Buenos Aires moves to a rhythm that is unmistakably unique to the Argentinian capital. Just ask a local and they'll tell you straight away: it's the diverse melting pot of people who inject vibrancy into the city. These portenos (port people) have roots from all across the globe, bringing their diverse cultures with them. The result is an intoxicating blend of romantic music, tango dancing around every corner, Maradona soccer fans, Old World Colonial architecture, and flavorful food. You'll spend one night at a hotel in the city before catching an early flight the next morning. Depending on when you arrive, you may have some time to explore a slice of this bustling capital. Visit Teatro Colon, a beautiful opera house dating back to 1908. Then pop into the historic Cafe Tortoni for Parisian-inspired coffees and chocolate-dipped churros. Caminito is a multi-colored 'street museum' in the La Boca neighborhood, filled with lively markets and restaurants hosting live folk dancing and tango shows. The party doesn't stop there, though. Late into the night, the upscale Palermo district is filled with bars and boliche clubs (night clubs). We recommend coming to Buenos Aires a few days early to fully explore the city or join a pre-program to wild Patagonia. ... Read More
Today, you'll have an early start. We'll meet in the hotel lobby in the morning to head to the airport for our flight to Ushuaia. The capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province sits on a bay backed by the snow-capped mountains of Martial Glacier, to the north. Although Ushuaia claims to be the world's southernmost city, two other Chilean cities also lay claim to this dubious title. Your base camp at sea, MS Roald Amundsen, will be waiting here at the port for you. Onboard, pick up your complimentary wind and water-resistant expedition jacket before attending a mandatory safety drill before departure. Afterward, you will have time to tour the ship and settle into your cabin before we enjoy a welcome dinner together. ... Read More
Saturday - Mar 22, 2025
Day 3
Cruising Beagle Channel, Argentina
Cruising Cape Horn, Chile
As we sail through the scenic Beagle Channel in the morning, watch for the rare, endemic Peale's dolphins and other wildlife. Once we leave the channel, our journey down to the legendary Cape Horn begins. Dutchman Willem Schouten discovered this headland on Hornos Island in 1616. He named it 'Kaap Hoorn' after the city of Hoorn in the Netherlands. For centuries, it was a major landmark in the old clipper routes that connected Europe with the Far East and Oceania. It is still a monumental point for those sailing around the world. The area around the island is where the open waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans collide, creating powerful waves that are made even stronger by swirling westerly winds. For yachters, rounding Cape Horn is a maritime feat, comparable, for them, to summiting Mount Everest. The notoriously turbulent waters make it impossible to guarantee a landing here. But if fortune plays in our favor that day and the weather is stable enough to dock on the island and go up to the cape, you may be among a select few in the world to set foot on glorious Cape Horn. ... Read More
Sunday - Mar 23, 2025
Day 4
Puerto Williams, Chile
There are few places that feel as 'end of the road' as Puerto Williams, which is located on Isla Navarino, between Dientes de Navarino mountain range and the southern bank of the Beagle Channel. Even though it is one of three contenders for the title of 'World's Southernmost City', Puerto Williams has a quiet atmosphere more akin to a small town. Why not go to the post office and send a postcard to friends and family back home? They will be thrilled to receive a message all the way from the 'end of the world'. The city began as a military outpost in 1953 and most of its 3,000 residents are affiliated with the local naval base. Puerto Williams is also home to around 70 indigenous Yahgan people, who have lived in the Tierra del Fuego region for 10,000 years. To learn more about the history of the Yahgan people and the city, it is well worth dropping into the Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum. Examine Yahgan artifacts and a traditional canoe, as well as maps and photographs or the region. Check out a replica of the bow of the Yelcho-the ship that rescued Shackleton's men, who were stranded on Elephant Island in 1916. Or go for a walk in the town and immerse yourself in the gorgeous scenery, either on your own or through a guided optional excursion. If the weather is nice, you may also have the opportunity to participate in an optional kayaking activity, too. Birdwatchers, on alert! Have your binoculars at the ready to spot a range of seabirds, including the mighty albatross. ... Read More
