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Los Glaciares in Patagonia

Patagonia & Chilean Fjords

Example 15 Day Cruise aboard Silver Explorer
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Discover the magical Chilean Fjords on a magnificent 15-day voyage aboard the Silver Explorer. Join a journey from the “End of the World” to “the Jewel of the Pacific”. Experience a remarkable medley of landscapes, from steep streets and jumbled buildings of Ushuaia to Patagonia’s lakes, glaciers, mountains, and fjords. The exceptional wooden churches of Chiloe delight history buffs while nature lovers rejoice in the wildlife, both at sea and in Torres del Paines National Park.
View the seal and cormorant colonies as you sail across the Beagle Channel Puerto Natales, PatagoniaFriends hiking during a trip togetherTorres del Paine sceneryLos Glaciares in Patagonia
Highlights
  • Visit Chile’s 3rd largest national park, Alberto de Agostini National Park
  • Take an enchanting walk in a stunning sub-polar Magellanic forest
  • Hike through Cordillera de Sarmiento's cascades and glaciers
  • Enjoy a traditional “Pulmay”, a meal typical of Chiloe
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Embark in Ushuaia, Argentina

Embark the Silver Explorer and depart on your exciting Silversea Expedition. Once you have settled in and before Silver Explorer leaves Ushuaia, attend a mandatory safety drill. Later be introduced to your Expedition Team and this evening you can enjoy the delights of a specially prepared menu in The Restaurant.

Day 2: Cruise the Garibaldi Fjord and Glacier

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Heading west in the Beagle Channel, Silver Explorer reaches the Garibaldi Fjord early in the morning. This beautiful corner of the Chilean fjords lies within the Alberto de Agostini National Park, Chile’s third largest national park. This park – with its 14.600 km2 – includes all Chilean islands south of the Strait of Magellan, including a portion of Tierra del Fuego.

The Garibaldi is an impressive glacier on the south face of the Cordillera Darwin. During a Zodiac cruise observe the different shades of blue of the ice - and calving events can make for a very impressive sight. Dozens of waterfalls dot the cliffs and in some cases the wind gusts can be so strong that the water gets blown upwards! In terms of wildlife you can expect to see the majestic Andean condor, a South American sea lion colony, skuas, kingfishers, flightless steamer ducks, crested ducks, kelp geese, ashy-headed geese, caracaras, vultures, and nesting imperial shags, among others.
                                                    
During the afternoon, the ship sails out into the Pacific Ocean to reach the entrance to the Strait of Magellan and the experts present talks in The Theatre to give you an introduction to Chile and the region’s wildlife and nature. Today's lecturers introduce you to the natural and historical highlights of Chile’s Magallanes Region and its capital Punta Arenas.

Day 3: Alberto de Agostini National Park | Ainsworth Bay, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today navigate past Dawson Island, quite infamous in Chile’s modern-day history as a penal settlement for political prisoners, into Almirantazgo Sound, to arrive at Ainsworth Bay. The bay is within Alberto De Agostini National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Depending on conditions, you may take a Zodiac cruise to see the Marinelli Glacier descending from Darwin Mountain Range. This area gives a good appreciation how the land returns to life after glacial retreat. Also take a walk in the stunning sub-polar Magellanic forest teeming with evergreens and deciduous trees. The bay promises a good chance of sighting southern elephant seals, while nearby Tucker Island is known to have Magellanic penguins

Day 4: Punta Arenas, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Leaving from Punta Arenas, the capital of the region, you have two options: you can either drive to the estancia El Galpón or visit historic Fort Bulnes. At El Galpón, get an understanding of the procedure of the wool and the importance of cattle and sheep to Patagonia through presentations of a video and the demonstration of sheep shearing. There is also a guided path of local flora, while rheas and guanacos can be seen roaming free. Visit the small museum and enjoy a cocktail before heading back to the pier.

Another option would be to head south along the Strait of Magellan towards the Patagonia History Park and Fort Bulnes, a reconstruction of the first Chilean settlement along the Strait of Magellan. The wooden buildings give a Wild West feeling – more appropriately Wild South – and the recently inaugurated visitor’s center gives an insight into the fort founded in 1843 and the impact it had on the region. Enjoy a stroll around the fort and the views of the Strait.

Day 5: Montañas Fjord, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Cruise the Chilean Fjords and head for  the Montañas Fjord in the late morning. Sail parallel to the Cordillera de Sarmiento where several cascades and seven glaciers come down the steep sides of the mountains and, conditions permitting, take a Zodiac cruise or even land for a short hike. In the afternoon continue towards Puerto Natales.

