Print this page

Chilean Fjords Cruise

Trip Length

Trip Code
5 days PSVA

Countries Visited
Argentina, Chile

Start City

End City
Punta Arenas Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Antártida e Islas del Atlántico Sur, Argentina
Chilean Fjords Cruise

On this voyage we sail through some of South America’s most wild and spectacular scenery. Southern Chile is a maze of channels and inlets between islands of towering mountains and glacier-filled valleys. Venturing south from Puerto Varas we explore the pristine fjords by Zodiac amongst colonies of Magellanic penguins and cormorants. On land there is an incredible diversity of flora, including many varieties of lichens, mosses and Nothofagus trees. A short walk takes us to the view point for the magnificent Pia Glacier, on the usually still days the reflection of this glacier can be seen clearly as it cracks and carves into the glassy water below. From the Pia Glacier we continue our navigation through the Beagle Channel and down the incredibly grand ‘Glacier Alley’ where from the top deck of our vessel we watch as we pass the Romanche, Germany, France, Italy and Holland Glaciers. Our voyage culminates with a visit to Cape Horn, landing at this incredibly remote and southerly point evokes quite an emotion and is surely not just a highlight of this trip but a highlight for life! On disembarkation in Ushuaia we visit Tierra del Fuego National Park before our adventure to the end of the world comes to an end.
Chilean Fjords Cruise

Day to Day Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Punta Arenas. Voyage Punta Arenas - Strait of Magellan

Meals included: 1 dinner

Our journey commences in Punta Arenas, Southern Chile. The City was foundered in 1848 and is located on the 53? parallel on the Strait of Magellan. With a population of 133,000, Punta Arenas is the Capital of the Magellan and the Chilean Patagonia Region. On the first evening after joining the boat around 6 pm, we gather together in the lounge with the Capitan and staff for a welcome drink and local folklore show followed by the safety briefing before heading to the Dining room for our first Dinner together. At 8 pm we set sail from Punta Arenas, it is great to be up on deck at this time to watch the boat casting off and the lovely town of Punta Arenas disappearing into the distance. The Ship has an advanced GPS and Navigational information screen which you can follow during the voyage, generally an information session is held this evening after dinner on the Navigation Route. Distance Travelled: 92 Nautical Miles - Punta Arenas to Ainsworth Bay

Day 2: Almirantazgo Sound – Ainsworth Bay – Marinelli Glacier – Tuckers Islet – Gabriel Channel.

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

As the sun rises this morning we navigate through Almirantazgo Sound and pull in at Ainsworth bay where we can view the Darwin Range and the Marinelli Glacier twisting its way down through the mountains to the bay. Ainsworth bay was named after the coxswain of the English ship ‘Adventurer’ which was part of the Philip Parker King Expedition which explored this area in the early 19th Century. After breakfast we don our gumboots and venture off the ship by zodiac to explore the bay for our first glimpses of Elephant seals and take a walk on land through the rainforest to discover the interesting mix of Lichens, mosses and Nothofagus trees. Returning to the ship for lunch we have some time to ourselves before our next excursion to the Whiteside Channel and Tuckers Islet where we visit a colony of Magellanic penguins. We also have the opportunity to sight Cormorants, Dolphin gulls, Chimango Caracaras and Tiuques on the zodiac ride. Distance Travelled: Ainsworth Bay – Tuckers Islets 30 Nautical Miles Tuckers Islets – Pia Glacier 208 Nautical miles

Day 3: Ballenero and O’Brien Channels – North West Arm of Beagle Channel – Pia Fjord and Glacier – Glacier Alley

Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

After breakfast we have the opportunity to visit the engine room of the ship and also attend an information session on the History of Tierra del Fuego. There is also a fascinating session on Glaciology for those that are interested. This afternoon’s navigation takes us through the Balleno Channel on the south coast Tierra del Fuego, so named by Captain Fitz Roy in memory of the whaling boat which he lost to the indigenous people. From the Balleno Channel we enter the O Brien Channel, named in honour of Jorge O’Brien – Commander of the Chilean Frigate ‘Lautaro’, which carried out important Hydrographic surveys in the area. We Anchor in the Pia Fjord and disembark for a short hike up the side of this magnificent glacier to a panoramic view point, the ice can be heard cracking and carving as it moves slowly down the mountain into the often glassy bay below. From Pia Fjord we continue our navigation through the Beagle Channel, named by Robert Fitz Roy in 1830 in honour of his ship. We pass through the fantastic scenery of Glacier Alley where the Romanche, Germany, France, Italy and Holland Glaciers flow into the Channel, be sure to up on deck for this incredible passage. Distance Travelled: Pia Glacier – Cape Horn 142 Nautical Miles

Day 4: Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay - Ushuaia

Meals included: 1 breakfast

At dawn this morning we have the opportunity to do what few people have, land at the southernmost point of the Americas, Cape Horn. Weather permitting we will disembark by zodiac and climb the 160 stairs, the Cape Horn Monument inaugurated on December 5th 1992 is only a short walk away. In the afternoon we visit Wulaia Bay, where Captain Fitz Roy and Naturalist Charles Darwin made contact with the Yaghan Aborigines. Distance: Cape Horn –Wulaia Bay 78 Nautical Miles, Wulaia Bay – Ushuaia 36 Nautical Miles.

Day 5: Ushuaia

Meals included: 1 breakfast

Your Cruise finishes this morning at Ushuaia Port where we disembark after breakfast.

Your Trip

What's Included

Local tour leader, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.

Summary of accommodation, transport & meals

Accommodation

Meals

Meals

All meals and all drinks alcoholic or otherwise are included on the voyage.

What to know

Vaccinations

Vaccinations may be required for this trip. Talk to your doctor about the up-to-date information for this region.

Visas and Permits

It is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.

Argentina
Australians, Americans, British, Canadians and New Zealanders, do not currently require a visa for Argentina. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. Please note that when entering Argentine Territory, the following citizens must pay a "reciprocity fee": Australians USD100, Canadians USD75 and Americans USD160. From 20 December 2010, the fee will be valid for multiple re-entries within a period of one year as of the date of first entry. Previously the fee was only collected at Ezeiza International Airport and at Aeroparque Jorge Newbury Airport on arrival but this will now be done entirely ONLINE, effective October 31, 2012 (for arrivals to Aeroparque Jorge Newbury airport) and December 28, 2012 (for arrivals to Ezeiza airport). This fee also needs to be paid online if you are crossing the border into Argentina by land. This price is subject to change and the price on the below website will have the up to date costs.

How to pay the reciprocity fee online:
• Visit www.migraciones.gov.ar or www.provinciapagos.com.ar and register to start the process
• Fill out the form with the corresponding personal and credit card information
• Print the payment receipt
• Present the printed receipt at Immigration Control on arrival in Argentina. The receipt will be scanned by the Immigration officials, the information will be checked, and entry to the country will be registered

Chile

Australians, Americans, Canadians, New Zealanders or British do not currently require a visa for Chile. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. If you are entering Chile at Santiago International Airport as a tourist, some nationalities are required to pay a reciprocity fee (Australians US$95, Canadians US$132, Americans US$140). The fee does not apply to travellers arriving at other airports or entering the country via land borders.

Insurance

You are required to have travel insurance before heading off on a Peregrine trip. Insurance can be organised by your Peregrine representative or your travel agent.

Responsible Travel

Our Responsible Travel ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from getting the basics right like respecting local cultures and the environment, to initiating projects that make positive contributions to communities, to our staff’s fundraising efforts and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Please visit our Responsible Travel (http://www.peregrineadventures.com/rt) page for more information.

Customs and Culture

Our Pre Departure Information or Travel Dossier (provided upon booking a trip) provides tips on how you can show respect for the local customs and culture in the country you are travelling in.

The information listed above is a brief description of some things you may need to consider when booking a trip. Once a tour is booked you will be provided with a link to your Travel Dossier which will contain detailed Pre Departure information.

