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Wildlife, Glaciers & Cape Horn

Voyage south from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia on a small-ship expedition cruise packed with incredible wildlife, fascinating history, and breathtaking scenery. Sail the famous Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel, navigate Tierra del Fuego's islands and visit the Pia Glacier. You'll also visit the fabled Cape Horn and sight Magellanic penguins on this trip of a lifetime.

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Wildlife, Glaciers & Cape Horn

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Trip type

Cruise

Trip length

5 Days

From

$2,195

Location

Tierra del Fuego

Wildlife, Glaciers & Cape Horn - 5 - $2,195

Trip Summary and Itinerary Map

Day 1: Depart from Punta Arenas 

Day 2: Ainsworth Bay to Tucker Islets 

Day 3: Pia Glacier to Glacier Alley (Beagle Channel)

Day 4: Cape Horn to Wulaia Bay

Day 5: Arrive in Ushuaia

Start from Punta Arenas and end at Ushuaia

Landmarks visited on Wildlife, Glaciers & Cape Horn

Operator's Itinerary

Day 1: Depart from Punta Arenas

The starting point of the expedition cruise is the port city of Punta Arenas in Chile. You'll board the ship this afternoon and have some time to get to know your beautiful small expedition vessel. With a capacity of 210 passengers, your home for the next few days will feel intimate and practical. Every staff member on board will be dedicated to making your trip one of a lifetime. Departure is at 6pm and on the first evening onboard we'll enjoy a first-class dinner and an introductory lecture to get to know the captain, his crew and the expedition team.

After dinner you might like to enjoy the open-bar (all drink are included on this voyage) with its stunning panoramic windows for you to appreciate the breath-taking landscapes at the End of the World. You are unlikely to come across any other cruise ships on your voyage given that very few operators have permission to sail in these magnificent waters.

Meals: Dinner


Day 2: Ainsworth Bay to Tucker Islets*

At dawn, the ship will navigate its way through Almirantazgo Sound to arrive at Ainsworth Bay in Alberto De Agostini National Park. This is the perfect spot from which to see the Marinelli Glacier descending from the Darwin Mountain Range in the distance and to appreciate how the land returns to life after glacial retreat.

We'll take a walk to a beaver dam in the stunning sub-polar Magellan Forest. Whether we're on the beach or the island there's a good chance of sighting southern elephant seals, though bear in mind that sightings cannot be guaranteed due to the colony's unpredictable movements.

Later we'll sail to Tucker Islets* and after lunch we'll board Zodiac boats to get a closer look at a colony of endemic Magellanic penguins and nesting cormorants.

* In September and April, this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a nearby glacier at Brookes Bay.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 3: Pia Glacier to Glacier Alley (Beagle Channel)

The day will begin by navigating the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel before disembarking at Pia Fjord. Here you can choose one of two hikes. The first is a shorter hike to a panoramic viewpoint to enjoy spectacular views of the awe-inspiring Pia Glacier whose main tongue extends from the mountaintops down to the sea. The second hike is a longer, more challenging ascent of a lateral moraine of the Pia Glacier

More stunning scenery accompanies us as we continue the voyage along the Beagle Channel through the majestic Glacier Alley. A number of impressive tidewater glaciers flowing from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice sheet can be observed; most of them named after European countries, including Holland, Spain, Germany, France and Italy.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 4: Cape Horn to Wulaia Bay

During the morning we'll sail south through Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, where, weather permitting, we'll go ashore. The legendary Cape Horn was discovered in 1616 and is a sheer 425m (1,394ft) high rocky promontory. For many years it was an important navigation route between the Pacific and the Atlantic, and is often referred to as the 'End of the Earth'. In 2005 UNESCO declared the park a World Biosphere Reserve.

In the afternoon the ship will navigate Murray Channel bringing us to a landing on the shore at historical Wulaia Bay, originally the site of one of the region's largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed here in 1833 during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. This area is also famous for the spectacular beauty of its vegetation and geography. We'll walk through the enchanted Magellan Forest of Southern beech trees (lengas, coigues), winter's bark (canelo) and numerous ferns to a beautiful panoramic viewpoint.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner


Day 5: Arrive in Ushuaia

Today we'll sail into Argentine waters and arrive in Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego and the southernmost city in the world. Disembark the vessel between 8.30-9:30am for onward travel.

