Antarctica and Patagonia: Legendary Ice and Epic Fjords

Depending on departure date*, arrive in either Buenos Aires, the cosmopolitan capital of Argentina, or Santiago, Chile’s mountainous capital. Transfer to the hotel for an included overnight. Arrival Time: Arrive before 11:00 a.m. local time. Arrival City: Santiago, Chile or Buenos Aires, Argentina

Fly south to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, where you'll meet the ship. Ushuaia’s spectacular setting, between the jagged peaks of the Cordillera Darwin and the protected waters of the Beagle Channel, makes it an appropriately wild place to begin your journey to the White Continent. While you’re there, you'll visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, where you can view a beautiful forest of southern beech, very much like those that covered Antarctica millions of years ago. Lunch will be served onboard a private catamaran while cruising the Beagle Channel, where you’ll be on the lookout for huge South American sea lions and birds like imperial cormorants. Residents of Ushuaia often call their small city ‘El Fin Del Mundo’, The End of the World, but for you, it’s just the beginning.

Sail to Antarctica via the Drake Passage, named after 16th-century English admiral Sir Francis Drake. Watch for dozens of species of seabirds gliding alongside the ship—including the albatross, which boasts the longest wingspan of any extant bird—and enjoy talks from your onboard naturalists about the wildlife and geology that await you on the Antarctic Peninsula.

With long hours of daylight at this time of year, you'll have ample opportunities to explore. The schedule is flexible, allowing you to take advantage of the unexpected, whether you're watching whales at play off the bow of the ship or enjoying an evening Zodiac cruise amid glittering icebergs. 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 on a beach amid thousands of Adélie and gentoo penguins. The next day, you might experience the thrill of the ship crunching through pack ice. The expert expedition team enriches your experiences.

Relax on board and enjoy the ship’s amenities as the coast of Antarctica disappears from view. Round the southernmost tip of South America at Cape Horn and witness the dramatic meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans en route to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Sail into southern Patagonia’s vast wilderness of forested isles, mirror-like lakes and snowcapped peaks. Myriad fjords cut between soaring granite walls, and waterfalls tumble from high above. Explore the region known as Chile’s “Glacier Alley,” part of the UNESCO-recognized Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve. Cruise into the secluded Pia Fjord, admiring views of its massive glacier, and glide into Garibaldi Fjord in Alberto de Agostini National Park, where the Andes meet the sea. Get up close to the monumental wall of ice that marks the edge of Garibaldi Glacier, exploring by Zodiac or kayak. Continue to Agostini Fjord, where numerous glaciers originate from the nearby mountains, for a chance to witness thunderous glacial calving.

Cruise to Tierra del Fuego and venture into the archipelago’s largest protected land area: Karukinka Natural Park. Visit this private reserve by special permission, searching for Andean foxes, guanacos, black-browed albatross and more. Then sail to Ainsworth Bay, a stunning fjord surrounded by subpolar forest, keeping an eye out for elephant seals.

Enter the Strait of Magellan to explore Francisco Coloane Marine Park. The park covers more than 165,000 acres of land and sea and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including humpback whales, two species of sea lions and Magellanic penguins. Cruise along the coastline by Zodiac and kayak to watch for black and white Peale’s dolphins, the endangered Chilean dolphin and Andean condors.

Local pilots will join the Captain on the Bridge to guide the ship through the winding Kirke Narrows, accessible only to small expedition ships. You'll then continue your discovery of the Chilean fjords, where you may explore by ship or take a forest walk.

Early this morning, dock in picturesque Puerto Natales before heading out to explore majestic Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Set out by foot or by vehicle across the windswept, rugged landscape, which spans more than 550,000 acres and harbors an astounding variety of geological forms, from the soaring granite pillars of the “horns” and windswept grasslands to rivers, glaciers and gem-colored lagoons. Keep an eye out for guanacos, rheas, foxes and armadillos.

Disembark in Puerto Natales and board your flight to Santiago to connect with your overnight flight home. Departure Time: Depart after 9:00 p.m. local time. Departure City: Santiago, Chile