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Patagonia and the
Chilean Fjords

Program Overview

Experience the wonder of discovery as you travel through mesmerizing landscapes almost untouched since Magellan found them nearly 500 years ago. Our unique 12-day voyage to Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords begins in Santiago, Chile, on a land and sea itinerary that takes you in the path of legendary explorers Captain Robert FitzRoy and Charles Darwin—through the Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Glacier Alley, and Wulaia Bay. See distinctive subantarctic and Patagonian wildlife, including guanacos, rheas, condors, elephant seals, and Magellanic penguins. Explore the Tierra del Fuego, “land of fire,” and enjoy excursions that range from a wine tasting at a Maipo Valley vineyard to a visit to Cape Horn National Park, the world's southernmost national park. Enhance your voyage with the Easter Island Pre-Program and/or the Buenos Aires and Iguazú Falls Post-Program options.

Program Details

October 25 to November 5, 2024 (Ventus Australis)
from $6,745 plus air View Terms & Conditions
  • Majestic 12-day land and sea voyage to discover the breathtaking beauty of Patagonia and Chile.
  • Enjoy a full-day Santiago city tour and Maipo Valley vineyard excursion, including a wine tasting. 
  • Embark on a panoramic tour of Punta Arenas, featuring the Plaza de Armas and the Punta Arenas Cemetery—a designated national monument of Chile. 
  • Visit Torres Del Paine National Park on a full-day excursion featuring the Paine Massif, the iconic Torres del Paine, and opportunities to observe Patagonian wildlife. 
  • Discover Milodón Cave, where the well-preserved remains of an extinct giant ground sloth were discovered in 1895. 
  • See breathtaking scenery on a nature walk to the Magellanic Forest at Ainsworth Bay. 
  • Witness Magellanic penguins and majestic rock cormorants on a visit to Tucker Islet. 
  • Take a Zodiac excursion in Pia Fjord for spectacular views of secluded, awe-inspiring Pia Glacier. 
  • Explore Cape Horn National Park, including a visit to the Cape Horn monument. 

Day 1 - Depart home city

Days 2 - 3 Santiago, Chile

Day 4 - Santiago/Puntas Arenas

Day 5 - Puntas Arenas/Puerto Natales

Day 6 - Torres Del Paine National Park

Day 7 - Puerto Natales/Puntas Arenas/Embark Ventus Australis

Day 8 - Ainsworth Bay/Tucker Islets

Day 9 - Beagle Channel/Pia Glacier/Glacier Alley

Day 10 - Wulaia Bay/Cape Horn

Day 11 - Ushuaia/Buenos Aires, Argentina/Depart for home city

Day 12 - Arrive in home city

Ventus Australis 

5-Star, Small Expedition Ship 

Explore the wonders of the Patagonian fjords aboard the exclusively chartered, first-class Ventus Australis, specially designed to access the most remote corners of the Straits of Magellan, where larger vessels cannot navigate. Each of the ship’s 100 cabins features one double bed or two twin beds, individual climate control, a private bathroom with shower and exterior windows to soak up the glorious landscapes. Enjoy complimentary nonpremium alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages throughout the cruise. All meals aboard the ship are included.

View Ventus Australis deckplan

Learn More about Australis

Chile, Easter Island, Moais statues

Easter Island Pre-Program Option 

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Easter Island and behold its unique archaeological treasures. Visit the island’s most important and celebrated landmarks, including the basalt quarry from which the moai were carved, the white sand beach and the village central to the Birdman culture — predominant until the arrival of Christian missionaries. This tour features roundtrip flights between Santiago and Easter Island and all accommodations, including one night at the Hyatt Centric Las Condes Hotel and three nights at the Hangaroa Eco Village & Spa.

Iguazu Falls

Buenos Aires & Iguazú Falls Post-Program Option 

Extend your journey with a tour of Argentina’s capital city of Buenos Aires and the rainforest of Iguazú Falls. In elegant Buenos Aires, see the colorful La Boca district and the neighborhoods of San Telmo, Puerto Madero and Palermo. Visit Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of Eva Perón. Fly to Iguazú Falls and explore both the Argentine and Brazilian falls. Enjoy visiting the Parque das Aves, home to more than 200 species. This tour features a flight to Iguazú Falls and all accommodations, including two nights at the Meliá Recoleta Plaza and two nights at the Gran Meliá Iguazú.

