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Day 1 Pacific Jewel
Location : Valparaíso, Chile
This expedition starts in the colorful and poetic city of Valparaíso. One of the best ways to see this scenic town is by riding its funiculars, which are scattered around the city, and allow for sweeping views of the bay. From high up, the city's multi-colored houses create a rainbow of color and light. Stroll Valparaíso's narrow streets, climb its endless staircases, and discover something new at every turn: a beautiful building, a remarkable art gallery, or some little gastronomic ‘find’. Don’t forget to explore the port and its fishing piers, where you’ll get a real feel for Chile’s quirky seafaring side. Buy or sample freshly caught seafood at the market and enjoy the fishermen’s banter. We also recommend a visit to the UNESCO-listed Historic Quarter before embarking on MS Roald Amundsen.
Temperature range in October: 47 – 64°F
Day 2-3 Sailing South
Location : At Sea
As we make our way along the Pacific coast of Chile, our expedition team will start the lecture program to prepare you for the experiences ahead. Enjoy learning about the history and wildlife of the area. There will also be various workshops and presentations. Make sure to spend some time on deck to enjoy the fresh sea air and look out for wildlife. Familiarize yourself with our newest and most innovative expedition vessel and take advantage of all the facilities on board.
Day 4 Cosmopolitan Castro
Location : Castro
Located on Isla Grande de Chiloé, Castro is set among windswept hills and green vegetation. The city is known for its colorful 'palafitos', wooden houses mounted on stilts along the water's edge. Go ashore and enjoy the local character and curious energy, mixed with a dash of modern development. The Iglesia San Francisco is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The church is a visual delight: bright yellow and orange with a lavender trim. The varnished-wood interior is stunning, illuminated by rows of stained-glass windows.
Other sights include Plazuela del Tren, a small plaza right by the waterfront with an odd collection of old trains. A stroll in the Cementerio Parroquial is fascinating, as some of the tombs are quite grand and ornately decorated. Feria Campesina Yumbel is a bustling fruit and vegetable market. There are also household goods and fish stalls here. In the shop Feria Artesanal Lillo, located just south of the port, you can buy excellent hand-knit woollen goods and other handicrafts. Most of the restaurants and cafés in Castro are concentrated along the Calle Blanco, running from the southern end of the plaza down to the waterfront, and this is where you can get a taste of the renowned meat, potato, and seafood stew known as curanto.
Close to the town is Chiloé National Park, a largely unexplored wilderness hosting rare flora and fauna. The park features wide deserted beaches and long stretches of rugged coastline, and is home to dozens of seabird species, penguins, and sea lions.
Temperature range in October: 42 – 58°F
Included activity: Castro Walking Tour (2 hrs) - Explore landmarks and cultural sights on a city walk through Castro, the capital of Chile’s Chiloé Island. Castro is famous for its ornate church, Iglesia de San Francisco, and the nearby districts of Rilán, Nercón and Chelín are known for their unique wooden churches, designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Castro and Chiloé are also famous for palafitos, traditional wooden stilt houses.
Day 5 At Sea
Location : At Sea
The expedition continues south through the fabled waters of Patagonia and onward to one of the world’s most remote, undisturbed, and beautiful places: the southern province of Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope). As we sail through iconic Andean seascapes, you have plenty of time to gaze out on the magnificent natural expanse.
Day 6 An Isolated Village at the End of a Fjord
Location : Puerto Edén
After an unforgettable cruise through the Patagonian waters, the unique village of Puerto Edén will enchant you. It is a tiny settlement in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, situated at the end of a deep fjord and surrounded by mountains. Its population of 250 includes the 15 remaining members of the Kawéskar people. There are no roads, only wooden walkways, and electricity is only available for a few hours each day. Puerto Edén is a great place to experience the traditional indigenous culture of the Patagonian tribes. The villagers sell fish, mussels, and shellfish, which are taken weekly to markets by boat. For souvenirs, admire traditional Kawéskar crafts such as wicker baskets and boats made from sea lion skins and tree bark.
Enjoy a stroll among the pathways, and maybe you will spot one of the many Magellan hummingbirds found here when you join the Expedition team for hiking or kayaking.
Temperature range in October: 41 – 53°F
Additional optional activities may include:
· Kayaking in small groups with a guide
· Longer small boat cruises to explore hard-to-reach areas
· Guided longer hikes to scenic viewpoints and wildlife habitats
Day 7-8 Torres del Paine National Park
Location : Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales is situated at the picturesque opening of Última Esperanza Sound and acts as the gateway to the world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park. Guests can wander the boutique shops and corrugated-tin houses, or sample some local Chilean cuisine. We will also visit the ancient Milodón Cave which is 100 ft high and 656 ft deep and made up of interesting rock formations.
A UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, Torres del Paine National Park features towering mountain peaks, azure lakes, emerald forests, roaring rivers, one big, radiant blue glacier, and the third largest ice field on the planet. Guests might see llamas, pumas, chilla foxes, and skunks in addition to more than a hundred species of birds such as the Andean condor and black-chested buzzard eagle.