Monday - Mar 24, 2025
Day 5
Cruising Garabaldi Glacier, Chile
The day's activity is a scenic cruise in Garibaldi Fjord, in Alberto de Agostini National Park, all the way up to Garibaldi Glacier. In this stunning region, the Andes tumble into the Pacific Ocean and great glaciers feed ice (and sometimes icebergs) into the beautiful Chilean fjords. The waters are filled with glacial sediment, giving them a creamy blue appearance. Meanwhile, the sheer cliffs glisten with ribbons of waterfalls, perhaps in full flow from recent rainfall. From our past sailings here, we know that strong winds and thick sea ice may block our route. If weather and waters are kind, however, we may be able to reach the head of the fjord at Garibaldi Glacier, one of the most impressive glaciers in all of Chile. This wall of crumbling sapphire and teal-colored ice looms taller than some buildings. Here you'll find ice of all shapes, shades, and sizes, towering over the waters beneath it. There is an amazing experience we can hope for but not guarantee: if we're lucky, we might witness chunks of the glacier calve off the wall, plunging and crashing below in an explosion of ice and water. More than just the sight of this spectacle, it is the dramatic noise, which reverberates throughout the fjord, that is likely to leave the deepest impression. Thanks to the oxygen-rich, plankton-packed cold waters sourced from the glacier, the fjord is also recognized as part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is not uncommon to see seals and sea lions poking their heads out of the water or roaming on the shores. Keep an eye out for a range of seabirds soaring above or perched on miniature islands of floating ice. The impressive silhouette of the Andean condor might even pass over us. This is a member of the vulture family with a wingspan as wide as 10 feet. ... Read More
Tuesday - Mar 25, 2025
Day 6
Cruising the Chilean Fjords, Chile
This wild and remote wonderland was once the domain of the canoe-faring indigenous people who lived, sailed, and hunted in these very fjords for centuries. Admire this serene maze of waterways surrounded by islands, glaciers, and steep mountains. Head to the deck and bask in the view of the mighty mountains plunging into the icy water, while keeping an eye out for wildlife such as elephant seals, dolphins, and whales. Throughout your journey, the Expedition Team will give lectures in the Science Center and share their extensive knowledge of the region. Topics may include periods of pre-Columbian history, the geology of the surrounding mountains and islands, the folklore of the local communities, and much more. Not all of our lectures are indoors, though! If curious seabirds come fly alongside the ship, the Expedition Team might also help you spot and identify them from the deck. A designated expedition photographer will also be onboard. In addition to taking pictures from our journey, he or she will be available to help you learn the basics of expedition photography. ... Read More
Wednesday - Mar 26, 2025
Day 7
Puerto Natales, Chile
While entering and leaving Puerto Natales, we will sail through the White Narrows-a passage only 87 yards wide. These narrows require careful navigation, and we can only pass through them in daylight and at slack tide. Scottish and German immigrants founded Puerto Natales in 1911. They came to export lamb and wool back to Europe. Today, the city has around 20,000 residents and plays host to constant flow of adventure travelers from around the world-a stop on their way to the world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park. Join an optional excursion to the park and discover a stunning range of landscapes, from vast open steppes to rugged mountain terrain topped by looming peaks, all teeming with wildlife. Watch for llamas, pumas, and foxes, in addition to more than 100 bird species, including the Andean condor. You can also choose to spend time in Puerto Natales itself. There are a number of trendy eateries here, along with Bohemian-style bars and outdoor gear suppliers. Gin lover? Take a tour of the Last Hope Distillery, which could just be the southernmost distillery in the world. Or, head to Etherh Aike, a small artisan village selling various handicrafts and gifts. The waterfront is particularly photogenic, such as the wooden posts of the old pier stretching into the fjord, with snow-capped mountains in the background. You can also admire the fingers of the Hand Monument and the dancing figures of the Wind Monument. We set sail very early the second day, but the ship will spend the night alongside port. ... Read More
