3 of 4 day cruise. We will disembark in Chico Inlet for a zodiac boat approach to Piloto and Nena glaciers, providing a closer look at these awe-inspiring ancient ice giants.
Day 8: Magdalena Island - Punta Arenas (B)
Day 4 of 4 day cruise. Early in the morning you'll disembark in Magdalena Island. Located 25 miles north of Punta Arenas in the Strait of Magellan, the island is a natural reserve of cormorants, sea lions, and over 120,000 Magellanic penguins.
Year after year, the penguin couples return to nest in the same burrow they've built within the island's "rookery." Between October and March they occupy almost the entire island! After a walk to San Isidro Lighthouse you'll re-board the Mare Australis. Your adventure ends late morning when you dock in Punta Arenas at 11:30 a.m. Catch an afternoon flight to Santiago and connecting flight homeward.
Check in starts every Saturday at 13:00 hrs. until 17:00 hrs. at Magallanes 990, Punta Arenas. Boarding time is from 18:00 hrs. until 19:00 hrs. Departure is at 20:00 hrs.The embarkation starts every Wednesday from 17:00 until 19:00 hrs. directly on board at Ushuaia's harbour. Departure is at 20:00 hrs. Passengers must be on board at least one hour before the departure.
During the cruise there will be interesting talks on the wildlife, history and geography of this legendary region given by the Mare Australis Expedition Group. The talks will take place both on board (with audio-visual support) and on land.
Accommodations: 4-7 nights onboard the 129 passenger M/V Mare Australis.
Food Includes: All meals as indicated (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); most of our hotels offer free continental breakfast.
Transportation: motor vessel and zodiacs
A relaxing, yet active Patagonia travel itinerary of massive glaciers, jagged mountains, glacier lakes, and wonderful wildlife. Hiking each day is moderate and travelers should be fit. A wonderful trip for any age.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Arrival / Departure Transfers: 1 person US$50 each
2 or more people US$25 /person
Personal Budgeting: Allow US$35 for meals not included, $100 Chilean visa reciprocity fee, US$60 for optional tours US$8 per day for tipping the crew, money for souvenirs
Pre & Post Tour Accommodations: Santiago and Buenos Aires: Share US$55, Single US$110 Punta Arenas and Ushuaia: Please inquire for specific rates
Note: Flights to/from Punta Arenas or Ushuaia are not included. Flight costs around US$300 per flight (flight cost subject to change).
Prices are based on a 3% cash discount
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Argentina
Chile
Boating and Sailing
Glacier Tours
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