Patagonian Explorer
Highlights
- Stand on Cape Horn’s windswept cliffs—one of the world’s most storied maritime sites, visited by only a fortunate few.
- Cruise and hike Tierra del Fuego’s wild fjords, where glaciers like Pia and Condor plunge from the Darwin Range into still waters.
- Walk with Magellanic penguins on Magdalena Island or spot sea lions on Marta Island in an unforgettable wild encounter.
Journey to the very ends of the Earth on this 5-day expedition cruise through the wild and storied waterways of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego—where nature still writes the rules. From your embarkation in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, your ship traces a path through the legendary Beagle Channel and Strait of Magellan, following in the wake of daring explorers like FitzRoy and Darwin. This route is steeped in both natural beauty and human history, passing through lands once navigated by indigenous Yagán canoeists and 19th-century mariners alike.
Timed for the austral spring and autumn months, this voyage offers travelers the rare opportunity to witness a stunning transitional season in the far south. As migratory wildlife stirs and glacier-fed landscapes come to life, you’ll enjoy optimal chances to observe Magellanic penguins, South American sea lions, and soaring Andean condors—alongside the vibrant greens and golds of the Magellanic forest. Whether walking among ancient trees or cruising in Zodiacs past walls of blue ice, every day brings a new perspective on Patagonia’s raw magnificence.
Disembark at Cape Horn, conditions permitting, and feel the pulse of maritime legend beneath your feet. Explore the fjords of Pia, Porter, and Agostini, where the crashing silence of glaciers inspires a profound sense of awe. Zodiac excursions bring you thrillingly close to the ice, while on land, expert-guided hikes reveal the region’s lesser-seen flora and geological wonders.
This journey offers not only rare access to one of the most remote corners of the globe, but also an emotional resonance that lingers long after the voyage ends. To step ashore at Cape Horn or witness the calving of a glacier into still waters is to experience the planet at its wildest—and most humbling. You’ll return not just with photographs, but with a new perspective on Earth’s extremes.
Perfect for adventurous spirits, wildlife enthusiast...
Ships
Standard Activities
About the Patagonian Explorer
Journey to the very ends of the Earth on this 5-day expedition cruise through the wild and storied waterways of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego—where nature still writes the rules. From your embarkation in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, your ship traces a path through the legendary Beagle Channel and Strait of Magellan, following in the wake of daring explorers like FitzRoy and Darwin. This route is steeped in both natural beauty and human history, passing through lands once navigated by indigenous Yagán canoeists and 19th-century mariners alike.
Timed for the austral spring and autumn months, this voyage offers travelers the rare opportunity to witness a stunning transitional season in the far south. As migratory wildlife stirs and glacier-fed landscapes come to life, you’ll enjoy optimal chances to observe Magellanic penguins, South American sea lions, and soaring Andean condors—alongside the vibrant greens and golds of the Magellanic forest. Whether walking among ancient trees or cruising in Zodiacs past walls of blue ice, every day brings a new perspective on Patagonia’s raw magnificence.
Disembark at Cape Horn, conditions permitting, and feel the pulse of maritime legend beneath your feet. Explore the fjords of Pia, Porter, and Agostini, where the crashing silence of glaciers inspires a profound sense of awe. Zodiac excursions bring you thrillingly close to the ice, while on land, expert-guided hikes reveal the region’s lesser-seen flora and geological wonders.
This journey offers not only rare access to one of the most remote corners of the globe, but also an emotional resonance that lingers long after the voyage ends. To step ashore at Cape Horn or witness the calving of a glacier into still waters is to experience the planet at its wildest—and most humbling. You’ll return not just with photographs, but with a new perspective on Earth’s extremes.
Perfect for adventurous spirits, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and history buffs alike, this compact expedition is a remarkable introduction to polar cruising and a deeply meaningful chapter in your travel story—one that few on Earth can claim to have lived.
