Arrive today in Santiago. Check into Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, or similar before your guided overview of this vibrant city backed by the inspiring Andes. Discover sites like the Plaza de Armas and get a feel for the mix of old and new that makes this city great. You gather for an informal reception and a drink at the hotel in the early evening.

Fly southward to Ushuaia. Sandwiched between ice-mantled peaks and the frigid waters of Beagle Channel, this is a fittingly wild place known as “El Fin del Mundo” or “The End of the World.” Before departing, visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, clad in dense beech forest just as much of Antarctica was millions of years ago. Savor lunch onboard a private catamaran as you cruise the Channel, keeping an eye out for plump South American sea lions and sleek seabirds like the imperial cormorant. By day’s end, you’ll be comfortably on board your ship and ready to meet the White Continent.

At times ferocious, at others flat calm, this legendary 500-mile-wide strait divides South America from the Antarctic Peninsula. Feel the excitement build as you begin the crossing, often accompanied by seabirds like the wandering albatross and—if luck allows—a pod of killer whales or rare dolphins. Get to know the ship and prepare for the adventures ahead. Visit the Bridge (ideal for wildlife spotting), relax with a massage, and attend a talk on the unique biology of penguins. Or simply settle into a comfy chair in the observation lounge, looking out over the waves as you contemplate the history of this passage named for English privateer Francis Drake, but first discovered by Spanish navigator Francisco de Hoces.

With long hours of daylight at this time of year, you have ample opportunities to explore. Your schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected, whether watching whales at play off the bow of your ship, hiking alongside penguin highways, or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid porpoising penguins. While wildlife is magnificent, ice defines the Antarctic. You’ll get to know ice up close and personal - from icebergs the size of islands, bergy bits and near-vertical glaciers, to the fragile, nearly invisible layers that have just begun to freeze. One day, you might set out by kayak to encounter towering icebergs at water level; embark on a Zodiac excursion in search of seals and blue-eyed shags; or walk amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next, you might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. You’re surrounded by opportunities to capture uniquely beautiful images everywhere you go in Antarctica. Along the way, your expert expedition team will enrich your experiences.

Enjoy the ship’s amenities as the coast of Antarctica disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America and see the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meeting. Review your photos, or send a message home to friends and family. Celebrate your voyage at a farewell dinner on board.

Today you disembark in Ushuaia. Fly by private charter flight to Buenos Aires or Santiago and connect with your overnight flight home.