Cruising Fjords of Tierra Del Fuego
Cruising Fjords of Tierra Del Fuego
Cruising Fjords of Tierra Del Fuego
6 Days Starting in Punta Arenas, Chile and ending in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Visiting: Punta Arenas, Tierra del Fuego, Beagle Channel, Cape Horn, Buenos Aires
Tour operator:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 2
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey with the "Cruising Fjords of Tierra Del Fuego" tour, exploring the stunning landscapes of Argentina and Chile. Begin your adventure in Buenos Aires, the vibrant capital of Argentina, before heading to Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Set sail on a spectacular Patagonian cruise, navigating through breathtaking fjords, glaciers, and the iconic Cape Horn where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. Discover the rich wildlife of Magdalena Island, home to numerous penguins, and immerse yourself in the cosmopolitan charm of Santiago. Enjoy superior accommodations, full board meals, and an open bar on your cruise, with all transfers and domestic flights included for a seamless travel experience.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Punta Arenas (Arrival, Embarkation) – Strait Of Magellan (-/-/D)
Location: Punta Arenas
Accommodation Name: On-board cruise
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive at Punta Arenas and you will be transferred to Australis center (at 1398 Costanera del Estrecho Ave. (Arturo Prat Port) between 13:00 and 17:00) for check in. Later board the cruise at 18:00 (6 PM). After a welcoming toast and introduction of captain and crew, the ship departs for one of the remotest corners of planet Earth. During the night cross the Strait of Magellan and enter the labyrinth of channels that define the southern extreme of Patagonian. The twinkling lights of Punta Arenas gradually fade into the distance as we enter the Whiteside Canal between Darwin Island and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.
Overnight on board cruise
Day 2: Ainsworth Bay – Tucker Islets (B/L/D)
Location: Tierra del Fuego
Accommodation Name: On-board cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
By dawn the ship is sailing up Admiralty Sound (Seno Almirantazgo), a spectacular offshoot of the Strait of Magellan that stretches nearly halfway across Tierra del Fuego. The snowcapped peaks of Karukinka Natural Park stretch along the north side of the sound, while the south shore is defined by the deep fjords and broad bays of Alberto de Agostini National Park. Go ashore at Ainsworth Bay, which harbors copious bird life and a colony of southern elephant seals which can sometimes be spotted from the Zodiacs. Two guided excursions are available: 1) Go along the edge of a stream, peat bog and beaver habitat to a waterfall-and-moss-covered rock face tucked deep inside a pristine sub-polar forest; or 2) Enjoy a more strenuous hike along the crest of a glacial moraine. Both excursions afford views of Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountains. Leaving Ainsworth Bay behind, sail west along the sound to the Tucker Islets. After lunch, board the Zodiacs again for a close-up view of the Magellan penguins* that inhabit the tiny islands. More than 4,000 penguins use Tucker as a place to nest, give birth and nurture their chicks. Many other bird species also frequent the area including king cormorants, oystercatchers, Chilean skuas, kelp geese, dolphin gulls, eagles and even the occasional Andean condor.
*In September and April -- when the penguins live elsewhere -- this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a glacier at nearby stunning Brookes Bay.
Overnight on-board cruise
Day 3: Pia Glacier – Beagle Channel – Glacier Alley (B/L/D)
Location: Beagle Channel
Accommodation Name: On-board cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight sail around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the very narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, Stella Australis tacks eastward and enters the Beagle Channel again. By morning, enter the Pia Fjord and board the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier. After disembarking, take a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea or a longer much more difficult walk up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier. No one knows for certain how the hulking mass of snow and ice got its feminine moniker, but one theory says it was named for Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king. Back onboard the ship, continue east along the Beagle Channel through an area called Glacier Alley. Living up to its name, the passage features several impressive tidewater glaciers flowing down from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice Sheet on the north shore. Most of them named after European countries -- Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.
Overnight on-board cruise
Day 4: Wulaia Bay – Cape Horn (B/L/D)
Location: Cape Horn
Accommodation Name: On-board cruise
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
During the early morning, navigate the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands and drop anchor at historic Wulaia Bay, one of the few places in the archipelago where the human history is just as compelling as the natural environment. Originally the site of one of the regions largest Yámana aboriginal settlements, the bay was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain FitzRoy in the 1830s during their voyages on the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for its mesmerizing beauty and dramatic geography. After a visit to the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station -- which is especially strong on the Yámana people and European missionaries in the area -- passengers have a choice of three hikes (of increasing degrees of difficulty) that ascend the heavily wooden mountain behind the bay. On all of these you will be strolling through an enchanted Magellan forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic fauna to reach a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay. Before leaving Wulaia Bay, drop something into the wooden mail barrel inside the museum – letters or postcards meant to be hand delivered by future travelers – an ancient mariner tradition revived by Australis. In the afternoon, cruise across Nassau Bay into the remote archipelago that includes Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, you shall go ashore on the windswept island that harbors legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition -- and named after the town of Hoorn in West Friesland -- Cape Horn is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. For many years it was the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic, and was often referred to as the \"End of the Earth.\" The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. The Chilean navy maintains a permanent lighthouse on the island, staffed by a lightkeeper and his family, as well as the tiny Stella Maris Chapel and modern Cape Horn Monument.