Further Reading

Argentina

On Heroes and Tombs-E Sabato Kiss of the Spider Woman-M Puig Argentina: A City and a Nation-J Scobie Gaucho’s and the Vanishing Frontier-R Slatta Peron & the Enigma of Argentina-T Martinez

Chile

Crisis in Allende’s Chile-E Kaufman The Pinochet Decade-P O’Brien & J Roddick

Important Information

Via Australis

Ship Specifications:
Vessel: Via Australis
Cabins: 64
Decks: 5
Gross Tonnage: 2.716 Ton
Flag: Chilean
Length: Overall 72.3 Meters
Beam 13.4 Meters
Crew members: 45
Max Passenger capacity: 136
Main Engines: 2 Cummins Diesel Engines 850hp each
Speed: 11 Knots

The following Departures will be aboard the Via Australis
       Start                   Finish

Tue-03-Apr-12 Sat-07-Apr-12
Mon-29-Oct-12 Fri-02-Nov-12
Tue-06-Nov Sat-10-Nov-12
Wed-14-Nov Sun-18-Nov-12
Thu-22-Nov Mon-26-Nov-12
Fri-30-Nov Tue-04-Dec-12
Sun-09-Dec Thu-13-Dec-12
Mon-17-Dec-Fri-21-Dec-12
Tue-25-Dec Sat-29-Dec-12
Wed-02-Jan Sun-06-Jan-13
Thu-10-Jan Mon--14-Jan-13
Fri-18-Jan Tue-22-Jan-13
Sun-27-Jan Thu-31-Jan-13
Mon-04-Feb Fri-08-Feb-13
Tue-12-Feb Sat-16-Feb-13
Wed-20-Feb Sun-24-Feb-13
Thu-28-Feb Mon-04-Mar-13
Fri-08-Mar Tue-12-Mar-13
Sun-17-Mar Thu-21Mar-13
 

Stella Australis

Ship Specifications:
Vessel: Stella Australis
Cabins 100
Decks: 5
Gross Tonnage: 4,500 Ton
Flag: Chilean
Length: Overall 89Meters
Beam 14.6 Meters
Crew members: 62
Max Passenger capacity: 210
Main Engines: 2 Cummins Diesel Engines 1,400 each
Speed: 13 Knots

The following Departures will be aboard the Stella Australis
       Start                 Finish

Tue-10-Apr Sat-14-Apr-12
Sat-22-Sep Wed-26-Sep-12
Sat-29-Sep Wed-03-Oct-12
Sat-06-Oct-12 Wed-10-Oct-12
Sat-13-Oct-12 Wed-17-Oct-12
Sat-20-Oct Wed-24-Oct-12
Sat-27-Oct-12 Wed-31-Oct-12
Sat-03-Nov-12 Wed-07-Nov-12
Sat-10-Nov-12 Wed-14-Nov-12
Sat-17-Nov-12 Wed-21-Nov-12
Sat-24-Nov-12 Wed-28-Nov-12
Sat-01-Dec-12 Wed-05-Dec-12
Sat-08-Dec-12 Wed-12-Dec-12
Sat-15-Dec Wed-19-Dec-12
Sat-22-Dec-12 Wed-26-Dec-12
Sat-29-Dec-12 Wed-02-Jan-13
Sat-05-Jan-13 Wed-09-Jan-13
Sat-12-Jan-13 Wed-16-Jan-13
Sat-19-Jan-13 Wed-23-Jan-13
Sat-26-Jan-13 Wed-30-Jan-13
Sat-02-Feb-13 Wed-06-Feb-13
Sat-09-Feb Wed-13-Feb-13
Sat-16-Feb-13 Wed-20-Feb-13
Sat-23-Feb-13 Wed-27-Feb-13
Sat-02-Mar-13 Wed-06-Mar-13
Sat-09-Mar-13 Wed-13-Mar-13
Sat-16-Mar-13 Wed-20-Mar-13
Sat-23-Mar-13 Wed-27-Mar-13
Sat-30-Mar-13 Wed-03-Apr-13
 

About this Information

The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version.  If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!

Last Updated

26 April 2012