Experience the incredible diversity of landscapes and rich Antarctic wildlife on display in this pristine wilderness. This 18-day voyage begins with calls at Castro, Puerto Edén, and Puerto Natales before the ship heads south through the wild Chilean fjords and to Antarctica for four days of exploration.
Highlights
Explore 22 possible sites on the Antarctic Peninsula
Visit during the mating season for seals and nest-building for penguins
Voyage through the beautiful fjords of Chile with a landing at Cape Horn
Discover Castro & Puerto Natales in spectacular national parks
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
The voyage starts in the port city of Valparaíso. It is the third-largest city in Chile with charming cobbled alleys, colorful buildings, regular festivals, and street artists and musicians
While at sea, guests may be able to sight whales, dolphins, and sea birds such as albatrosses and petrels. Join lectures in the Science Center or spend time enjoying the ship’s infinity pool, hot tubs, gym, and Wellness Center.
Castro has colorful 'palafitos’ wooden houses mounted on stilts along the water's edge. Other highlights include Iglesia San Francisco, a UNESCO World Heritage church with wood interiors and stained-glass windows, and Feria Campesina Yumbel, a bustling food market. Most of the restaurants in Castro are concentrated along Calle Blanco, which is where guests can get a taste of curanto, a local meat, potato, and seafood stew.
Close to the town is Chiloé National Park and its wide beaches and rugged coastline are home to dozens of seabird species, penguins, and sea lions. The waters here are also visited by a number of whale species such as humpbacks, finbacks, seis, and the much rarer pygmy blue whales and southern right whales.
Included activity Castro Walking Tour (2 hrs)
Explore landmarks and cultural sights on a city walk through Castro, the capital of Chile’s Chiloé Island. Castro is famous for its ornate church, Iglesia de San Francisco, and the nearby districts of Rilán, Nercón and Chelín are known for their unique wooden churches, designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Castro and Chiloé are also famous for palafitos, traditional wooden stilt houses.
While at sea, guests may be able to sight whales, dolphins, and sea birds such as albatrosses and petrels. Join lectures in the Science Center or spend time enjoying the ship’s infinity pool, hot tubs, gym, and Wellness Center.
The sleepy village of Puerto Edén sits at the end of a deep fjord surrounded by mountains in the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. Its tiny population of 250 includes the 15 remaining members of the Kawéskar people, an indigenous Patagonian tribe. Guests can buy traditional Kawéskar crafts as souvenirs, such as wicker baskets and toy boats made from sea lion skins and tree bark. Birdwatchers should keep on the look-out for Magellan hummingbirds which are local to the area.
Puerto Natales is situated at the picturesque opening of Última Esperanza Sound and acts as the gateway to the world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park. Guests can wander the boutique shops and corrugated-tin houses, or sample some local Chilean cuisine. We will also visit the ancient Milodón Cave which is 100 ft high and 656 ft deep and made up of interesting rock formations.
A UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Torres del Paine National Park features towering mountain peaks, azure lakes, emerald forests, roaring rivers, one big, radiant blue glacier, and the third-largest ice field on the planet. Guests might see llamas, pumas, chilla foxes, and skunks in addition to more than a hundred species of birds such as the Andean condor and black-chested buzzard eagle.
Included Activity: Scenes of Puerto Natales (3 hrs)
Explore the small city of Puerto Natales and its scenic surroundings. Visit Plaza de Armas, a tree-lined square in the town centre, and then go to a large cave where the bones of a prehistoric ground sloth called a Milodón were found in 1896. The cave attracts many visitors and features a historical display of the tribes who inhabited the area as far back as 12,000 years ago
Guests will be able to admire the stunning scenery as we sail past a maze of islands, mountains, and fjords. They may also be able to spot colonies of Magellanic penguins on the beaches together with lounging elephant seals. In the water, migrating blue, grey, and humpback whales, orcas, and playful dolphins may also be seen.
The ship journeys the scenic Beagle Channel before turning due south towards Antarctica. We pass iconic Cape Horn, the southernmost point of South America. Before the Panama Canal, ships had to pass this infamous rocky island in order to cross between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Depending on sea and weather conditions, we will attempt to make a landing on Cape Horn, at the Captain’s discretion.
The Drake Passage connects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans and is the shortest crossing to Antarctica. It is also nicknamed the ‘Drake Shake’ when the seas are stormy or the ‘Drake Lake’ when the waters are still.
Each day, we venture to one of 22 possible sites to go cruising in small boats and to make landings where guests are able to observe penguin colonies, seals, whales, glaciers, and icebergs up close.