Day 6: Puerto Natales, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
From Puerto Natales head out to Torres del Paine National Park by bus. This is considered by many to be the most spectacular worldwide Reserve at the end of the world. Covering an area of 242,000 hectares, the park is a fertile combination of lakes, lagoons, waterfalls, glaciers, hills, and spectacular peaks and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. On the way to Laguna Sarmiento, the entrance to the park, stop for photos of the free roaming guanacos, Andean condors, and other wildlife. There enjoy the opportunities to see the Salto Grande waterfall, the famous Torres del Paine peaks (weather permitting) and Nordenskjold Lake. Lunch is had at the Serrano River area. Within the park there are three different options of walks and hikes, depending on your fitness or willingness to exercise.

Day 7: Cruising the Chilean Fjords | White Narrows, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Leaving Puerto Natales, reach the White Narrows and another spectacular facet of the vast expenses of Chile’s largest national park, Bernardo O’Higgins. The famous White Narrows become evident as mountains loom in on both sides of the fjord with hardy native plants clinging to barren rock. With only approximately 80 meters (260 feet) of clearance from either side of the passage, the sharp turns of the ship, skillfully executed between rocky outcrops, are fascinating to watch from the outer decks. On the transit through the breathtaking White Narrows, it is also possible to see seals and dolphins plying the waters alongside the ship.

Your course takes you through the vast expense of the Chilean Fjords. Sail through Chile’s largest national park, Bernardo O’Higgins, heading north for another famous narrow channel, the English Narrows. As Silver Explorer sails past Wellington Island –at 5,556 km² Chile’s second-largest island- your experts continue to assist you on deck looking for birds and mammals, while discussions and lecture also take place in The Theatre.

Day 8: Cruise Pio XI Glacier and English Narrows, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
During the morning attend lectures about the Fjords’ natural history or perhaps a seminar. Birders want to know and see what species live in this area. You might still have a chance to see Andean condors majestically soaring above the hills and mountains.

Around lunchtime visit the Pio XI Glacier. This tidewater glacier sprawled out in front of you is 4.5 km wide and a remarkable shade of brilliant blue. In the evening during dinnertime, head towards the English Narrows. The Captain and the local Chilean Pilots expertly maneuver Silver Explorer through the slalom course of islands and channel markers. At the narrowest part it has a width of 80 meters, permitting the passage of only one vessel at a time. Once you have passed the English Narrows have time for a leisurely dinner.

Day 9: Tortel, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Your course takes you to Caleta Tortel, one of the southernmost and until 2003 least connected settlements in Chile’s Aisén Region (in Patagonia). The abundant cypress led to the founding of the village and most houses are built on stilts along the shoreline of this hilly terrain. There are no conventional streets; instead the houses are connected by wooden walkways. Explore the village, where a folkloric presentation awaits you at the main plaza, and take your Zodiac cruise through the channels and the Baker River to visit “La Isla de los Muertos”, a small island used as a cemetery in 1906. Both the village and the island have been declared National Monuments.

Day 10: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Today the ship ventures again into the Pacific and round the Tres Montes and Taitao Peninsulas – the sea tends to be rough, but the area is known for its whales and dolphin sightings. Watch for cetaceans or relax in one of the lounges with that book you’ve been meaning to read and meet up with new friends for cocktails. During the night, Silver Explorer passes the Guaitecas Archipelago and enters calm waters.

Day 11: Castro, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Chiloé Island is home to an amazing collection of 150 Jesuit-built wooden churches, houses raised up on poles out of the water, and more than 400 native plant varieties. From Castro, head north to the picturesque village of Dalcahue and take a brief ferry ride to the island of Quinchao, passing through Curaco de Velez. This tiny village of approximately 500 inhabitants had its best times around 1850. Today, beautiful houses remain as a testament to those earlier days. Black-necked swans can sometimes be seen near the here. Then head for Achao, which was founded by the Jesuits in 1743. Achao is a lively town with boats arriving every day from all the surrounding islands.

Visit the Jesuit’s Achao Church, the oldest wooden structure in Chiloé and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Constructed in 1730, it contains beautiful baroque imagery. Afterwards, take the ferry back to Dalcahue. Here you can visit the well-preserved Dalcahue Church with its galvanized iron roof. The details and precision of the imagery carved by Jesuits from locally grown Patagonian cypress, larch, and luma trees are amazing - it was declared a World Heritage site in 2000. For lunch head to Rilan, where a traditional “Pulmay” is served. This is a meal typical of Chiloe, consisting of shellfish, potatoes, chicken and smoked meats cooked together in a pot (sometimes in an underground oven).There is a traditional folkloric presentation and a local fashion show of typical dresses and materials.

Alternatively, visit three of the 16 UNESCO World Heritage Site churches on the island of Chiloé in Vilupulli, Chonchi, and Castro. Apart from the churches, the Museum of Traditions can be visited in Chonchi. This small museum houses artifacts and photos relating to Chiloe and Chonchi and recreates the feeling of Chonchi in the early 20th century. The excursion ends with a visit to Castro’s handicraft market.

