Arrive in Santiago and transfer to the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago (or a similar hotel) before embarking on a guided tour of this dynamic city nestled against the Andes. Explore landmarks such as the Plaza de Armas and experience the blend of historic and modern elements that define the city. In the early evening, join for a casual welcome reception and a drink at the hotel.

Today, you fly from Santiago to Punta Arenas, the southern gateway to Patagonia. From there, drive to Puerto Natales and board your ship. Be on deck as the Captain navigates the challenging Kirke or White Narrows, known for its powerful currents and narrow passages, and keep an eye out for wildlife.

Today and in the coming days, you are treated to the spectacular features of an active glaciated landscape with hanging valleys and tributary glaciers. This region was navigated by Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, which spent most of November 1520 finding a way through the channels between the continental mainland and Tierra del Fuego to the south. Your first stop is in the extensive maze of channels and islands of the Chilean fjords, where you may go out by Zodiac and kayak.

Tierra del Fuego is one of Patagonia’s crown jewels. Visit its newest and largest protected area: Karukinka Natural Park. Established in 2004 through a gift from Goldman Sachs, Karukinka is one of the largest donations ever made for conservation. Travelers are thrilled to have special permission from the Wildlife Conservation Society to visit this private reserve, which spans 1,160 square miles and harbors the endangered culpeo fox, Andean condors, albatrosses, grebes, petrels, fulmars, shearwaters, and many other kinds of wildlife. You may explore Jackson Bay, backed by a skyline of rugged mountains, and look for wildlife including black-browed albatrosses, which nest on one of the nearby small islands. Walk a trail to a lovely waterfall and look for elephant seals resting not only on the beach but also high in the grass meadows and even in the small river draining the valley inland.

Experience more stunning wilderness as travelers explore the fjords and glaciers of the region by Zodiac, kayak, and on foot. Take Zodiacs out to explore these protected waters and rugged shores, keeping watch for the shearwaters, petrels, albatrosses, and many other birds that inhabit this otherworldly realm.

Sail the Beagle Channel and look to hike and kayak one of the wild areas in this region of beech forests, mountains, and rivers. This southernmost corner of the South American continent is also home to Cape Horn, the island at the convergence of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, famously difficult waters that, throughout the centuries, has been the graveyard of many ships from the time before the Panama Canal. 

You have special permission to visit extraordinary Staten Island, with your ship being one of the few expedition vessels ever allowed here. This place, largely untouched in recent decades and primarily visited by a few scientists and the staff of the tiny naval observatory, was named by Dutch explorers in 1615. Its mountainous, forested landscapes and rugged fjords are stunning, offering much to discover. Your exact schedule remains flexible to take full advantage of the conditions. You search for southern rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, other waterbirds, fur seals, and sea lions. On your landings ashore, look for otters and visit the replica of the 1884 San Juan de Salvamento “lighthouse at the end of the world,” which inspired Jules Verne’s novel. You also have opportunities to walk in the southern beech forests. These days promise a unique chance to explore this very remote place.

Today, you disembark in Ushuaia. Fly to Buenos Aires and connect with your flight home.