National Holidays: Cruise through Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords 9 days / 8 nights

Your journey to the ends of the southern world begins in Puerto Montt. Boarding opens at 3:00 PM, and after a warm welcome and the mandatory briefings, the expedition sets sail toward the majestic Gulf of Corcovado.

You will continue south to visit the surroundings of Puerto Aysén and Puyuhuapi, in the Aysén region. As you cruise and explore the area, the landscape unfolds with its many fjords, islands, and channels. Depending on conditions, a visit to Puerto Cisnes, Puyuhuapi, or Magdalena Island is planned, with the possibility of spotting dolphins, whales, cormorants, sea lions, and river otters.

You will sail towards the heart of the Chonos Archipelago to explore the impressive Laguna San Rafael National Park, a biosphere reserve that opens the doors to the majestic Northern Patagonian Ice Field.
If the weather permits, you will navigate fjords, channels, islands, and coves, surrounded by breathtaking and remote landscapes in the heart of Chilean Patagonia.

As you sail south across the majestic Gulf of Penas, you will enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding towering mountain ranges. Along the way, the expedition team will immerse you in the fascinating history of the indigenous peoples of these southern lands, the first Spanish colonizers, and legendary explorers such as Charles Darwin, Fitz Roy, and Alberto de Agostini. You will also learn about the region’s rich biodiversity through expert presentations on the local marine fauna and flora.

If weather conditions allow, you will start the morning exploring Caleta Tortel, a picturesque village located between the mouth of the Baker River and a small cove in the eponymous channel. This charming place is famous for its stilt houses, characteristic of Chilote architecture, which extend along the coast for several kilometers. Its walkways made of Guaitecas cypress connect each home, giving the village a unique appearance and a deeply rooted culture.

Later, you will continue sailing south through the Messier Channel, where you will cross the narrow passage of the “English Narrows,” only 18 meters wide, to enjoy a privileged view of the imposing glaciers of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, home to some of the largest glaciers outside Antarctica.

Embark on an exciting Zodiac excursion to the majestic Amalia Glacier or the nearby glaciers of Peel Fjord, deep within Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. You will marvel at the glacier’s stunning bluish hues as you navigate among its ice floes, exploring one of Chile’s most mystical and natural corners. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, you'll get up close to the glacier’s brilliant and rugged textures, with the chance to spot dolphins in the distance, cormorants and condors soaring above, and otters playing in the water.

You will sail south through the majestic Strait of Magellan and discover the deep waters of the fjords emerging from Tierra del Fuego. You will explore the remote coast of the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a protected sanctuary where whales freely feed. With a bit of luck, you may spot humpback or sei whales breaching in the distance, as well as playful dolphins, sea lions, curious seals, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels that inhabit this incredible southern region.

Embark on a unique journey through the breathtaking Beagle Channel, a natural waterway that cuts through the heart of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Its name comes from the fires lit by Indigenous peoples, seen by the first European explorers. As you sail this passage dividing Chile and Argentina, you’ll witness striking ice formations along the snow-capped Darwin Range. Cruise along the iconic “Glacier Alley,” home to the Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche glaciers, en route to the majestic Garibaldi Fjord a dramatic display of ice, mountains, and sea.

Upon arriving in Ushuaia in the morning, you will disembark at this picturesque port surrounded by snow-capped mountains and untamed nature.