Day 12: Puerto Montt, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Puerto Montt is the starting point for excursions to the Lake District and specifically Lago Llanquihue. Drive along the southern shore of Chile’s second-largest lake and head for the Petrohué waterfalls. These falls ‘connect’ Lago Esmeralda with Lago Llanquihue and you can walk over to the viewing platforms of Chile’s best-known falls. Here have an opportunity to see some of the local plants and endemic trees. Later have the choice to either visit a typical Chilean farm to learn about the traditions of southern Chile’s food, music, tools and the national sport of rodeo, which is quite different from the North American version, or to have lunch at a local restaurant and to explore the town of Puerto Varas.

If you choose the Fundo Olguita, have lunch including empanadas, a tasty barbeque, and traditional German desserts – this area was first colonized by Germans in the mid-19th century. Also have the chance to learn the Chilean national dance, the Cueca. If you choose Puerto Varas, have time to explore the “City of Roses”, as Puerto Varas is known, and to browse the small handicraft village and see some of the wooden buildings for which the town was declared a “Heritage Zone”.

Day 13: Niebla, Chile

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
During the late morning the ship anchors in the Corral Bay halfway between Corral and Niebla. Niebla is a small village on the banks of the Rio Valdivia where Chile’s Corral Bay meets the Pacific Ocean. Today Niebla is a beach resort, but in 1671 it was a defensive fortress built by Spanish conquerors to prevent attacks from pirates and corsairs.

Today you can either drive to the charming river port city of Valdivia, where you can find an interesting blend of influences from the native Mapuche, Spanish settlers, and German immigrants, or take a catamaran on the river. In both cases have time to see the town of Valdivia. The first German colonists arrived here in 1849 and worked hard to develop Valdivia into one of southern Chile’s most productive areas. Their influence can be felt in every corner of this city. The town was affected by the 1960 earthquake, the worst ever recorded, but rebuilt with a strong German imprint. On your way to Valdivia see tracts of land that are still under water as a result of the quake. Visit the river market and have a look at downtown Valdivia with its mix of old and modern buildings. You have to choose whether you would like to visit the Fort at Niebla or enjoy fresh fish and crabs in Valdivia.

Day 14: At Sea

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
During the last day of your voyage, edit your photos and videos, attend final presentations and discussions, and watch your Voyage DVD prepared by the onboard Videographer.

Following the Humboldt Current, Silver Explorer continues north along the Chilean coast, heading for the most populous area of Central Chile, with the most important harbors, the seat of Parliament (Valparaiso), and the capital (Santiago).

Day 15: Disembark in Valparaiso, Chile

  • 1 Breakfast
While Silver Explorer approaches Valparaiso, take in the sights of “The Pearl of the Pacific”, as the city is known in Chile’s literature and music. Valparaiso’s historic hillside settlements (including the still used funiculars) have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After breakfast disembark Silver Explorer.

Ship/Hotel

Silver Explorer

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$6,700
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
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Adventurer Class
6 cabins on Deck 3, 180 sq. feet, Twin or Queen beds, 2 portholes.
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Explorer Class
4 cabins on Deck 4, Twin or Queen beds, 180 sq. feet with view window.
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View Suite
12 suites on Deck 3, 230 sq. feet with view window, Twin or Queen beds.
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Vista Suite
16 suites on Deck 4, 194 - 230 sq. feet with large window, Twin or Queen beds.
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Veranda Suite
8 suites on Deck 5, 215 sq. feet with French balcony, Twin or Queen beds.
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Medallion Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 358 sq. feet with private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
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Silver Suite
6 suites on Deck 5, 430 sq. feet with 2 French balconies, Twin or Queen beds.
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Grand Suite
2 suites on Deck 7, 650 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.
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Owner
2 suites on Deck 7, 540 sq. feet with large private veranda, Twin or Queen beds.

Notes

Please note: Fares are capacity controlled, and subject to change at any time without notice. All prices are in US dollars, cruise-only per person based on double occupancy.

- The supplement for single occupancy in a Vista, Veranda or Midship Veranda Suite ranges from 25% – 100% above the double occupancy fare, depending upon the sailing and suite selected. Single supplement for a Silver or Medallion Suite (Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper), Owner’s, Grand or Royal Suites are 100% above of the double occupancy fare. Suites for single and third guests are capacity controlled.
Included
  • 14 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches, 14 Dinners
  • 14 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Personalized Service with a Butler for all Suites
  • One hour free WIFI per day for all guests. Unlimited free WIFI for guests sailing on select suite categories.
  • In-suite dining and room service
  • Guided Zodiac, land and sea tours, and shoreside activities led by the Expeditions Team
  • Onboard gratuities
  • Beverages in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne, select wines and spirits
  • Complimentary transportation into town in most ports
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Some champagne, premium wine and spirit selections, caviar, cigarettes and cigars are not included in your fare.
  • Meals ashore
  • Laundry or Valet services
  • Casino gaming

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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