In the Wake of the HMS Beagle through the Chilean Fjords

Arrive in Ushuaia, relax, and spend the overnight preparing for your adventure.

*specific hotel and location to be announced

Nestled in the foothills of the snow-capped Martial Range, Ushuaia’s colorful streets and mismatched buildings cascade from the imposing mountains before coming to an abrupt halt at the shores of the Beagle Channel. As one of the world’s southernmost cities, Ushuaia carries its ‘end of the world’ reputation well. The moody weather and dramatic surroundings certainly help. Board your boutique ship before departing for your journey through one of the most captivating wilderness regions of the world.

Considered one of Chile’s most beautiful glaciers, the towering teal walls of Garibaldi Glacier are pretty spectacular. Surrounded by pristine sub-Antarctic forests, the vegetation is just as impressive as the ice. The glacier and surrounding Garibaldi Fjord are part of Alberto de Agostini National Park. The park is also a recognized UNESCO Biosphere Reserve due to its unique terrestrial, marine, and coastal ecosystems and is considered one of the 24 most pristine ecoregions on the planet.

Angostura Kirke is a narrow waterway that connects the Gulf of Penas with the Gulf of Corcovado in Chile. It is a challenging passage for navigation, as it has strong currents and winds and requires precise timing and skill. However, it also offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and islands and the possibility of spotting dolphins, seals, and birds.

Situated on Last Hope Sound, the pretty port town of Puerto Natales is an ideal base for visiting the famed and feral Torres del Paine National Park. The park’s crown jewel, the imposing trio of granite pillars, dominates the landscape in a manner reminiscent of Tolkien’s Mordor. Explore beyond the star attraction and discover glaciers, vibrant teal lakes, lush forests, and thundering rivers. The region also has fascinating wildlife, including guanaco, Darwin’s rhea, armadillo, and the Patagonian fox. It is also one of the top places in the world to see puma.

At almost 66 kilometers in length, Pio XI Glacier, also known as Brüggen Glacier, is the longest glacier in the southern hemisphere outside of Antarctica. With a surface area exceeding 1265 km2, it is one of the few glaciers in the world that is not retreating. It is advancing year after year, with an average advance in length, height, and density of up to 50 meters per day. Pio XI is an incredible sight to behold. Giant ice cliffs that rise to a height of 75 meters are intersected by deep blue crevasses and free-standing ice pillars known as seracs.

Angostura Inglesa is a narrow passage in the Messier Channel on the southwestern coast of Chile. It offers a scenic journey through the fjords and glaciers of Patagonia and is a challenging passage for navigation, as it has strong currents and winds and requires precise timing and skill. However, it also offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and islands and the possibility of spotting dolphins, seals, and birds. Angostura Inglesa is a place for those who want to experience the thrill and beauty of sailing in Patagonia.

Travel through the green hills and snow-capped peaks of the English Passage before arriving in the remote village of Caleta Tortel. Tortel is located at the mouth of the Rio Baker River and only had its first inland road built in 2003. The town was isolated before the road’s construction, with the river and sea as its primary transport routes. The streets here consist mainly of boardwalks, and the houses are mostly built on stilts. The village evolved due to the local timber industry and is a beautiful place to observe traditional wooden architecture.

Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea allows you to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip, or head to the library full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of the on-board lectures, or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from the on-board professional photographers.

Disembark today in the small, picturesque city of Castro, the capital of Chiloé Island. The city is known for its brightly painted wooden houses built on stilts (palafitos). Beyond the palafitos, you may want to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Iglesia San Francisco, an old wooden Neo-Gothic church dating back to the city's founding in 1567. Venture further afield into nearby Chiloé National Park to see native alerce conifers, the largest tree species in South America.

Puerto Montt marks the southern end of Chile's Lake District and is well known for its busy port and salmon fishing industry. From here, visit the vibrant and thundering Petrohué Rapids at the foot of the iconic Osorno Volcano. The falls and the volcano are to be found in the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, Chile's oldest national park. The city itself is relatively small and easy to explore on foot. The Museo Histórico displays fossils and items relating to the area's indigenous history and is worth a visit.

Days at sea are the perfect chance to relax, unwind, and do whatever you fancy. So whether going to the gym, visiting the spa, trying to spot a whale from the deck, reading a chapter or two, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to the green days spent exploring on land.

Mocha's small, nature-protected island has a fascinating natural and human history. Inhabited by one of the world's smallest deer species, the pudú, 45% of the island's surface area is a nature reserve. In the 16th century, the island was regularly visited by English and Dutch pirates, including Francis Drake and Oliver van Hoort. It is also said that the waters around the island were once home to a famous 19th-century sperm whale, Mocha Dick, the whale thought to be the inspiration for Herman Melville's Moby Dick.

One of Chile’s oldest cities, Valparaíso is known for its steep hillsides overlooking the ocean and its historical but perfectly functional funicular. The UNESCO-listed city is a maze of monuments, incredible architecture, churches, cobblestone alleys, colorful houses, and bustling plazas. Spend some time following in the footsteps of Chile’s most famous poet, Pablo Neruda, by visiting his former home. Or perhaps enjoy a wine tasting on a trip to the Casablanca Wine Valley.