Santiago to Buenos Aires Mare Australis Patagonia Cruise

Welcome to Santiago, the gateway to the Andes. The colorful capital of Chile sits between majestic mountain peaks and the blue Pacific Ocean. Your SouthAmerica.travel tour guide will accompany you to your hotel in the heart of the city after you arrive. In the afternoon, take a tour to get acquainted with both the historic and modern centers of Santiago and discover the neighboring San Cristobal for a deeper understanding of the area.

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the charming towns of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. Valparaíso was once the largest port in Chile, a harbor for all shipping vessels in the region. Today, it holds an important place in the political life of the area as the site of the Chilean House of Assembly and Senate and continues to be a major drawcard due to its beauty and cultural heritage. The city is serviced by a network of sixteen funicular railways constructed in the late 1900s primarily to connect the upper and lower parts of the city during a time of rapid economic growth. After stopping in Valparaíso, continue along the coast to the beautiful beaches of Viña del Mar. The latter is affectionately known as the Garden City for its green parks and open spaces where locals and visitors alike can find a natural haven of peace.

Fly south from Santiago direct to Punta Arenas, greet your guide and contemplate the remote and untamed Patagonian landscape on the 4 hour journey to Puerto Natales. Transfer to your hotel upon arrival.

A natural sanctuary, the world-famous Torres del Paine National Park is waiting to be explored today. Discover snow-capped mountains, crystal-clear lakes, small waterfalls and endemic flora and fauna. Hike through the varying landscapes and learn about the natural and cultural heritage of this unique region of Patagonia from your expert guide. En route, venture into the Milodon Cave, one of Chile's national monuments which consists of a series of caves. One cave holds the remains of a pre-historic sloth called a milodón. Return to Puerto Natales in the late afternoon.

Embark on a sailing trip to see the incredible Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. Meet your guide and transfer to Balmaceda Lake. Board the boat, look for playful sea lion colonies along the coastline and pass by Guanaco Island where llamas, alpacas and vicuñas reside, native to the Patagonian region. Try to comprehend the grandeur of the Last Hope Sound, one of the most pristine and spectacular landscapes in Chile’s Patagonia region. Make your way to the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park and be awestruck by the captivating Balmaceda Glacier. Chunks of ice occasionally calve away from this enormous glacier and sink into the waters, a fantastic sight to witness. Sail to the northern side of Balmaceda Mount and absorb the view of the stunning and untouched Serrano Glacier. Disembark from the boat, hike through the native forest and arrive at a small lagoon to take a brief rest and bask in the surrounding environment. Walk to the foot of the Serrano Glacier and sit down to enjoy your lunch before transferring back to your hotel in Puerto Natales.

Board the Mare Australis vessel and set sail for the nether regions of the southern hemisphere. Sip a welcome cocktail and be greeted by the captain and crew after stepping on deck in the late afternoon. Feel intrepid while cruising through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel, following in the footsteps of pioneers. Explore the breathtaking wilderness of southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego and reflect on the harsh but unique beauty of this isolated region of the world.

At dawn, journey through the stunning Almirantazgo Sound and land at Ainsworth Bay in the Alberto De Agostini National Park. Glimpse the translucent and awe-inspiring Marinelli Glacier protruding from the Darwin Mountain Range and learn about the slow but powerful movement of glaciers and how nature comes to life after the retreat of the ice. Discover a beaver dam in the subpolar Magellan forest and keep an eye out for the rare elephant seals. Next, sail to Tuckers Islets, and after lunch set off in the Zodiac boats to observe the fascinating Magellanic Penguins and soaring cormorants in their natural habitat, both endemic to the Southern Hemisphere.

In September and April, this excursion is replaced by a trip to Brookes Bay. Visitors can tentatively step out onto a glacier and experience the wild beauty and adventure of another hidden treasure in this region.

Journey through the center of the Beagle Channel to reach the unfathomably deep Pia Fjord. Disembark, take a short hike to a lookout and be rewarded with the unique sight of Pia Glacier extending from the mountain source all the way to the sea. Continue sailing along the northwest section of the Beagle Channel through the intimidating Glacier Alley and be captivated by frozen rivers of ice along the way.

Journey to the end of the earth today. Sail through the Beagle and Murray Channels to the Cape Horn National Park and weather permitting, visit Cape Horn, a sheer, rocky 425m-high promontory. Remote, wild and rarely visited, it’s also the final frontier before reaching Antarctica and was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005.

Step ashore at the historic Wulaia Bay. Formerly the site of one of the region's largest Yamana aboriginal settlements, Charles Darwin also landed here in 1833 during the voyage of the HMS Beagle. Be privy to the fierce and arresting natural beauty of the area, the delicate yet resilient vegetation a creation of its unique geographic location and conditions. Walk through a Magellan forest of ferns and other native trees and plants before reaching a lookout to appreciate the landscape.

Arrive in Ushuaia today, the city that sits at the end of the southern hemisphere and the capital city of the Tierra del Fuego. Begin to leave the colder realms of southern Chile behind. Awake early to visit the city’s highlights and its national parks, and finally catch a flight to Buenos Aires.

Experience a slice of rural life with an optional visit to an authentic ranch or estancia. Taste some famous Argentine-style barbecued beef or enjoy a cup of mate accompanied by some pastelitos, a typical local tea and sweet pastries. Go horseback riding or sit back and enjoy a carriage ride and finish the day with an entertaining traditional Gaucho show.

Encounter Buenos Aires, a city bursting with life and often called the “Paris of South America” due to its French-style architecture and culture. Wander along the widest avenue in the world, 9 de Julio Avenue, and see the distinctive Obelisk monument at its head. Visit the classic Colon Theater and French Embassy, the historic Plaza de Mayo and the regal Casa Rosada Presidential Palace. Next, visit the elegant Plaza San Martin and the busy financial district. Capture the essence of tango culture with a walk through the traditional neighborhoods of La Boca, San Telmo and Montserrat. On Sundays, spend a few hours here to browse the antique markets for a few gems from the past. Then wander through the trendy barrio of Palermo, discover the refined elegance of the Recoleta district and end the tour at the renovated Puerto Madero. Formerly Buenos Aires' old port, it now boasts modern skyscrapers, a yacht club, several first-class restaurants and the architectural wonder of the Woman’s Bridge.

Afterward, transfer to the International Airport to catch a flight back home or continue your South America vacation.