Patagonia & Chilean Fjords (9-11 Days)

Your journey begins in Puerto Montt, Chile, with boarding between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs. After all mandatory briefings, the ship sets sail towards the Gulf of Corcovado.

We continue south to visit the area around Puerto Aysen and Puyuhuapi in the Aysén region. As we cruise and explore the area, we see the landscape unfold with its many fjords, islands, and channels. We hope to visit either Puerto Cisnes, Puyuhuapi, or Magdalena Island, with the possibility to see dolphins, whales, cormorants, sea lions, and river otters.

Today, the ship reaches the Chonos Archipelago. Heading towards the Moraleda Channel, the vessel cruises around the area of San Rafael National Park, a biosphere reserve, if weather permits. The park is the main entry point to Chile’s Northern Patagonian Ice Field. We will also explore the surrounding fjords, channels, islands, and coves.

As we sail south, we cross the Gulf of Penas, enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The expedition team tells us about the indigenous inhabitants of these southern lands, the early Spanish colonizers, and famous explorers such as Charles Darwin, Fitz Roy, and Alberto de Agostini. We also learn about the region’s biodiversity through presentations about the local marine fauna and flora.

If weather permits, a visit to Caleta Tortel or the surrounding region is planned for the morning. Located between the mouth of the Baker River and a small cove within the Baker Channel, Caleta Tortel is a small village consisting mainly of stilt houses, typical of Chilotan architecture, built along the coast for several kilometers. Wooden walkways are built with Guaitecas cypress, they connect houses and give the village its distinctive look and unique culture. We continue sailing south towards Messier Channel and navigate through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59 feet) English Narrows for a privileged view of the glaciers of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Outside Antarctica, some of the largest glaciers in the southern hemisphere are found here.

We embark on a Zodiac excursion to the Amalia Glacier area or the surrounding glaciers along the Peel Fjord in the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. We bask in the glacier’s icy-blue beauty and cruise across the sea and among its ice floes to uncover part of Chile’s natural mystique. As we sail between snow-capped peaks to get a closer look at the glacier and its brilliant and rugged textures, we may spot dolphins swimming at a distance, cormorants or condors flying above, and otters.

While heading south along the Strait of Magellan, we explore the waters of the fjords that branch out from Tierra del Fuego. We follow the remote coast around the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a protected area in the southern hemisphere where whales feed. If we are lucky, we may be able to spot humpback or sei whales breaching in the distance. We may also see dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels.

The Beagle Channel is a striking narrow passage in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, a region originally named after the fires that burned in local native settlements when the first European explorers arrived. Dividing Chile and Argentina, the passage showcases ice formations along the snow-dusted Darwin Range. We will sail along Glacier Alley, home to the Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche glaciers, aiming to explore the Garibaldi Fjord.

Morning arrival in Ushuaia and disembarkation.

Your journey begins in Ushuaia with boarding at the port between 3 and 4 PM (15:00 and 16:00 hrs). We will make a brief technical stop in Port Williams to comply with Chilean customs and immigration requirements before proceeding along the Beagle Channel.

The Beagle Channel, a narrow waterway shared by Chile and Argentina in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, is named after the fires seen in Indigenous settlements by early European explorers. As we sail through this remote passage, dramatic ice formations descend from the snow-capped Darwin Range into the sea. Along Glacier Alley and Yendegaia National Park, we pass five majestic glaciers: Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche. Conditions permitting, we access the Garibaldi fjord, surrounded by hanging glaciers and waterfalls close enough to touch. Together with the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage, the Beagle Channel is one of only three routes connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in South America.

While heading north along the Magellan Strait, we enter the secluded fjords of Tierra del Fuego and visit Seno de Agostini, a spectacular fjord framed by steep mountains and hanging glaciers cascading from the Darwin Range. If conditions allow, we disembark at the Aguila glacier. Later during the day, we sail through the coastline of Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a vital feeding ground for whales in the southern hemisphere aim to reach.

Sail through a breathtaking fjord in Chile’s Aysén Region, a 60-kilometer stretch framed by steep, snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Along the way, waterfalls cascade through lush temperate rainforests, and glaciers spill directly into the sea. If conditions permit, prepare to disembark for an up-close encounter with the majestic Bernal Glacier.

Step ashore and board a private bus that will take you into the heart of Patagonia’s most iconic landscapes, where granite towers pierce the sky, turquoise lakes shimmer, and a diverse array of wildlife roam freely amid the untamed wilderness.

