Check in at Muelle Arturo Prat (1385 O’Higgins Street) between 13:00 and 17:00. Board the M/V Via Australis or M/V Stella Australis cruise ship at 18:00. After a welcoming cocktail reception hosted by the Captain and his crew, the ship will depart for one of the remotest parts of the planet. Your trip will take you through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, which includes the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

At dawn, navigate through Almirantazgo Sound, arriving at Ainsworth Bay which is sited within Alberto De Agostini National Park. It is the perfect spot to see the Marinelli Glacier descending from Darwin Mountain Range in the distance and to appreciate how the land returns to life after glacial retreat.

Later, take a walk to a beaver dam in the stunning sub-polar Magellan Forest. Whether on the beach or the island, there is a good chance of sighting Southern Elephant Seals. Keep in mind, those sightings cannot be guaranteed due to the colony’s unpredictable movements.

Finally, sail to Tuckers Islets, and after lunch, board well-equipped Zodiac boats to get close to a colony of Magellan Penguins (indigenous to the Southern Hemisphere) and cormorants.

In September and April, this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a nearby glacier at Brookes Bay.

Navigate along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel before disembarking at Pia Fjord. From there, take a short hike to a panoramic viewpoint from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the awe-inspiring Pia Glacier whose main tongue extends from the mountaintops down to the sea. After this memorable experience, continue your voyage along the Beagle Channel through the majestic Glacier Alley.

Sail through Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, where, weather permitting, we shall go ashore. The legendary Cape Horn was discovered in 1616 and is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory. For many years it was an important navigation route between the Pacific and the Atlantic, and is referred to as the End of the Earth. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005.

In the afternoon, visit the historical Wulaia Bay, originally the site of one of the region’s largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed there in 1833 during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. This area is renowned for its vegetation and wildlife. Take an enchanted walk through the Magellan Forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic vegetation, to reach a panoramic viewpoint.

The trip concludes in Ushuaia, “fin del mundo” for being the southernmost town on the planet. Disembark the ship and continue on to your next South American destination.

The Reception will be in Punta Arenas and transfer from Punta Arenas’ airport to Hotel Cabo de Hornos. On the next day cross the Strait of Magellan, with a visit to the Porvenir Museum and the King Penguin Park. Relax overnight at the Grande Hotel in the Rio Grande.

On your next day, enjoy a “Gaucho” experience with a Patagonian barbecue before arrival at Ushuaia for check-in and boarding the cruise.