Southern Patagonia: Glaciers, Fjords, and Wildlife

Days 1-2

U.S. / Buenos Aires, Argentina

Arrive in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires after an overnight flight and check into the Alvear Icon Hotel (or similar). In the afternoon, set out on a guided tour of the city’s Beaux-Arts palaces and parks. Visit Recoleta—the final resting place of Argentina's iconic first lady, Eva Perón—and enjoy a private visit to El Zanjon de Granados, one of the city’s premier museums. This evening, join your fellow travelers at the hotel for a welcome drink and pre-embarkation briefing.

Day 3

Fly to Ushuaia / Embark Ship

Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Before embarking, relax and enjoy lunch on a catamaran cruise of the Beagle Channel, a region of beech forests, mountains, and rushing rivers.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 4-5

Exploring the Chilean Fjords: Glacier Alley

Sail into a vast wilderness of snow-capped peaks and mirror-like lakes, thick glaciers, and islets blanketed with vegetation. In this pristine landscape, myriad fjords or senos cut between soaring granite walls and waterfalls splash down from high above. The region we explore for the next two days is known as Glacier Alley. The entire area is part of a greater UNESCO Biosphere Reserve focusing on the Magallanes Sub-Antarctic Evergreen Rainforest. The incredible biodiversity here arose with the retreat of the glaciers which formed these fjords. We begin at Seno Pia, a secluded fjord in the northwestern arm of the Beagle Channel with an impressively large glacier at its terminus. Next is Seno Garibaldi, part of Alberto de Agostini National Park, a dramatic region where the formidable Andes meet the sea. We will visit the Garibaldi Glacier by Zodiac and ship, marveling at this stunning wall of ice. Seno Agostini is the origin of numerous glaciers from the nearby mountains, originating at more than 6,600 feet in elevation. We will explore this region from our Zodiacs, getting close to floating brash ice and bergy bits, watching for wildlife, and hoping to witness the thundering process of glacial calving.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6

Francisco Coloane Marine Park

Located in the Strait of Magellan, Francisco Coloane Marine Park is the largest marine protected area along the Chilean coast, and it was also the first, established in 2003. This productive area supports vast and unique biological diversity, which will be the focus of our visit. A large summer population of humpback whales uses these waters as feeding grounds, as do South American sea lions. Black and white Peale’s dolphins are frequently seen, and we’ll search for the endemic and endangered Chilean dolphin. Exploring the marine park by Zodiac, kayak, and on foot, we'll search for large marine and terrestrial birds including the Andean condor or the giant Antarctic petrel. On Rupert Islet we’ll visit a large Magellanic penguin colony.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 7-8

Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine

Our next two days will be spent exploring the region around Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. We will drive to the park, and you’ll have the option to trek on foot or explore part of the park by vehicle. The landscape is big, wide, and sprawling, with some of the most dramatic mountain scenery anywhere and wildlife that includes rheas, foxes, and herds of guanaco. Discover one of the most spectacular and wildlife-rich areas in the Americas, covering 450,000 acres of glaciers, forests and grasslands, rivers and gem-colored lagoons, crowned with the pinnacles of Torres del Paine. We will also spend time closer to Puerto Natales itself and learn more about the culture and history of the indigenous people of the region. Enjoy alternate opportunities for birding for Andean condors or hiking the beautiful terrain of the region.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 9-10

Exploring the Chilean Fjords: Kirke Narrows

After a last morning in Puerto Natales, we have two days to continue our exploration of the Chilean fjords. Our Captain and local pilots guide us through Kirke Narrows, accessible only to a small expedition ship such as our privately-chartered catamaran. While the wildlife of the region leaves many speechless, the combination of unspoiled scenery, national parks and lush Magellanic forests is what makes the fjords of Chile so captivating. We continue to explore the extensive maze of pristine channels and islands, where we may explore by Zodiac and kayak or take a walk in the surrounding forest.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11

Punta Arenas and Isla Magdalena

This morning we arrive in Punta Arenas, the largest city in Patagonia. With local guides, we will visit the historic center of the city, the Plaza de Armas, and a local handicraft market. Visit the Patagonia Institute and the Salesian Museum to learn the region’s archaeology and wildlife. Alternatively, go for a hike in the Magallanes National Reserve, which offers outstanding views of the valley below and of Punta Arenas. Later, be on deck as National Geographic Endurance navigates the Strait of Magellan en route to Isla Magdalena. The island has been designated a national nature reserve because of its importance as a penguin breeding site. Go ashore at the Penguins National Nature Reserve and witness Magellanic penguins in one of the most accessible Magellanic penguin rookeries in the world. Photo opportunities abound here.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 12-13

Tierra del Fuego: Karukinka Natural Park and Bahia Ainsworth

Continue to the newest and largest protected area on Tierra del Fuego: Karukinka, meaning “our land” in the language of the ancient inhabitants. We have obtained permission to visit this private reserve which harbors abundant wildlife, including endangered culpeo foxes, guanacos, black-browed albatross, Andean condors, and elephant seals. On our last day in the Chilean fjords we set out to explore in Zodiacs and kayaks, and on foot. Visit Bahía Ainsworth at the base of Marinelli Glacier to explore the sub-polar Magellan Forest. Keep an eye out for southern elephant seals along the beach.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 14-17

Cape Horn and Isla de los Estados (Staten Island), Argentina

On the first of these days we visit Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of the South American continent. Conditions permitting, make a landing to look out at the waters of the Drake Passage. By special permission, we continue to Isla de los Estados, where wild, untouched landscapes are home to Magellanic penguins, fur seals, otters, sea lions, and countless water birds. Our exact schedule will remain flexible to take best advantage of conditions for exploring this natural wonderland. See a reconstruction of the 1884 San Juan de Salvamento “lighthouse at the end of the world,” which inspired Jules Verne’s novel of the same name. The National Geographic Endurance is one of the few expedition ships to be granted access here, and the experience is bound to be unforgettable.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 18-19

Ushuaia / Buenos Aires / Disembark Ship

Disembark in Ushuaia and take a charter flight to Buenos Aires to connect with your overnight flight home. Breakfast and lunch are included on Day 18.