Itinerary Day to Day
Ushuaia check-in
Between 10:00 PM and 5:00 PM, we will check-in at the office of Tolkeyen Patagonia Turismo, at Av. San Martín 409, Ushuaia – Argentina, to embark at 6:00 PM.
After boarding, we will gather on the fifth deck for a welcome toast and to meet the Captain and his crew. Afterwards, the ship will set sail towards the Southern end. The ship will sail to the far south immediately after. Through the mythical Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan, we will travel through Patagonia and the channels of Tierra del Fuego.
Cape Horn and Wulaia bay
We will sail through the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay, arriving at Cape Horn National Park, where we will disembark, if weather conditions permit, to experience the magic of walking through one of the southernmost points of the world, surrounded by charm and legends.
In the afternoon, we will disembark at Wulaia Bay, a historic site of one of the largest settlements of the native Yagans canoeists. We will reach a viewpoint, walking through the Magellanic forest, where lengas, coigües, canelos, and ferns grow, among other species.
Pia Glacier and Porter Glacier
In the morning, we will sail along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel to enter and disembark in the Pia Fjord. We will hike to the viewpoint from where you will see the homonymous glacier, whose main peak extends from the top of the mountain range to the sea.
During the afternoon, we will embark on a Zodiac boat navigation excursion, without disembarking from them. We will advance between high rocky walls to reach, at the end of them, the imposing Porter Glacier and be able to contemplate it face to face.
Aguila glacier and Condor glacier
In the morning, we will navigate the Cockburn Channel to enter the Agostini Sound, where you can appreciate the glaciers that descend from the
center of the Darwin Mountain Range, some of them reaching the sea. After breakfast, we will disembark via Zodiac boats for a walk around a lagoon formed by the melting of the Aguila Glacier. In the afternoon, we will navigate in Zodiac without disembarking from them, to approach the Condor Glacier at a privileged distance. We will learn about the formation of glaciers and their influence on the abrupt geography of the Fuegian channels.
Magdalena Island and Punta Arenas
We will disembark at Magdalena Island first thing in the morning if weather conditions are suitable. On the island, we will be able to see a colony of Magellanic penguins. This excursion is replaced by a landing on Marta Island in September and April, where South American sea lions can be sighted from Zodiac boats. Then, we will arrive in Punta Arenas, disembarking at approximately 12:30 hrs.
Route Map
IMPORTANT: The excursions described in the itineraries are usually possible. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Ship Operator reserves the right to alter, change or omit part of this itinerary without prior notice, whether motivated by the welfare and safety of passengers, for the proper preservation of the environment or in the event of any extraordinary circumstance, fortuitous event or force majeure. The departure or arrival of vessels may be subject to possible changes. It is not possible to guarantee bird and animal sightings, since the precise location of these is variable.
Departure Dates
What's Included
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5 days / 4 nights. All-inclusive trip.
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Sea transportation.
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Meals and drinks. Full board – Open bar.
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Presentations.
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Expeditions: zodiac and land activities.
What's Excluded
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Gratuities (US$ 25 per person per night is recommended).
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Purchases from the onboard store.
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Optional tours or activities outside the itinerary.
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Transfers in Punta Arenas or Ushuaia and any immigration fees.
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Government port fees, taxes and national park fees (boarding taxes) which for the 2025-2026 season are as follows: 1)Punta Arenas to Ushuaia route: US $135 per person. 2)Ushuaia to Punta Arenas route: US $135 per person. 3) Punta Arenas to Ushuaia to Punta Arenas route: US $150 per person. 4) Ushuaia to Punta Arenas to Ushuaia route: US $150 per person. These government port fees/taxes and national park fees may change at the discretion of port authorities.
Related Itineraries
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords (Southbound)
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords
Fjords of Tierra del Fuego
Essential Patagonia: Chilean Fjords & Torres del Paine
Darwin's Route From Ushuaia
Darwin's Route From Punta Arenas
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords (Northbound)
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