Arrive in Ushuaia and be transferred to the group hotel located in downtown Ushuaia within walking distance of the pier. The remainder of the day is yours at leisure. 

Note: Arrival airport transfer is on preferred flights only.

Enjoy your breakfast at the hotel before exploring Ushuaia on a half-day city tour. Ushuaia, the capital city of the province of Tierra del Fuego, is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel and it is surrounded by the Martial Range, which offers a unique landscape as a result of the combination of mountains, sea, glaciers and forest. The city tour will visit The Mission, Brown, and Solier neighborhoods, where you can see old houses that belonged to the first families in Tierra del Fuego. Head to Martial Glacier and ride the chairlift, which offers wonderful views of Ushuaia. Continue to the End of the World Museum with exhibitions explaining the history of Tierra del Fuego. Enjoy a late-lunch and free time before walking to Ushuaia port in the late afternoon to meet your expedition team and commence boarding the Greg Mortimer.

As you travel into the Beagle Channel, follow the route that a young Charles Darwin took on board the famous HMS Beagle back in 1831, a five-year expedition that forever changed his life and which led him to develop his seminal theory of evolution. Sailing west from Ushuaia, travel through a dazzling stretch of the Beagle Channel called Glacier Alley or ‘Avenue of the Glaciers’, where this string of tidewater glaciers pushing down to the edge of the sea from the enormous Darwin Ice Field. Apart from the spectacular scenery, Glacier Alley offers opportunities to spot wildlife such as penguin rookeries, South American fur seals, and humpback whales.

In Punta Arenas, begin your exploration of Chile’s most southern city. Shore excursions include a hike in Magallanes Nature Preserve, a protected forest located just eight-kilometers to the west of the city. Enjoy an easy hike through the Patagonian forest learning about the local flora. On a city tour, visit Cerro de la Cruz lookout to see the bright colors of the city rooves of Punta Arenas, the Strait of Magellan, and the island of Tierra del Fuego on the horizon. Explore the main city plaza, visit the Salesian Maggiorino Borgatello Museum, one of the oldest in Chile with exhibits of local flora and fauna, colonial-era artifacts, Antarctica, and the ethnography of the region. At Straits of Magellan Park, the impressive visitor center hosts an interpretative multimedia display about the natural and human history of the Strait of Magellan. The Centre’s terrace offers sweeping views of Puerto Hambre. At Bulnes Fort, learn about the origins of Punta Arenas city. Take an easy 20-minute-walk through the "Windy Forest" or a longer one-hour coastal trail walk revealing the landscape, flora, and fauna of the Strait of Magellan.

As you sail to the north, you will enter one of the many channels and fjords of Patagonian Chile. Be prepared to experience weather. The fjords and islands of Chilean Patagonia take the brunt of the prevailing westerlies that blow across the southern seas, and here, the wind can blow almost constantly, and rain and snow can fall all year round. You may sail through Montañas Fjord, a long fjord flanked by rugged mountains and a number of glaciers including Herman, Bernal, and Paredes. If the Captain opens up the bridge, it’s an ideal opportunity to watch the scenery unfold as you sail through this beautiful channel. Enjoy informative and entertaining presentations from our hand-selected expedition team, who will bring to life the natural environment, wildlife, culture, and history of the places you’ll be experiencing. Depending on the tides, you may arrive into Puerto Natales in the late afternoon.

Torres del Paine National Park is undoubtedly the areas main drawcard and is world-renowned for its granite towers. These gigantic spires were carved by glacial ice and upon entering the park, you will see a series of lakes with intense colors, mountains covered in ice, and an array of local fauna. In Patagonia, you will feel the immensity of nature and delight in feeling completely insignificant in its presence. The jaw-dropping landscapes of turquoise waters, glaciers and towering granite horns of the Torres del Paine National Park is a humbling experience. There’ll be an option for trekking to "Los Cuernos" viewpoint - a flat path that offers constant views of the massif. It is a path suitable for anyone who regularly walks.

