Antarctica & Patagonia Expedition

Discover Valparaíso, the ‘Jewel of the Pacific’

Your Antarctica and Patagonia expedition cruise begins in colorful Valparaíso. Known as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific’, this friendly UNESCO-listed city is built on steep hillsides overlooking the ocean.

Filled with enticing scents and sounds, it’s an exhilarating maze of alleyways and barrios, colorful houses, and ‘mercados’ packed with local produce. Take it all in on a funicular ride up to Cerro Alegre and Concepción.

You can explore more of the region on one of our optional Pre-Programs.

Over the next two days at sea, you’ll learn more about the wonders we’ll encounter on our trip.

Expedition Team members are experts in everything from oceanography and geology to ornithology and history. Drop in on their fascinating lectures and hands-on presentations in the Science Center.

Grab a pair of binoculars and look for rare wandering albatrosses and petrels. Make the most of the onboard facilities and spoil yourself with a spa treatment in the wellness area. You can also enjoy the infinity pool, hot tubs, running track, sauna, and gym.

See stilt houses and historic churches and s et among the lush vegetation of Chiloé Island, Castro is Chile’s third-oldest city. It’s home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, those being the Iglesia San Francisco and Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Gracia de Nercón.

From various vantage points, enjoy great views of the city’s colorful ‘palafitos,’ which are stilt houses situated along the waterfront. For a bit of culture, head to the Regional Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.

Bring your binoculars, as Chiloé is an important habitat for bird species such as green-backed fire crowns and Chilean flamingos, along with penguins, black-necked swans, ringed kingfishers, and silvery grebes.

We continue our adventure by setting course for Puerto Edén. As we pass quietly through the beautiful islands of Aysén, you can enjoy a rare opportunity to reconnect with nature. Enjoy the fresh sea air as we glide past untouched isles and green mountains, looking out for rare wildlife.

Take it all in from the deck, the outdoor hot tub, or the panoramic Explorer Lounge & Bar. Your Expedition Team will continue its lecture program in the Science Center, offering fascinating insights into the places and animals you’ll see on your journey.

Set at the end of a deep fjord, our next stop is the enchanting village of Puerto Edén, set in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park.

The tiny settlement is only accessible by sea, and the ferry that connects it to the mainland only visits once a month. There are no roads here – just wooden boardwalks connecting houses and shops. Its 250 inhabitants include some of the last remaining members of the Indigenous Kawésqar people. You will have the chance to talk to them and gain insight into their unique culture.

Our expedition cruise continues to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. You can choose to see this beautiful national park on either a bus or hiking tour – both experiences are worth doing.

The rugged landscape features steppe, forest, and desert, punctuated by glaciers and lakes. Guanacos and rheas roam freely. Look out for Chilean flamingos and you may even spot the mighty Andean condor.

Puerto Natales is a popular hub for hikers and travelers, with many eateries, bars, and outdoor shops. Set out on your own to visit the artisan village at Etherh Aike, enjoy a gin tour at the Last Hope Distillery, or stroll along the photogenic waterfront.

Your journey south along the Chilean coast takes you through the ruggedly beautiful island chains that make up the fjords of Magallanes Province. Isolated islands and hidden bays create a rich haven for wildlife.

Whether cruising aboard our small boats (RIBs) or on deck, look out for colonies of Magellanic penguins, elephant seals, and various whale species. You may also see majestic waterfalls along this dramatic and beautiful section of coastline.

After sailing through the Beagle Channel, we’ll pass the southernmost tip of South America, Cape Horn. This formidable icon often presents challenging conditions, but weather permitting, we’ll attempt to land there.

From here, we’ll navigate the legendary Drake Passage toward Antarctica. En route, we will prepare you for what lies ahead and show you how to make your visit as safe and sustainable as possible.

In the Science Center, the Expedition Team will give lectures about Antarctica’s fauna, history, and geology, as well as the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. You can also get involved in our Citizen Science projects.

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo and chinstrap penguins court while Adélie penguins nest. Countless seabirds wheel overhead. Nature is in charge.

During the next four days, you’ll be busy exploring several landing sites. There are more than 20 possible sites on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. It doesn’t matter where we go or what we do, every day will be thrilling and unlike anything you’ve experienced before.

We might sail into a flooded volcanic caldera or land in icy bays where remnants of whaling paraphernalia lie abandoned. You may also have the chance to kayak among icebergs and seals or snowshoe to a thrilling viewpoint.

Bird enthusiasts should look skyward for Antarctic seabirds such as skuas, petrels, and terns. Through onboard lectures and onshore talks, you’ll learn more about this precious habitat and how we can all protect it for the future.

After four incredible days in Antarctica, we sail back across the Drake Passage toward warmer weather in Argentina, giving you two days to enjoy life on board. There are plenty of things to do.

During your last few days at sea, you can take part in art workshops or enjoy a treatment in the spa. Get moving at the gym or admire views from the panoramic sauna. Relax in the outdoor pool or soak in the on-deck hot tubs.

Visit the Science Center and find out more about the things you’ve seen, or use the time to sort through your photos and get editing tips from our onboard photographer.

Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia, the main city in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight back to Buenos Aires, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your adventure.

We recommend signing up for one of our optional Post-Programs before heading home.