Meals: Breakfast


Please note that the same route can be taken in the opposite direction – see full details.

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What our customers think of Wildlife, Glaciers & Cape Horn

Wildlife, Glaciers & Cape Horn trips scored 4.6/5 from 26 reviews

Seeing the glaciers up front was an awesome experience, and we were incredibly lucky too with the weather for the Cape Horn excursion. To stand by the Albatross sculpture with a fabulous view of the 'end of the world' is an unforgettable experience!

Travelled: October 2022

Ralph Turkel - USA

It was a great trip – I loved seeing the marine mammals and wildlife.

Travelled: March 2019

Amy Rosen - United States Of America

The ship was clean and super comfortable! The staff were fun and engaged. The fjords were amazing. We had some tricky, although to be expected, Patagonia weather and the staff and crew were careful to make decisions that considered first and foremost the safety of the guests on the ship.

Travelled: October 2022

Gail Pontius - USA

Our cruise was really lovely. We learned a lot from the onboard lectures- about glaciology and also the history of the Yamana people. We enjoyed the zodiac excursions, we usually took the “easy” option because it came with more educational time.

Travelled: December 2018

Mindy De Hooge - United States Of America

I was blown away at the thoughtfullness that went into the experience and the level of service and consideration towards the guest. I greatly appreciated the historic/informative talks and movies, and the onship library was a treat.

Travelled: December 2018

Stephani Dalbesio - United States Of America

I have traveled to Patagonia many times many years ago and this cruise was something new. Ship and cabins nice, crew magnificent, food excellent, reasonable price.

Travelled: September 2022

Mark Bryant - USA

Our highlight was the cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia - landing on Cape Horn was amazing!

Travelled: February 2019

Jacky Wu - United States Of America

It is a true joy for all senses to cruise down the fjords and to be able to stop and take the zodiacs to shore for excursions. Knowledgeable guides add to these memorable experiences.

Travelled: October 2022

Ralph Turkel - USA

Being at the top of Cape Horn was emotional. I had no idea that it would have been so wonderful. However, the entire trip made a most memorable moment in my life.

Travelled: October 2022

Cindy Joyce - USA

The highlight was the glacier hikes from the zodiac boats. Four days of sailing, daily zodiac excursions, exploring without seeing any other groups of people or ships gave a real sense of the vastness of this region. We felt honored to be able to have this experience!

Travelled: January 2020

Lars Houmann - United States Of America

The cruise was fantastic. Every minute was an highlight! We saw tons of wildlife, dolphins, whales, seals, pinguins, and many birds. The guides were super, very interesting information, multi languages, and very friendly.

Travelled: February 2019

Anne Marie Mot - United States Of America

Review:

About The Ship

The new Ventus Australis expedition cruise ship is a 210-passenger vessel designed for exploring the remote southern tip of South America. It has been built with great manoeuvrability, a shallow draft, reinforced hull for ice-navigation and great access for easily boarding zodiacs during landings. There can be no better ship and crew for sailing through the narrow fjords and channels of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, where other ships dare not venture.

Adventure Cruising in Southern Patagonia

Prices, Departures and Inclusions

'Early Penguin' offer - book in advance to ensure you save up to USD $1,000 per cabin.
Special terms and conditions apply, please ask us for more information.

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Prices are per person, based on a double-occupancy basis.

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Please contact us for more information, terms and conditions and details of any cabins recently made available.