All aboard are invited to participate in lectures on glaciology, climate change, and marine biology. Guests can also engage in Citizen Science programs like photographing leopard seals and spotting whale tails that contribute directly to scientific research.
Included:
· Daily landings with short hikes to scenic or wildlife spots
· Small boat cruises near the ship and landing site
· Lectures on a wide range of scientific topics
Additional optional activities may include:
· Kayaking near icebergs, and possibly seals and penguins
· Longer small boat cruises to explore hard-to-reach areas
· Guided longer hikes to scenic viewpoints
· Camping ashore possibly with penguins
· Snowshoeing through pristine snowfields
· In-depth photography lessons
As we return to open water, guests will have time to learn more in the Science Center, attend lectures, enjoy the ship’s infinity pool, hot tubs, gym, and Wellness Center, or just relax while bird and whale watching out on deck.
Day 18: Punta Arenas | Fly to Santiago de Chile
1 Breakfast
It’s time to return home via Punta Arenas and Santiago de Chile.
Included transfers and flight:
• Transfer from the ship to Punta Arenas airport
• Flight in coach class from Punta Arenas to Santiago de Chile
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
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Cabin (RS)
183 sq ft, Cabins on middle decks with queen bed.
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Outside Cabin on Lower/Middle Decks (RR)
205–248 sq ft, Larger cabins on middle decks with flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed. Most are 215 sq ft.
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Outside Cabin on Lower/Middle Decks (TY)
258–280 sq ft, Large middle-deck cabins without a balcony, with flexible sleeping arrangements, amenity kit, kettle, tea and coffee. Accessible to guests with limited mobility.
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Outside Cabin on Lower/Middle Decks (TT)
291 sq ft, Large cabins without balcony. On middle decks, with flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa bed, amenity kit, kettle, tea and coffee.
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Cabin XY
205 sq ft, High-deck cabins with a broad balcony, double bed, amenity kit, kettle, tea and coffee. Accessible to guests with limited mobility
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Outside Cabin with Balcony (XTD)
161–205 sq ft, Spacious high-deck cabins with a balcony, double bed, some with sofa bed, amenity kit, kettle, tea and coffee.
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Outside Cabin with Balcony (XT)
161–205 sq ft, Spacious high-deck cabins with a balcony, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed, amenity kit, kettle, tea and coffee
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Corner Suite (MF)
237 sq ft, Corner suite with large windows, without a balcony, with flexible sleeping arrangements, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
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Suite with Balcony (ME)
215–301 sq ft, Suites with a private balcony on high decks, with flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker
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Large Suite with Balcony (MD)
377 sq ft, Large corner suite with a private balcony, flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, espresso maker. Accessible to guests with limited mobility.
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Corner Suite with Balcony (MC)
215–323 sq ft, Aft corner suites with a private balcony and hot tub, large windows, flexible sleeping arrangements, some with sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
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XL Suite (MB)
474 sq ft, Extra-large corner suites without a balcony. Aft corner suites with sofa bed, flexible sleeping arrangements, large windows, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
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XL Suite with Balcony (MA)
495–517 sq ft, Extra-large corner suites with a private balcony. The ship’s most spacious cabins, with large windows, flexible sleeping arrangements, sofa bed, mini-bar, amenity kit, bathrobe, kettle, tea and coffee, espresso maker.
Initial deposit is 20%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin
TrustScore 4.8 | 167 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 167 reviews on
5 hours ago
Adventure Life has been an extraordinary travel resource for us over the years and today was no exception. Our River Cruise booking was handled by Jess (who has been our personal trip planner for several years) the same day as our inquiry. Suggestions were given for cabin choice and pre-trip options (that were not shown on the cruise line's website) like airport transfers and prepaid gratuities. Trip insurance recommendations followed and we were assigned a travel co-ordinator till the end of the tour. All we have to do is show up! Great service from friendly folks.
APtravelwell
1 day ago
My representative Kevin was very responsive generally and in crafting our itinerary to our specific priorities.
Rocco Labella
1 day ago
Although there was a lot of paper work, I received help and guidance when I needed it.
Donna Kirby
2 days ago
Our travel was flawless! The rider pickup (airport, hotel, ship) was seamless. Jane's recommendation for Emerald Cruise Sakara was everything I wanted but the experience was soooo much more. Adventure Life took care of each and every detail and this was the easiest of all my travels.
Anne Petty
3 days ago
Follow up was effective any questions were answered in a timely manner