Fjords of Tierra del Fuego

Save $250 per person

Description

Embark on a 5-day expedition cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, exploring the remote fjords of Patagonia, encountering majestic glaciers, visiting penguin rookeries, and traversing untouched wilderness. Experience the thrill of attempting a landing at Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America.

Setting sail from the Chilean port of Punta Arenas, your journey will take you through the Southern Fjords of Patagonia, concluding in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Navigate the Strait of Magellan, which separates the island of Tierra del Fuego from mainland Chile and Argentina. Marvel at colossal glaciers, including the highly active Pia Glacier. Daily landings and zodiac excursions offer opportunities to explore pristine landscapes and observe wildlife up close, capturing the dramatic beauty of these moody, atmospheric settings.

A standout moment of the cruise may be the attempt to land at Cape Horn, or simply indulging in the tranquility of nature, perhaps with a playful dolphin providing a brief distraction.

Pricing

Cabin AA

From

$3,942*

*Pricing based on 22 Sep 2025 departure, per person, twin share, is an indication only - subject to USD currency fluctuation

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Punta Arenas 
Check in at 1398 Costanera del Estrecho Ave. (Arturo Prat Port) in Punta Arenas between 13:00 and 17:00 (1-5 PM) on your cruise departure day.

Board the ship at 6 PM for a welcoming toast and introductions to the captain and crew. The vessel departs for one of the most remote corners of the Earth. During the night, you will cross the Strait of Magellan and enter the labyrinthine channels of southern Patagonia. The lights of Punta Arenas gradually disappear as you navigate the Whiteside Canal, situated between Darwin Island and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.

Day 2: Ainsworth Bay & Tucker Islets
By dawn, the ship will be navigating Admiralty Sound (Seno Almirantazgo), an impressive extension of the Strait of Magellan that stretches nearly halfway across Tierra del Fuego. Snow-capped peaks of Karukinka Natural Park line the northern side, while the southern shore features the deep fjords and expansive bays of Alberto de Agostini National Park. You will disembark at Ainsworth Bay, home to abundant birdlife and a colony of southern elephant seals, occasionally visible from the Zodiacs. Choose between two guided excursions: one along a stream, peat bog, and beaver habitat to a waterfall and moss-covered rock face in a pristine sub-polar forest, or a more challenging hike along a glacial moraine, both offering views of Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountains.

After the Ainsworth Bay tour, you will sail west to the Tucker Islets. After lunch, you will board Zodiacs for a close-up look at the Magellanic penguins nesting on these small islands. Over 4,000 penguins use Tucker for nesting and raising their chicks. The area also hosts various bird species such as king cormorants, oystercatchers, Chilean skuas, kelp geese, dolphin gulls, eagles, and occasionally the Andean condor. During September and April, when the penguins are elsewhere, this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a glacier at the nearby Brookes Bay.

Day 3: Pia Glacier & Glacier Alley 
Overnight, you will navigate around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the narrow Gabrial, Magdalena, and Cockburn Channels. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the ship will tack east into the Beagle Channel. By morning, you will enter Pia Fjord and board Zodiacs for a tour of Pia Glacier. A short hike offers panoramic views of this spectacular glacier extending from the mountaintops to the sea, or opt for a more strenuous hike up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier.

The glacier's name may be derived from Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king, though the exact origin of the name is uncertain.

Back on board, you will continue east along the Beagle Channel through Glacier Alley, aptly named for its impressive tidewater glaciers flowing from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice Sheet on the northern shore, including glaciers named after European countries like Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain, and France.

Day 4: Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay 
In the morning, you will cross Nassau Bay into the remote archipelago including Cape Horn National Park. Weather permitting, you will land on the windswept island featuring the legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition and named after Hoorn in West Friesland, Cape Horn is a 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent Drake Passage. Once the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic, it was known as the "End of the Earth." The park, declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2005, hosts a Chilean navy lighthouse, a lightkeeper and his family, as well as a small Stella Maris Chapel and the modern Cape Horn Monument.

In the afternoon, you will navigate the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste Islands and anchor at historic Wulaia Bay, renowned for its human and natural history. Once one of the region’s largest Yámana aboriginal settlements, it was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain FitzRoy during their 1830s voyages on the HMS Beagle. The bay is also celebrated for its dramatic beauty and geography. After visiting the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station, which highlights the Yámana people and European missionaries, you can choose from three hikes of varying difficulty through the enchanted Magellan forest to a panoramic viewpoint. Before leaving Wulaia Bay, you can contribute to a wooden mail barrel in the museum, continuing the ancient mariner tradition revived by Australis.

Day 5: Ushuaia
The following morning, you will enter Argentine waters and dock in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city.

Arrival is at 08:30 AM or 09:30 AM, depending on the departure date.

What's Included

INCLUDED

• All-inclusive meals and open bar with selected beverages, liquors, and wines 
• Daily excursions by zodiac and shore landings 
• Onboard presentations and entertainment 
• Experienced and knowledgeable expedition crew 

 NOT INCLUDED

• Port taxes are additional (USD 125pp subject to change)
• Flights and gratuities not included 

Your Ship

The Stella Australis and the Venus Australis, both accommodating up to 210 guests, are contemporary sister expedition cruise ships outfitted with cutting-edge navigation and safety technology. Navigating the renowned Patagonia region in Chile, the ships boast a spacious open top deck for breathtaking views of the southern landscape. Onboard amenities include a gift shop, game room, infirmary, and a cozy library. Additionally, three lounges equipped with modern audiovisual systems provide an ideal setting for immersive naturalist lectures.

Terms and Conditions

Prices advertised are NZD but based on USD and are subject to change due to currency fluctuations. Prices are subject to change and subject to availability at time of booking. 

Prices are in NZD (unless specified otherwise) per person, in complete twin/double share accommodation (or single occupancy or family share where specified), valid for new bookings only, subject to availability. Offers are capacity-controlled and may be reduced, changed, extended or withdrawn at any time, without notice. Unless specified, airfares (and often transfers) are additional. Pricing variations may occur due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Prices include savings/discounts where applicable and all taxes/charges (which are subject to change). Offers valid for travel originating in New Zealand only. Required deposit amounts and deposit/final payment dates vary. Deposits may or may not be refundable. Amendment and cancellation fees apply. All products and itineraries are subject to change at the discretion of the supplier. Prices are based on cash, Eftpos, or Direct Credit payment only. We accept all major credit cards, however, processing fees apply. World Travellers reserve the right to correct any errors or omissions at any time. To be read in conjunction with the booking terms and conditions applicable to Viva Expeditions. Travel documents & vaccination requirements are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Professional service fees may apply. Airfares & transfers are additional (unless specified otherwise). Some staterooms are based on a 'guarantee' stateroom. The exact stateroom grade, number and location on the ship will be allocated at the discretion of the cruise line. Some staterooms have obstructed views.