2023

2024

B Cabin A Cabin AA Cabin AAA Cabin AA Superior AAA Superior
March 2023
28-Mar-2023 Full $2,920 $3,120 $3,420 $3,820 $4,020 offer available Enquire
April 2023
5-Apr-2023 Full $2,195* $2,295 Full Full Full offer available Enquire
September 2023
25-Sep-2023 Full Full $2,387 $2,595 $3,145 $3,355 offer available Enquire
October 2023
3-Oct-2023 Full $3,095 $3,338 $3,659 $4,126 $4,342 offer available Enquire
11-Oct-2023 Full $3,095 $3,338 $3,659 $4,126 $4,342 offer available Enquire
19-Oct-2023 Full Full $3,338 $3,659 $4,126 $4,342 offer available Enquire
23-Oct-2023 Full $3,095 $3,338 $3,659 $4,126 Full offer available Enquire
27-Oct-2023 Full Full $3,338 $3,659 $4,126 $4,342 offer available Enquire
31-Oct-2023 Full Full $3,338 $3,659 $4,126 $4,342 offer available Enquire
November 2023
4-Nov-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
8-Nov-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
12-Nov-2023 Full Full $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 Full offer available Enquire
16-Nov-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
20-Nov-2023 Full Full $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
24-Nov-2023 Full $4,278 $4,505 $4,978 $6,009 Full offer available Enquire
28-Nov-2023 Full Full $4,505 $4,978 Full $6,464 offer available Enquire
December 2023
2-Dec-2023 Full $4,278 $4,505 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
6-Dec-2023 Full Full Full $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
10-Dec-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
14-Dec-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
18-Dec-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
22-Dec-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
26-Dec-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
30-Dec-2023 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
January 2024
3-Jan-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
7-Jan-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
11-Jan-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
15-Jan-2024 Full Full Full $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
19-Jan-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
23-Jan-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 Full $6,464 offer available Enquire
27-Jan-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
31-Jan-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 Full offer available Enquire
February 2024
4-Feb-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
8-Feb-2024 Full Full Full $4,978 $6,009 Full offer available Enquire
12-Feb-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
16-Feb-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
20-Feb-2024 Full Full $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
24-Feb-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
28-Feb-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
March 2024
3-Mar-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
7-Mar-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
11-Mar-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
15-Mar-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
19-Mar-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
23-Mar-2024 Full $4,278 $4,605 $4,978 $6,009 $6,464 offer available Enquire
27-Mar-2024 Full Full $3,338 $3,659 $4,126 $4,342 offer available Enquire
April 2024
4-Apr-2024 Full Full Full $2,595 $3,145 $3,355 offer available Enquire

* Note: Prices are per person. Paid in USD ($) - figure above is based on today's exchange rate. Actual cost $2195

Additional Notes

Excursion notes – Cape Horn Landing is subject to weather conditions. In September & April, due to penguin migration, the excursion to Tuckers Islets is replaced by a trekking expedition near a glacier in Brookes Bay.

Cabin details – Please contact us for further details of the different cabin types. In short:

  • There are a limited number of 'B' cabins on the lowest deck which tend to get booked up a long time in advance
  • 'AAA' cabins are on a higher deck than 'AA' and 'A' cabins
  • Superior cabins ('S') are approximately 25% larger

Cruise route – Please note that the same route can be taken in the opposite direction – see full details.

Single Supplement And Child Policy

Single supplement and solo travellers – The cruise operator does not have a 'willing to share' policy. If you are a solo traveller, or would like a single cabin, there is a 50% surcharge.

Baby policy – 0 to 3-year-olds travel for free if sharing a bed with parents. Please ask for availability of a complementary travel cots. Please note, they will still be charged the port tax.

Child policy – 3 to 12-year-olds receive a 50% discount when sharing a cabin with an adult.

Extra beds – It is possible to turn certain cabins into triple cabins; for availability and rates please contact us.

Includes

  • Meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners
  • Drinks: all drinks during bar opening hours (alcoholic and nonalcoholic)
  • All drinking water as requested
  • All safety equipment (life jackets) for zodiac excursions
  • Accommodation: cabin as requested (4 nights)
  • All shipboard excursions and activities (as detailed in itinerary)
  • Onboard activities and lectures

Excludes

  • Port tax (USD $105 per person)
  • Meals not indicated in itinerary
  • Any extra/optional excursions
  • Transfers to/from cruise port terminal
  • Personal equipment (see our recommended kit list)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Gratuities/tips
  • International and domestic/in-country flights
  • Any visa, passport and vaccination expenses

Questions about this Voyage?