Temperature range in October: 43 – 53°F
Included Activity: Scenes of Puerto Natales (3 hrs) - Explore the small city of Puerto Natales and its scenic surroundings. Visit Plaza de Armas, a tree-lined square in the town centre, and then go to a large cave where the bones of a prehistoric ground sloth called a Milodón were found in 1896. The cave attracts many visitors and features a historical display of the tribes who inhabited the area as far back as 12,000 years ago.
Day 9 A Paradise for Nature Lovers
Location : Chilean Fjords
The Chilean fjords' deep channels, fjords, and mountains plunging into the icy water always leave a profound impression on visitors. This wild and remote area seems almost untouched by humans. The ice has scoured its way between the mountains, creating the isolated islands and hidden bays that form the unique fjord landscape of Chile. Snow-capped mountains and steep valleys make a striking contrast to a lush coastline that is rich in wildlife. You might be lucky enough to spot sea lions, Andean condors, and several bird species that can only be found here.
Temperature range in October: 41 – 54°F
Day 10-11 Cape Horn and the Drake Passage
Location : At Sea
In the morning, we sail through the Beagle Channel, named after the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his voyage of discovery – HMS Beagle. We continue into open waters, and if conditions allow we will land on Cape Horn – the southernmost tip of South America. Going ashore can be very difficult because of the sometimes-extreme weather in this area. This is the southernmost point of Chile and lies almost 56° South, marking the boundary between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the northern end of the Drake Passage.
The region is of great significance on account of its location, history, discoveries, and trade routes. If we are able to anchor off Cape Horn, you will be able to go ashore to explore this deserted and yet romantic piece of land at the end of the world. Then we continue over the Drake Passage, where two oceans meet (the Drake Passage connects the southern Atlantic and Pacific Oceans) on our way to Antarctica. On the way you can learn a great deal about Antarctica’s fantastic wildlife and history. This sea passage was notorious among the early polar explorers and is a unique voyage that few have the chance to experience. Here the warm water from the north meets the cold, less salty water from the south. This makes the ocean particularly rich in nutrients and forms the foundational basis of the unique marine life found here.
Day 12-15 Explore Antarctica
Location : Antarctica
Antarctica is isolated from the rest of the world by ocean currents. 90% of the world's ice is found here, at 13,123 feet thick, covering the landmass. In winter it is further cut off by the sea ice forming off the coast – virtually doubling the size of the continent. In summer, it is a breeding ground for millions of penguins, whales, and seals who, for the rest of the year, simply spend their time at sea. Most wildlife here depend on krill as a cornerstone species. The krill population in the Southern Ocean represents the largest biomass of one species on Earth.
As outlined in the Antarctic Treaty, this is a continent dedicated to peace, science, and tourism. No human activity is allowed to alter the perfect natural balance. We are visiting a place that has evolved through millennia without human interference. Therefore, we adhere to very strict environmental guidelines and rules. We want to leave nothing behind but footprints and take nothing but pictures!
Because of the power of this remote and beautiful environment, we need to be pragmatic: We change landings, re-route, and shift plans to ensure safety and the best possible experiences for our guests – this means that every cruise experience is unique! We will take full advantage of the often-ideal conditions spending hours ashore hiking, on the water with kayaks, or simply cruising among a huge pod of whales.
We will attempt to land several places, including Deception Island, Half Moon Island, Brown Bluff, Cuverville Island, and Neko Harbor. All of these places are serene and offer untouched nature, penguin colonies, seals, whales in the ocean, glaciers, icebergs in every shape and colour, old whaling stations, and research bases. It's hard to sum up all the impressions you will gain and adventures you will have. As a well-known quote from a veteran Antarctic traveler put it:
“If you can describe Antarctica with words, you have probably never been there.”
Temperature range in October: 18 – 32°F
Included:
· Daily landings with short hikes to scenic or wildlife spots
· Small boat cruises near the ship and landing site
· Lectures on a wide range of scientific topics
Additional optional activities may include:
· Kayaking near icebergs, and possibly seals and penguins
· Longer small boat cruises to explore hard-to-reach areas
· Guided longer hikes to scenic viewpoints
· Camping ashore possibly with penguins
· Snowshoeing through pristine snow fields
· In-depth photography lessons
Day 16-17 Crossing the Drake Passage
Location : At Sea
After four unforgettable days in Antarctica, MS Roald Amundsen takes us safely back across the famous Drake Passage. The voyage from the Antarctic Peninsula to the southern tip of Argentina is roughly 600 miles – or about 40 hours of sailing time in good weather. During the voyage north, we will continue our lecture series and recap our experiences of Antarctica.
Day 18 The End of the Expedition
Location: Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Our expedition cruise ends as we reach Ushuaia, and we transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. For more adventure, you can extend your stay in Buenos Aires or join an optional Post-Program to Iguazu Falls.