Overnight on-board cruise
Day 5: Ushuaia (Disembarkation) – Buenos Aires (By Flight) (B/-/-)
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation Name: Hotel in Buenos Aires
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sail into Argentine waters and dock in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Australis is scheduled to arrive at 8:30 or 9:30 AM depending on the date of departure. Upon arrival, make your own way to the airport for flight to Buenos Aires. Arrive and you will be transferred to the hotel.
Overnight in Buenos Aires
Day 6: Buenos Aires – Usa /Canada (B/-/-)
Location: Buenos Aires
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you will be transferred to Buenos Aires International Airport for your flight back home.
What's Included
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Accommodation
01 Nights accommodation at listed Superior hotels or similar and 04 Nights accommodation on board listed Superior cruise or similar (cabin A - subject to availability).
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Meals
Daily buffet breakfast and full board meal plan onboard cruise.
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Transfers
Round Trip Airport transfers in Buenos Aires, Airport – Port transfer in Punta Arenas, and Port – Airport transfers in Ushuaia.
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Transportation
Transportation by private AC Vehicle.
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Cruise Amenities
Cruise welcome cocktail, open bar including wine, alcoholic drinks, and liqueurs (during authorized hours).
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Excursions and Activities
All shore excursions and on board activities and entertainment.
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Flights
Domestic flights in Argentina (Ushuaia - Buenos Aires).
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Taxes
All applicable local taxes.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenses
Items of a personal nature, gratuities and tips (recommended: USD 25 per person per night).
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Visa Fees
Visa fees, if applicable.
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Port Taxes
Port taxes: US $105 per person payable at booking time (Subject to change at Australis Cruises discretion).
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City Tax
Buenos Aires city tax, paid locally in cash only: Approx.
USD 1.
50 per person per night. -
Unlisted Items
Items not mentioned as being included.
Mode of Transport
Travel includes round trip airport transfers in Buenos Aires, airport-port transfers in Punta Arenas, port-airport transfers in Ushuaia, transportation by private AC vehicle, and domestic flights in Argentina.
Accommodation
Enjoy 1 night at a superior hotel in Buenos Aires and 4 nights on a superior cruise with full board meal plan, daily buffet breakfast, and an open bar.
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the cruise?
During the cruise, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including southern elephant seals, Magellan penguins, king cormorants, oystercatchers, Chilean skuas, kelp geese, dolphin gulls, eagles, and occasionally Andean condors.
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What activities are available on the cruise?
The cruise offers a range of activities including guided excursions, hikes, shore excursions to Pia Glacier, and visits to historical sites like Wulaia Bay. Onboard activities and entertainment are also included.
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What is the accommodation like on the tour?
Accommodation includes 1 night at a superior hotel in Buenos Aires and 4 nights on a superior cruise with a full board meal plan, daily buffet breakfast, and an open bar.
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Are there any special amenities on the cruise?
Yes, the cruise offers special amenities such as a welcome cocktail, an open bar including wine, alcoholic drinks, and liqueurs during authorized hours.
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What kind of hikes are available at Wulaia Bay?
At Wulaia Bay, you have a choice of three hikes of increasing degrees of difficulty. These hikes take you through a Magellan forest to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay.
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What is the significance of Cape Horn?
Cape Horn is a sheer 425-meter high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. It was the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans for many years and is often referred to as the 'End of the Earth.' The area is now a World Biosphere Reserve declared by UNESCO.
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What are the transfer arrangements during the tour?
The tour includes round trip airport transfers in Buenos Aires, airport-port transfers in Punta Arenas, and port-airport transfers in Ushuaia. Transportation is provided by private AC vehicle.
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Are domestic flights included in the tour package?
Yes, domestic flights in Argentina, specifically from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires, are included in the tour package.
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What are the meal arrangements on the tour?
The tour includes a daily buffet breakfast and a full board meal plan onboard the cruise.
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What is the embarkation process in Punta Arenas?
Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, you will be transferred to the Australis center for check-in between 13:00 and 17:00. You will then board the cruise at 18:00, where you will be welcomed with a toast and an introduction to the captain and crew.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, but only in case it was previously agreed by both sides and arranged by us.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our e-document package includes all local contact details, daily itinerary, airline e-ticket information, service vouchers, and travel tips which should be everything you require to go on your trip.
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If I need one, who is responsible to obtain my visa?
You are responsible for obtaining the proper travel documents for the destinations on your itinerary, including having a passport that is valid for at least 6 months before the date of departure and a visa if required. Please check the Visa section in the Know Before You Go document for the countries you will be visiting.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
No, not as standard. Solo travellers can book and occupy their own room for a supplement.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
We have been organizing unforgettable trips since 2001.
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Can I arrange flights via Indus Travels, too?
In some cases, yes. Indus Travels can provide flights from/to selected departure points in the USA. If you would like a quote inclusive of flights, please let us know and we'll be happy to check the details for you!
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
Changes to an existing reservation up to the Final Payment Date, whatever the cause, will incur a $100 per person amendment fee, potential loss of any supplier fees (such as non-refundable event tickets, park permits, and sea cruise reservations) plus any costs for replacement services. On/ after the Final Payment Date, the $100 change fee is no longer valid, instead cancellations terms apply.
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Low Deposit
Indus Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 45 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of indus travels charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.