Epic Patagonia: Fjords, Peaks and Forests

Fly overnight to Santiago, and check in to the Hotel Santiago by Mandarin. The Andes form an inspiring backdrop to our guided overview. (Day 2: L)

Fly by private charter from Santiago to Puerto Montt, Chile’s northern gateway to Patagonia. Embark ship. (B,L,D)

Explore Chiloé’s culture including its palafitos, colorful stilt houses along the water. Alternatively, visit a mixed colony of Magellanic and Humboldt penguins. (B,L,D)

Pumalín’s 750,000 acres in Chilean Patagonia are protected as one of the last remaining areas of the unusual alerce forest, consisting of huge trees similar in size to California redwoods. Walk the park trails to see them up close. (B,L,D)

A vast area of snowcapped mountains, glaciers, thousands of islands, lakes, soaring granite walls, and waterfalls, the archipelago is virtually untouched by man. We make good use of our Zodiacs, kayaks and undersea technology. One highlight is the Pio XI Glacier, the longest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere outside Antarctica. Look for condors as our ship transits the White Narrows. (B,L,D)

From Puerto Natales, drive to monumental Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. Discover spectacular and wildlife-rich areas, covering 450,000 acres of glaciers, forests and grasslands, rivers and colorful lagoons. (B,L,D)

Tierra del Fuego is one of Patagonia’s crown jewels. We have special permission from the Wildlife Conservation Society to visit Karukinka Natural Park, home to nesting black-browed albatross, condors, and elephant seals. (B,L,D)

Myriad fjords or senos indent the coast. We cruise deep into the senos, punctuated at the end by tidewater glaciers, to explore by Zodiac, kayak, and on foot. Transit the Beagle Channel and explore some of its many possibilities. (B,L,D)

Today we visit Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of the continent, and, conditions permitting, land there for panoramic views. (B,L,D)

By special permission, Explorer is one of the only expedition ships ever to visit extraordinary Staten Island. Its mountainous, forested landscapes and rugged fjords are beautiful. Spot southern rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, fur seals and sea lions. See the San Juan de Salvamento “lighthouse at the end of the world,” which inspired Jules Verne’s novel by the same name. (B,L,D)

Disembark in Ushuaia. Take a charter flight to Buenos Aires and connect to your overnight flight home. (Day 19: B,L)