Antarctica and Patagonia: Legendary Ice and Epic Fjords (Northbound)

Start your trip by flying into Buenos Aires, the lively and busy capital of Argentina.

Arrival Time: Arrive before 11:00 a.m. local time.

Today, you fly south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, where you'll meet your ship. Ushuaia’s spectacular setting, between the jagged peaks of the Cordillera Darwin and the protected waters of the Beagle Channel, makes it an appropriately wild place to begin your journey to the White Continent. While you're there, you'll visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, where you can view a beautiful forest of southern beech, very much like those that covered Antarctica millions of years ago. Lunch will be served onboard a private catamaran while cruising the Beagle Channel, where you’ll be on the lookout for huge South American sea lions and birds like imperial cormorants. Residents of Ushuaia often call their small city ‘El Fin Del Mundo’, The End of the World, but for you, it’s just the beginning.

Sail to Antarctica via the Drake Passage, named after 16th-century English admiral Sir Francis Drake. Watch for dozens of species of seabirds gliding alongside the ship—including the albatross, which boasts the longest wingspan of any extant bird—and enjoy talks from the onboard naturalists about the wildlife and geology that awaits you on the Antarctic Peninsula.

It sounds like you're describing an incredible expedition! With such a flexible schedule and daylight lasting long into the evening, you're truly making the most of your time exploring. Every day seems filled with exciting possibilities, from watching whales from the ship to cruising among icebergs in a Zodiac. And the variety of activities, from kayaking among towering icebergs to encountering seals and penguins, ensures that each day brings new adventures. Having an expert expedition team to guide you must add so much depth to your experiences, too. Enjoy every moment of your extraordinary journey!

Relax on board and enjoy the ship’s amenities as the coast of Antarctica disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America at Cape Horn and witness the dramatic meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans en route to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Sail into southern Patagonia’s vast wilderness of forested isles, mirror-like lakes, and snowcapped peaks. Myriad fjords cut between soaring granite walls and waterfalls tumble from high above. Explore the region known as Chile’s “Glacier Alley,” part of the UNESCO-recognized Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. Cruise into the secluded Pia Fjord, admiring views of its massive glacier, and glide into Garibaldi Fjord in Alberto de Agostini National Park, where the Andes meet the sea. Get up close to the monumental wall of ice that marks the edge of Garibaldi Glacier, exploring by Zodiac or kayak. Continue to Agostini Fjord, where numerous glaciers originate from the nearby mountains, for a chance to witness thunderous glacial calving.

Local pilots join your captain on the bridge to guide you through the winding Kirke Narrows, accessible only to small expedition ships. You then continue your discovery of the Chilean fjords, where you may explore by ship or take a forest walk.

Early this morning you dock in picturesque Puerto Natales before heading out to explore majestic Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Set out by foot or by vehicle across the windswept, rugged landscape, which spans more than 550,000 acres and harbors an astounding variety of geological forms, from the soaring granite pillars of the “horns” and windswept grasslands to rivers, glaciers, and gem-colored lagoons. Keep an eye out for guanacos, rheas, foxes, and armadillos.

Today, you enter the Strait of Magellan to explore Francisco Coloane Marine Park. The park covers more than 165,000 acres of land and sea and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including humpback whales, two species of sea lions, and Magellanic penguins. Cruise along the coastline by Zodiac and kayak to watch for black and white Peale’s dolphins, the endangered Chilean dolphin, and Andean condors.

Cruise to Tierra del Fuego and venture into the archipelago’s largest protected land area: Karukinka Natural Park. Visit this private reserve by special permission, searching for Andean foxes, guanacos, black-browed albatross, and more. Then sail to Ainsworth Bay, a stunning fjord surrounded by subpolar forest, keeping an eye out for elephant seals.

Disembark in Punta Arenas and board your flight to Santiago to connect with your overnight flight home.