| Duration: | 4 Day(s) - 3 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Cruise Tours |
Incredible expedition throughout the southernmost zone of Argentina and Chile. The crossing begins in Ushuaia to arrive at Punta Arenas. An unforgettable experience!
Cruise - Day 1: Ushuaia
Check-in between 10:00 and 16:00 at 409 San Martín Street. Board the M/V Via Australis cruise ship at 17:30. After a welcoming cocktail reception hosted by the Captain and his crew, the M/V Via Australis will depart for one of the remotest parts of the planet. Our voyage 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, which includes the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.
Cruise - Day 2: Cabo de Hornos - Bahía Wulaia
We will be sailing 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, we will 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 mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We will take an enchanted walk through the Magellan Forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic vegetation, to reach a panoramic viewpoint.
Cruise - Day 3: Agostini Sound - Águila Glacier
We will be sailing through Brecknock, Ocasión, Cockburn, and Magdalena Channels to enter the spectacular De Agostini Sound, in the heart of the Darwin Mountain Range. This is where we shall see glaciers sliding down the mountainside all the way to the sea.
In the afternoon, in well-equipped Zodiac boats, we will travel to the Águila Glacier where we will embark upon an easy walk to its base. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the beauty of Patagonia’s cold rainforest and to see how the power of nature has molded the spectacular landscape.
Cruise - Day 4: Magdalena Island - Punta Arenas
Early in the morning, weather permitting, we will go ashore on Magdalena Island, located in the middle of the Strait of Magellan. The island used to be an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers and is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellan Penguins that we will be able to see during our walk to the lighthouse. In September and April, this excursion is replaced by a ride aboard Zodiacs to Marta Island to observe South American Sea Lions.
Finally, disembarkation at Punta Arenas is scheduled for 11:30.
NOTE: The excursions described in the itineraries can normally be carried out. Notwithstanding the above, Transportes Marítimos Terra Australis S.A., Transportes Marítimos Via Australis S.A., and Transportes Marítimos Geo Australis S.A reserve the right to reschedule, shorten, or alter all or part of the itineraries and/or excursions without prior notice, in order to safeguard the wellbeing and safety of passengers, preserve the environment, or due to any extraordinary circumstances, acts of God or force majeure. For the same reasons, the hours of departure or arrival of the vessels may be subject to change. There is no guarantee of wildlife sighting because the precise location of these animals cannot be confirmed.