During slack tide, cruise to a narrow channel of water approximately 80 meters wide. Find a spot on one of our many observation areas and appreciate the masterful skills of our Captain as they navigate us through this difficult channel. The only way to visit this area is by sea, through a maze of fjords that ultimately lead to the entrance of Pío XI. Of the 48 glaciers in the Southern Ice Field, 46 are retreating and one, Pío XI, is advancing. Pío XI Glacier is an anomaly in a world where nearly all glaciers are retreating and being able to see it up close is a privilege.

Puerto Eden is a tiny fishing village connected by intricate canals, imposing mountains, icefields, and is considered one of Chile's most isolated inhabited places. The village is known for being the home to approximately 25 Kawésqar indigenous inhabitants. It is also connected by beautiful timber boardwalks called ‘pasarelas'. The Kawésqar are traditionally nomadic sea people and also known for their excellent craftsmanship for canoe-making, basketry, and local handicrafts. Explore the picturesque boardwalks over the maze of canals, meet the friendly locals, and soak in the tranquil natural beauty of this isolated hamlet.

After Puerto Eden, sail back to the channels for a full day sail towards Puerto Chacabuco. The team of experts will continue to deliver informative and entertaining presentations in the lecture theatre or you may choose to enjoy a book from our library, work up a sweat in the fitness center, treat yourself to a massage in the wellness center, or relax in the jacuzzi and sauna and simply enjoy the splendid scenery.

Puerto Chacabuco is the gateway to some of the most beautiful untouched natural beauty in the heart of Patagonia. Today’s shore excursions include a hike at Aiken del Sur park, which is set amidst unique and magnificent natural surroundings. Afterward, sample traditional Patagonian barbecue and a pisco sour, with magnificent views of the lake and forest before returning to the ship for lunch. Alternatively, head to Deer Island for a hike through the park, a unique place in the middle of the fjord crowned by mountains and glaciers. A return shuttle service will also be offered to Puerto Aisén, a picturesque town located next to Aisén River.

Today, sail to the land of myths and legends, unique folklore and culinary traditions as you arrive in the Chilean archipelago of lush islands. In Castro, discover the colorfully painted palafittes built on stilts above the water. Explore this mythical island with its colorful wooden churches, 16 of which have been declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Chiloé is renowned for its shipbuilding heritage and carpentry skills and nowhere else in Chile showcases this better than in Dalcahue village. Gastronomy is another drawcard for Chiloé. Blessed with abundant seafood such as mussels and cod, and with hundreds of potato varieties to choose from, the local cuisine is an experience to savor in Chiloé. Enjoy a curanto lunch specially prepared meal and one of the most ancient recipes still being used today.

Leave the channels and head out to the open seas of the Pacific Ocean where there’s opportunities to see more dolphins and perhaps migrating whales. Sharpen your photography skills with a few tips from our photography expert or bury yourself deep in the book you’ve been looking forward to reading. In preparation for your visit to remote Robinson Crusoe Island, our historian will bring to life the story of Alexander Selkirk, Scottish navigator who was stranded on the island for four years and four months beginning in 1704.

Robinson Crusoe is the ideal place if you want to get away from the world and enjoy a new level of connection with nature. Located 365 miles from the continent, Robinson Crusoe is a rugged island and is part of the Juan Fernandez archipelago, which was declared a National Parkland UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977. Onshore, you can discover the endemic flora and wonderful array of birds on a trek to Plazoleta ‘El Yunque’. On your hike through a native flora track, look for ferns, cinnamon, Juan Fernández Fire Crown, and the endangered endemic red hummingbird, found nowhere else in the world. Perhaps swim in the company of the friendly South American fur seals, go kayaking, and enjoy a typical local seafood dish for lunch.

Enjoy final lectures, edit and share photos, and celebrate an exciting adventure at the Captain’s Farewell dinner, reminiscing about all the wonderful things you’ve seen and experienced, and the tall tales of adventure, exploration and discovery you’ve learned during the voyage.

Disembark in colorful Valparaíso after breakfast where your voyage ends.