Thursday - Mar 27, 2025
Day 8
Puerto Natales, Chile
Friday - Mar 28, 2025
Day 9
Cruising Pio Xi Glacier, Chile
Emerging from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and almost 41 miles in length, Pio XI Glacier is the longest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere (outside of Antarctica, of course). Also known as Bruggen Glacier, after German geologist Johannes Bruggen Messtorff, its wall is almost 3 miles wide and 262 feet high, marked by intricate cracks and deep crevasses. Remarkably, Pio XI is the only glacier in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park to be advancing every year. It appears to buck the trend of most glaciers worldwide, which are generally in retreat. Pio XI, on the other hand, grows as much as 164 feet a day in length, height, and density. To reach the glacier, we'll sail east through Eyre Fjord, where you can admire the scenery all around you. Temperate forest lines the shores, with sea lions making the occasional appearance in the foreground. Dolphins are also known to swim the waters, accompanied by seabirds such as gulls and terns. Weather and waves permitting, we'll launch our small boats (RIBs) to explore the fjord and get closer to the glacier, while always taking care to not get too close. Ice occasionally calves off the Pio XI's wall into the waters below, creating a thrilling sight (and sound) to behold-from a safe distance! ... Read More
Saturday - Mar 29, 2025
Day 10
Puerto Eden, Chile, Chile
The settlement of Puerto Eden sits at the edge of a peninsula in a fjord located in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. You can certainly qualify the park as being off the beaten path, as Puerto Eden is only accessible by sea, with this paradise being one of Chile's most hard-to-reach inhabited places. To get here, we sail through the English Narrows. This passage, at the south end of the Messier Channel, can only be navigated at slack tide and in daylight. The narrows are only 197 yards wide at certain points, with low-lying islands and steep mountains on both sides, flanked by evergreen trees from the Magellanic subpolar forests. Puerto Eden's isolation is also due to the region's climate, which includes frequent rainfall, high humidity, and heavy storms. There are no roads to, from, or even within the village, just boardwalks and footpaths that connect the homes of its fewer-than-200 inhabitants. The village is also home to the last-known community of the indigenous Kaweskar people, with only dozen living here. This unique community is designated a Living Human Treasure by UNESCO, which recognizes the Kaweskar people's cultural significance and the need to protect their heritage. You can walk freely through the village and interact with locals. You'll admire their synergy with local plants and marine animals, and no doubt respect their desire to preserve their precious history and customs. ... Read More
Sunday - Mar 30, 2025
Day 11
Tortel, Chile
South of the Laguna San Rafael National Park, you'll find Caleta Tortel, in between the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields. This remote village is located at the mouth of Rio Baker, the largest river in Chile. A single road to Caleta Tortel opened in 2003, freeing the village from its almost complete isolation. The melting ice of the surrounding glaciers makes the waters here an eye-catching mixture of turquoise and milky blue. If the weather cooperates, run your hands through water yourself on an optional kayaking excursion. The village sprang up as part of the timber industry, explaining the village's rustic look-it's made entirely from wood sourced from Guaitecas cypress trees in the surrounding forest. Common throughout the Aysen region, migrant workers from Chiloe in the north came here to work, and typical of Chilotan style, many of the houses are constructed on stilts. The 500 residents here form a close-knit community that is still closely connected to the logging trade. The town includes a school, library, medical center, police station, and some restaurants. There are no streets within the village per se, rather a maze of boardwalks that weave over the water and around the mountain base. It's a perfect place to explore. A tour of the village with a local guide is also available as an optional excursion. The locals are known to give guests a warm welcome, and you might be greeted by locals selling handicrafts or to a performance by folk dancers. You can also learn about the area's fascinating history, including 8,000-year-old cave paintings and evidence that the unique Chilesaurus, a herbivorous dinosaur, roamed the region 145 million years ago. ... Read More