The Pre- and Post-Program Options are available at an additional cost. Details will be provided with your reservation confirmation. 

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Program Itinerary

Day 1 Depart from home city

Depart your home city for Santiago, Chile.

Day 2 Santiago, Chile

Arrive in Santiago. Transfer and check in to the Hyatt Centric Las Condes Hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day and lunch at leisure. Later tonight, gather for a convivial Welcome Reception.

Day 3 Santiago/Maipo Valley

Venture out to explore vibrant Santiago, nestled in the foothills of the snowcapped Andes. Tour the highlights of the city’s indigenous and European‑influenced architecture and culture, including the outstanding collections in the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino. En route to a 140-year‑old Santa Rita vineyard, marvel at views of the scenic Maipo Valley. A local expert will guide your vineyard tour and wine tasting.

Day 4 Santiago/Puerto Natales

After breakfast, fly to Puerto Natales, which once served as a major transit point for the sheep and coal industries of 20th-century Patagonia. Following lunch, check in to the Costaustralis Puerto Natales Hotel, spend time at leisure and gather for dinner this evening.

Day 5 Ultima Esperanza Fjord/Bernardo O’Higgins National Park/Puerto Natales

Watch as rugged landscapes and vast, rolling countryside unfold before you. Cruise on the Ultima Esperanza Fjord to witness the imposing Balmaceda Glacier. Next, join your guide for a beautiful walk through the unspoiled Bernardo O’Higgins National Park to see the magnificent Serrano Glacier. Savor lunch at a Patagonian ranch before returning to Puerto Natales.

Day 6 Torres del Paine/ Milodón Cave/Grey Lake

Torres del Paine is South America’s most celebrated national park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Observe its pristine landscape, brimming with spectacular glaciers, lakes and mountain ranges. Search for the region’s iconic wildlife — ostrich‑like rheas, pumas and guanacos. In nearby Milodón Cave, 1890s German pioneer Herman Eberhard discovered the prehistoric remains of a 13‑foot giant sloth. Enjoy a hike along the gentle shores of Grey Lake, admiring the inspiring granitic towers and Grey Glacier. Relax over lunch in the park and survey its spectacular mountaintop views, including the three‑peaked Cordillera del Paine.

Day 7 Puerto Natales/Punta Arenas

After checking out of the hotel, indulge in a traditional lunch and watch a sheep herding demonstration at a Patagonian ranch. Continue to Punta Arenas, the gateway to Patagonia and embark the Ventus Australis. Gather for a Captain’s Welcome Reception, followed by dinner.

Day 8 Ainsworth Bay/Tucker Islets

Arrive in Ainsworth Bay. This coastal inlet in the seldom‑visited Alberto de Agostini National Park is fed by the retreating tidewater Marinelli Glacier. Board a Zodiac for a shore landing and choose between two excursions to explore the subantarctic Magellanic forest. During a Zodiac excursion in neighboring Admiralty Sound, observe the Tucker Islets’ unusual birds — rock cormorants, dolphin gulls, Magellanic penguins and chimango caracaras.

Day 9 Beagle Channel/Pia Glacier/Glacier Alley

Enjoy an unforgettable cruise through the historic Beagle Channel, named for Darwin’s ship, which explored these waters in the mid‑19th century. Make a Zodiac landing and choose between two excursions that lead you to a magnificent vantage point to watch for the tidewater Pia Glacier to calve into the fjord. A highlight of today is a mesmerizing cruise through the sublime wonderland of Glacier Alley, where swaths of blue ice flow from the towering gray mountains of the Cordillera Darwin.

Day 10 Cape Horn/Wulaia Bay

Majestic Cape Horn, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, embodies nature’s power and demands reverence. Aboard a Zodiac craft, go ashore for an opportunity to stand at the “edge of the world” overlooking the legendary Drake Passage (weather permitting). Walk across the low‑lying, fragile tundra vegetation for unmatched panoramic views. This afternoon, anchor in the historic Wulaia Bay, a site described by Charles Darwin and illustrated by FitzRoy during his voyages on the Beagle. Choose between three excursions to discover the area and soak up amazing views of the bay. Gather for a Farewell Reception tonight.

Day 11 & Day 12 Ushuaia/Buenos Aires/Return to Home City

After breakfast, disembark in Ushuaia and fly to Buenos Aires to depart for your home city. Arrive home the next day.