Today, we venture to Madre de Dios Island, a remote and rarely visited land in the Chilean fjords. Known for its spectacular limestone cliffs, caves, and glaciers, Madre de Dios Island reveals a striking landscape shaped by strong winds and the sea. Experience its rugged beauty and remoteness, where untouched nature and striking geology converge at the edge of Patagonia.

The expedition continues to navigate north towards the Messier Channel on our route to Pío XI Glacier, to take a closer look at the Southern Icefield. Pío XI is the largest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere beyond Antarctica. Unlike most glaciers and despite global warming, Pío XI has experienced significant growth in recent decades, being the only one to expand steadily every year. In the afternoon, we sail through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59-foot-wide) English Narrows.

After crossing the storied Golfo de Penas, discover Caleta Tortel, a coastal village nestled between the mouth of the Baker River and a quiet cove along the Baker Channel. Stretching for kilometers, the small town is made up of stilt houses in the traditional Chilotan style, perched above the shoreline. There are no conventional streets here. Instead, wooden walkways, built with Guaitecas cypress, wind through the village, giving it a remarkable look and a unique culture.

At the far east of the Chonos Archipelago, weather-dependent, explore a temperate rainforest and subantarctic coastal ecosystems on Kent Island. Often linked to the mysterious Isla Friendship, the island combines natural beauty with local lore, including UFO sightings, miraculous healings, and stories that blur the line between myth and reality.

Morning arrival in Puerto Montt and disembarkation.

Your journey begins in Puerto Montt, Chile, with boarding at the port between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs. After all mandatory briefings, the ship sets sail towards the Gulf of Corcovado.

At the far east of the Chonos Archipelago, explore a temperate rainforest and subantarctic coastal ecosystems on Kent Island. Often linked to the mysterious Isla Friendship, the island combines natural beauty with local lore, including UFO sightings, miraculous healings, and stories that blur the line between myth and reality.

After crossing the storied Golfo de Penas, discover Caleta Tortel, a coastal village nestled between the mouth of the Baker River and a quiet cove along the Baker Channel. Stretching for kilometers, the small town is made up of stilt houses in the traditional Chilotan style, perched above the shoreline. There are no conventional streets here. Instead, wooden walkways, built with Guaitecas cypress, wind through the village, giving it a remarkable look and a unique culture.

The expedition continues navigating south towards the Messier Channel. We sail through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59-foot-wide) English Narrows on our route to Pío XI glacier, to take a closer look at the Southern Icefield. Pío XI is the largest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere beyond Antarctica. Unlike most glaciers and despite global warming, Pío XI has experienced significant growth in recent decades, being the only one to expand steadily every year.

Today, we venture to Madre de Dios Island, a remote and rarely visited land in the Chilean fjords. Known for its spectacular limestone cliffs, caves, and glaciers, Madre de Dios Island reveals a striking landscape shaped by strong winds and the sea. Experience its rugged beauty and remoteness, where untouched nature and striking geology converge at the edge of Patagonia.

Sail through a breathtaking fjord in Chile’s Aysén Region, a 60-kilometer stretch framed by steep, snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Along the way, waterfalls cascade through lush temperat rainforests, and glaciers spill directly into the sea. If conditions permit, prepare to disembark for an up-close encounter with the majestic Bernal Glacier.

Step ashore and board a private bus that will take you into the heart of Patagonia’s most iconic landscapes, where granite towers pierce the sky, turquoise lakes shimmer, and a diverse array of wildlife roam freely amid the untamed wilderness.

While heading south along the Magellan Strait, we enter the secluded fjords of Tierra del Fuego and discover the remote coastline of Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a vital feeding ground for whales in the southern hemisphere. Later during the day, we aim to reach Seno de Agostini, a spectacular fjord framed by steep mountains and hanging glaciers cascading from the Darwin Range. If conditions allow, we disembark at the Aguila glacier.

The Beagle Channel, a narrow waterway shared by Chile and Argentina in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, is named after the fires seen in Indigenous settlements by early European explorers. As we sail through this remote passage, dramatic ice formations descend from the snow-capped Darwin Range into the sea. Along Glacier Alley, we pass five majestic glaciers: Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche. Conditions permitting, we access the Garibaldi fjord, surrounded by hanging glaciers and waterfalls close enough to touch. Together with the Strait of Magellan and the Drake Passage, the Beagle Channel is one of only three routes connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in South America.

Once a private ranch, the remote and beautiful Yendegaia National Park now protects pristine forests, rivers, and fjords. Enjoy the striking contrast between the southern Andes and the island’s open plains, home to guanacos, foxes, and soaring condors.

Ushuaia, Argentina, Disembarkation