Monday - Mar 31, 2025
Day 12
At Sea
Your expedition cruise will continue north through the fabled waters of Patagonia. When Magellan sailed here in 1520 on his circumnavigation of the Earth, he and his crew somehow imagined the indigenous people here to be giants that were over 16 feet tall! He therefore named them 'Patagons' after a literary character in a Spanish novel that was popular at the time. While the indigenous people here were slightly taller than most Europeans at the time, they were far from giants. However, the name stuck. Thus, we have the region the world now knows as 'Patagonia'. Of course, now is known more for the beautiful Andean seascapes, rather than its giants! Attend one of the many interesting lectures hosted by the Expedition Team, perhaps about the seabirds, geography, or indigenous culture of the region. Join an art workshop, where you can paint something inspired by your experiences from the expedition, or participate in one of the proposed Citizen Science projects in the Science Center. ... Read More
Tuesday - Apr 1, 2025
Day 13
Castro, Chile
Castro is the capital of Chiloe Island, set among windswept hills and green vegetation. Most visitors make a beeline to the Gamboa wharf district to see the brightly painted wooden houses, called palafitos, raised on stilts along the Fiordo de Castro. This small city has many things to offer. Antiquities buff? Head to the town square to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Iglesia San Francisco, a Neo-Gothic church build from wood that dates back to the city's founding in 1567. If you have more contemporary taste, the Museum of Modern Art of Chiloe is worth a visit. If you get hungry, stop into one of the city's many great restaurants. You may also have an opportunity to book an optional excursion into nearby Chiloe National Park. This walk will take you through the park's Valdivian rainforest, made up of evergreen southern beech and native alerce conifers, the largest tree species in South America. You might even catch sight of sea lions, seabirds, and whales along the shore. ... Read More
Wednesday - Apr 2, 2025
Day 14
Niebla, Spain
The small seaside town of Niebla is perched on a picturesque peninsula with views of Corral Bay on one side and the mouth of the Valdivia River on the other. Its name is Spanish for 'fog', which Pacific winds often push into the area. Locals from the nearby city of Valdivia visit Niebla for its lively folk market and dark-sand beach. Stroll along the wide beach, and if the Feria Costumbrista market is open, sample your choice of traditional empanadas, anticuchos, churros, and more. Aside from visiting the town itself, you'll likely want to spend your time here exploring the ruins of the old Spanish fort and its associated museum. Castillo de la Pura y Limpia Concepcion de Monfort de Lemus (or just Niebla Fort, for short), was built by the Spanish between 1671 and 1679. It is one of four main fortresses, and together with a network of other small battlements, once protected ships and towns from pirates who roamed the waters and raided communities. Learn more about the region's strategic history in the museum, walk around the lighthouse, pose next to the row of rusted canons, and take in beautiful views across the river and bay. ... Read More
Thursday - Apr 3, 2025
Day 15
At Sea
Your expedition cruise is nearing its end, but it is not over just yet. Make the most of your remaining time on MS Roald Amundsen watching for birds and wildlife out on deck, chat with your new friends, or enjoy your favorite drink in the Explorer Lounge & Bar. The Expedition Team will recap the highlights of your cruise and keep you engaged. An onboard photographer might even present a slideshow of photos taken on your adventurous expedition cruise. ... Read More
Your voyage ends at Valparaiso. Built on steep hillsides overlooking the ocean, this UNESCO World Heritage-listed city is a maze of monuments, churches, historical funiculars (cable cars), trendy neighborhoods, cobblestone alleys, colorful houses, and charming plazas. Cerros Alegre and Concepcion have arguably the best views, while the historic port district has Colonial architecture, bustling mercados, and the maritime and modern art museums. This colorful and unusual city is fascinating, so why not stick around for an extra day or two? You can also join a post-program to Easter Island, famous for its mysterious statues of giant heads. ... Read More
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