Tour Overview
| Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
|---|---|
| Region | Chilean Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego, Cape Horn |
| Route | Punta Arenas → Ushuaia → Punta Arenas (Round Trip) |
| Price From | $3,051 per person (twin share, B cabin) |
| Tour Style | Expedition Cruise / Grand Voyage / All-Inclusive |
| Data Source | Australis Cruises — 2026-2027 Season |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Punta Arenas — Embarkation
Board your expedition vessel in Punta Arenas at the Strait of Magellan. Welcome cocktail and safety briefing. Sail through the legendary strait as Patagonia’s golden steppe gives way to the fjords. Captain’s welcome dinner featuring Patagonian cuisine. Overnight at sea.
Day 2: Ainsworth Bay & Tuckers Islets
Enter Alberto de Agostini National Park. Zodiac to Ainsworth Bay and hike the subpolar Magellanic forest to a beaver dam. Visit Tuckers Islets for close-up Magellanic penguin viewing. Sail through the Cockburn Channel into the Beagle Channel. Overnight sailing through the fjord labyrinth.
Day 3: Pía Glacier & Glacier Alley
Zodiac to Pía Glacier — watch massive ice walls calve into the emerald fjord. Navigate Glacier Alley past España, Romanche, Alemania, Francia, and Italia glaciers. Afternoon exploration of Garibaldi Fjord. Evening naturalist lecture on Patagonian glaciology.
Day 4: Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay
The most legendary day: approach Cape Horn at the convergence of Atlantic and Pacific. Weather permitting, go ashore at the “End of the Earth.” Visit the monument, lighthouse, and chapel. Afternoon at Wulaia Bay — hike through pristine forests and visit the archaeological museum documenting the Yamana people. Cape Horn ceremony with certificate presentation.
Day 5: Ushuaia — Day at Leisure
Morning arrival in Ushuaia. Full day exploring the southernmost city: ride the Train at the End of the World through Tierra del Fuego National Park, visit the Maritime Museum in the former prison, or hike to Martial Glacier for panoramic Beagle Channel views. Re-board in the evening for the return voyage.
Day 6: Glacier Alley & Pía Glacier (Return)
Re-navigate Glacier Alley in different light — glaciers look completely different depending on the time of day. Second visit to Pía Glacier area (from a different angle). Wildlife spotting on deck: watch for humpback whales, Peale’s dolphins, and South American sea lions. Overnight in the fjords.
Day 7: Águila & Cóndor Glaciers
Zodiac landing near Águila Glacier — one of the most active calving glaciers in the region. Visit Cóndor Glacier and a scenic waterfall in a hidden fjord. Afternoon visit to Porter Glacier. Photography workshop on deck led by the expedition photographer. Overnight sailing.
Day 8: Magdalena Island — Penguins!
Full morning on Magdalena Island in the Strait of Magellan. Walk among 120,000+ Magellanic penguins along the designated path. Watch penguins waddle to and from their burrows, feed chicks, and interact in their natural colony. This is one of South America’s premier wildlife experiences. Farewell gala dinner aboard.
Day 9: Punta Arenas — Disembarkation
Dawn arrival at Punta Arenas. Farewell breakfast. Disembark with unforgettable memories of ice, penguins, Cape Horn, and the wildest seas on Earth. Transfer to airport or hotel.
Inclusions
- 8 nights aboard expedition cruise ship
- All meals + open bar (wine, beer, spirits, soft drinks)
- Daily zodiac excursions with bilingual naturalist guides
- Cape Horn landing and certificate
- Magdalena Island penguin colony visit
- Ushuaia day ashore
- All landing fees, park entries, and port taxes
- Onboard lectures and photography workshops
Why the Grand Voyage
- Complete Tierra del Fuego experience — everything in one voyage
- See Glacier Alley twice in different light conditions
- Cape Horn AND penguins — the two ultimate Patagonia icons
- Full day to explore Ushuaia between cruises
- Best value: two 5-day cruises combined with a discount
