Antarctica & Patagonia Expedition

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, and you’ll love discovering it. 

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.

Get into expedition mode

Over the next two days at sea, you’ll learn more about the wonders we’ll encounter during 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, or enjoy the infinity pool, hot tubs, running track, sauna, and gym.

See stilt houses and historic churches

Set among the lush vegetation of Chiloé Island, Castro is Chile’s third oldest city. It’s home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, namely Iglesia San Francisco and Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Gracia de Nercón. 

From various vantage points, you can 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 firecrowns and Chilean flamingos, along with penguins, black-necked swans, ringed kingfishers, and silvery grebes.

Witness unforgettable seascapes

Your expedition cruise continues south through the waters of Patagonia. The seas here are captivating, with a whole palette of shades of blue, from the brightest aquamarine to the deepest midnight hues.

As we sail, there’s a good chance you’ll see whales, seabirds, seals, and more. Take in the scenery from the panoramic sauna or on-deck hot tubs and infinity pool, or just enjoy the on-board cuisine before relaxing in the Explorer Lounge & Bar. 

Your Expedition Team will be on hand with fascinating lectures on a range of topics, and our on-board photographer can help with tips on expedition photography.

Receive a warm welcome in Caleta Tortel

We continue to go off the beaten path to visit isolated Caleta Tortel. Lying at the mouth of Río Baker, Chile’s largest river, this charming village is home to around 500 inhabitants. 

Instead of streets, a maze of boardwalks connects the close-knit community, spreading over the water and around the mountain base. If conditions permit, you’ll be able to investigate the milky blue waters here by kayak. 

While exploring the village, you’ll come across locals selling handicrafts, and you may even be treated to a performance by folk dancers.

Wild Patagonia: Fjords, Culture, and Glaciers

We continue our adventure deep into the Chilean fjords with fantastic opportunities for scenic cruising aboard the ship and in our small expedition boats too. Adventure awaits in this wild and stunning landscape!  

As we sail through the maze of the Patagonian waterways, depending on tidal conditions, we hope to visit Puerto Edén, an enchanting village only accessible by sea. The 250-strong community here contains some of the last remaining members of the Indigenous Kawésqar people, offering a fascinating insight into Patagonian culture.   

Continuing further south, we will cruise the majestic fjords, taking in the incredible scenery along the way. Enjoy the fresh sea air as we glide past untouched isles and green mountains, looking out for rare wildlife. 

Our exploration continues within Alberto de Agostini National Park, all the way up to glaciers such as Garibaldi or Pia. Here, the Andes tumble into the Pacific and great glaciers calve ice into the beautiful fjords. If conditions allow, we’ll reach the glacier at the head of the fjord for some of the most breathtaking glacial scenery.

Get Ready for Antarctica

Over the next two days, we’ll navigate legendary Drake Passage toward Antarctica. En route, you’ll find out what lies ahead and 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.

Experience Antarctica in all its natural majesty

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Antarctica will fill you with wonder when you see its looming glaciers and icebergs the size of cathedrals. Perhaps the most surprising part of Antarctica is the silence. It’s a stillness that’s broken every so often by the locals – the wildlife. 

Nature reigns supreme here, and we are mere observers. Our experienced captain will continually monitor conditions to create the best possible itinerary for your adventure. Rest assured, each day will offer something different and thrilling.  

You’ll join the Expedition Team on landings and ice-cruises and may even get a chance to go kayaking among the icebergs.  

Back on board, the Expedition Team will continue their lectures, giving you deeper insight into the frozen continent. Over five magical days, you’ll experience this amazing world in a way that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Relax and learn as we cruise to Argentina

After four incredible days in Antarctica, we’ll sail back across the Drake Passage toward warmer weather in Argentina, giving you an opportunity to enjoy life on board.  

You can take part in art workshops, or perhaps enjoy a treatment in the spa. Get active in the gym or admire the 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.  Enlist the help of the Expedition Team to help identify species captured in your photos.

From Ushuaia to Buenos Aires

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 joining one of our optional Post-Programs before heading home.