Glacial Cruise: Expedition from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Check-in to the Cruise to Punta Arena⌄

   The boarding starts at 06:00 pm at Ushuaia Tourist Port. After a welcome cocktail hosted by the Captain and his crew, the Stella Australis will depart from Ushuaia. The journey starts passing by the Strait of Magellan and sailing on the Beagle Channel, exploring one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions on earth: Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: 4 nights accommodation on the cruise

2. 2Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay⌄

   In the morning, enjoy breakfast at the restaurant. Sailing through Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, disembark (If the weather allows it) at the National Park. In the afternoon, go ashore to the historical Wulaia Bay, one of the region's largest Yamana native settlements. This is where Charles Darwin landed in 1833, during his journey to the HMS Beagle. Renowned for the mesmerising beauty of its vegetation and geography, this area hosts the Magellan forest. Made of Lengas, Choihues, Canelos, Ferns and other endemic vegetation, take a walk with the forest and reach a panoramic viewpoint.

   Discovered in 1616, Cape Horn stands as a towering 425-meter high rocky promontory. It held significant navigational importance for sailboats traversing between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, earning the moniker "End of the Earth". Recognized for its ecological significance, the area was designated as a World Biosphere Reserve in 2005, further highlighting its significance beyond its historical maritime role.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: 4 nights accommodation on the cruise

3. 3Pia & Garibaldi Glaciers⌄

   Overnight we continue our tour around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the very narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the Australis cruise tacks eastward and enters the Beagle Channel again. By morning we are entering Pia Fjord and boarding the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier. After disembarking we take a short hike to a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea or a longer much more difficult walk up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier.

   Making our way further west along the Beagle Channel, we enter another long fjord and drop anchor near Garibaldi Glacier for another shore excursion. Garibaldi is one of only three glaciers in Patagonia gaining mass rather than staying the same or slowly shrinking. This time we hike through virgin Magellanic forest to a glacial waterfall, a towering wall of ferns and moss, and spectacular viewpoints looking down on the glacier and fjord. The walk is demanding -- very steep, negligible trail, rough footing -- and not for everyone. For those who choose to stay onboard, our captain will point the bow towards the beautiful sky blue Garibaldi Glacier so everyone can enjoy the panoramic view from the upper decks.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: 4 nights accommodation on the cruise

4. 4Condor Glacier & Aguila Glacier⌄

   In the morning, enjoy breakfast and sail through Brecknock, Ocasión, Cockburn, and Magdalena Channels to enter the spectacular De Agostini Sound, at the heart of Darwin Mountain Range. There, observe glaciers descending the mountain all the way down to the sea. This extraordinary landscape mixing the Sea and moutnain Worlds offers a breathtaking view. On the afternoon, board on Zodiac boats and sail towards Aguila Glacier, where you will disembark and take an easy walk to the base of the Glacier. Experience the beauty of Patagonia's cold rainforest and witness how the power of nature shaped the area's landscapes. Sail back to the Stella Australis for the rest of the day.

   Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

   Overnight: 4 nights accommodation on the cruise

5. 5Magdalena Island & Punta Arenas⌄

   In the early morning, kick off your day with breakfast and, weather permitting, venture ashore on Magdalena Island, situated in the heart of the Strait of Magellan. Once a crucial resupply hub for sailors and explorers, the island is now home to a bustling colony of Magellan Penguins. Enjoy observing these fascinating creatures as you take a leisurely stroll towards the iconic lighthouse. In April, this adventure shifts to a Zodiac ride to Marta Island for an up-close encounter with South American Sea Lions.

   Then, after a 4 days journey through Patagonia's Glaciers and amazing landscapes, disembark around 11:30 am at Punta Arena.

   Meals: Breakfast