2010 Price: from $1,400 per person, double occupancy
(Promotion rate of $1,120 may be available on select departures)
Single Cabin: From $2,510
2010 Dates: thru Apr 2010
Departs Wednesdays on Via Australis
Departs Saturdays on Mare Australis
At the tip of Chile and Argentina lie some of the most stunning and untouched places on earth. Explore the legendary channels and waterways plied by the early European navigators and inhabitants of this remote South American region.
This is an area as beautiful as it is still untamed, perhaps more pristine and captivating than you ever imagined. Come aboard the Australis for 5 days to visit spectacular glaciers, forests, bays, islands and national parks featuring wildlife colonies.
Day 1 : Punta Arenas
Check in for cruise in Punta Arenas between 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cruise ship boarding at 6:00 p.m. The Captain and crew give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterward, the ship departs for “the uttermost part of the earth”. Our excursion will take us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego.
Day 2 : Ainsworth Bay – Tucker Islet
At dawn, we continue navigating through Almirantazgo Sound until finally arriving near Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay, where we enjoy a walk to discover a beaver dam in the midst of a marvelous Magellanic forest. On the beach we observe a colony of elephant seals. Later we visit Tucker Islet, where we view colonies of Magellanic Penguins and Cormorants from the Zodiac boats. The islet’s penguins migrate in April; as a replacement we visit Brookes Bay, for a short walk to see a glacier.
Day 3 : Pia Glacier - Glacier Alley
We navigate through the main part of Beagle Channel to reach Pia Bay, where we disembark near Pia Glacier. We take a short hike to a lookout point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, we sail again along the northwest arm of Beagle Channel through majestic “Glacier Alley”: Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland glaciers.
Day 4 : Cape Horn – Wulaia Bay
We sail through Beagle and Murray channels to reach and disembark in Cape Horn National Park (weather permitting). Cape Horn, on Hornos Island, is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory. This mythical place is known as the “End of the Earth”; a visit is a singular privilege. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005. In the afternoon, we go ashore in historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest aboriginal settlements. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coigües, Canelos, ferns and other native vegetation to reach a lookout point.
Day 5 : Ushuaia
Arrival to Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city on Tierra de Fuego, and the southernmost city in the world. We disembark at 8:00 a.m., enabling you to get an early start on visiting the city and national parks, and on continuing your trip through Patagonia. End tour.
During the cruise, there will be daily inland tours lasting approximately two hours. These tours consist of walks through trails in the native forest and visits to glaciers. The tours include talks on the flora and fauna of the area. A delicious whisky with the millenary ice, or a cup of hot chocolate will be served at the end of the excursions.
Included:
- All meals
- Daily shore excursions by inflatable Zodiac landing craft
- Lecture program on the regions flora, fauna, history and geography
- Onboard activities
