Patagonian Fjords with Australis

After boarding Ventus Australis or Stella Australis, you'll have a welcome cocktail reception hosted by the Captain and his crew before departing for one of the remotest parts of the planet. Your voyage 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. 

Meals: Dinner 

At dawn, you'll navigate your way through Almirantazgo Sound, arriving at Ainsworth Bay which is situated within the Alberto De Agostini National Park. It's the perfect spot from which 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. One of the most untouched areas of Patagonia, Alberto de Agostini National Park was designated a biosphere reserve due to its unique and ecologically significant landscapes, including ice fields, forests, and fjords, which support a rich array of plant and animal species.   

Take a walk to a beaver dam in the stunning sub-polar Magellan Forest. Whether on the beach or the island, there's a good chance of sighting Southern Elephant Seals, but bear in mind sightings cannot be guaranteed due to the colony's unpredictable movements. 

Later, you'll be sailing to Tucker Islets and after lunch you'll 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.   

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

You'll navigate along the north-west 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, you'll continue your voyage along the Beagle Channel through the majestic Glacier Alley. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

This morning you will arrive at the Cape Horn National Park, where you will disembark, if the weather conditions are suitable, to experience the magic of walking through one of the southernmost points of the world. The legendary Cape Horn was discovered in 1616 and is a sheer 425 metre high rocky promontory. For many years it was an important navigation route between the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans and is referred to as the 'End of the Earth'. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005 to protect its rich biological and cultural diversity. This pristine and ecologically diverse area is renowned for its rugged landscapes and rich marine and terrestrial ecosystems.  

This afternoon you'll go ashore at historic 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 also renowned for the mesmerising beauty of its vegetation and geography. Take an enchanted walk through the Magellan Forest of lengas, coigues, canelos, ferns and other endemic vegetation, to reach a  panoramic viewpoint. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Sail to Ushuaia where you will disembark and end your journey. Acknowledged as the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia was founded in 1884 and was one of the original points of encounter between the Yamana and Anglican cultures. Its name derives from the Yamana word for 'penetrating bay', and it’s surrounded by the last high peaks of the Andes. Today, it is one of the largest cities on Tierra del Fuego Island.

Meals: Breakfast