Expedition Overview
Expedition Overview
SPECIAL OFFERS
- 2024 Early Booking Offer – Select Signature Land & River Cruise Departures
For a limited time, save $400 per person on North America itineraries or save $500 per person on international itineraries when you book select 2024 National Geographic Signature Land departures by April 7, 2023. Or, save $750 per person when you book a 2024 River Cruise by April 7, 2023.*
Take advantage of these special offers by calling 1-888-966-8687 or contacting your Travel Agent, or booking online and mentioning codes EBRSL24 for Signature Land departures and EBRRC24 for River Cruise departures.
This is offer has limited availability, so reserve your trip soon!
Available Departures- Jan 13-24, 2024
- Feb 10-21, 2024
- Mar 1-12, 2024
- Get expert insights as you explore Patagonia by land and sea, gliding past pristine fjords and vast glaciers on a four-day cruise, then heading inland to explore granite spires, sapphire lakes, and hidden waterfalls.
- Set out on an interpretive walk across Magdalena Island, home to a colony of more than 100,000 Magellanic penguins.
- Enjoy a festive barbecue with local gauchos and get a glimpse into traditional Patagonian cowboy culture.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Carved by fjords and capped by glistening glaciers, Patagonia is a natural wonderland. Cruise through a landscape of thick forests and icebergs to the tip of Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan. Then continue overland to Patagonia's crown jewel—Torres del Paine National Park—and end our journey in Santiago, Chile's vibrant capital.
Arrive at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Transfer to our hotel in the heart of the fashionable Recoleta neighborhood, and explore the nearby galleries, museums, and cafés. Enjoy a tango performance, followed by our welcome dinner tonight.
Spend the morning discovering Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, known as the Paris of South America. On a city tour, explore the cobblestoned lanes of San Telmo, as well as the colorful artists’ quarter of La Boca. After lunch, fly south to Ushuaia, capital of the Tierra del Fuego province. Settle into a stunning resort within the Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve.
Begin the day with a hike in the Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve, named for the pointed peak that dominates the landscape. Enjoy stunning views and get a closer look at the flora and fauna of Tierra del Fuego. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Ushuaia before a walking tour of the town, including its End of the World Museum, which highlights the area’s natural history, indigenous cultures, and early penal colony. Embark our ship and set sail on the famed Beagle Channel.
M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. Ventus Australis
Weather permitting, take Zodiacs to legendary Cape Horn for a panoramic view from the southernmost tip of South America. Later, explore Wulaia Bay, where Charles Darwin landed during his voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle. Choose one of two walks to experience the spectacular beauty of the Magellanic forest.
M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. Ventus Australis
As we navigate the Magdalena Channel, spot penguins, dolphins, albatrosses, and other seabirds. After entering the Pia Fjord, board Zodiacs and head out on a shore excursion on Pia Glacier. Continue along the Beagle Channel to the Garibaldi Glacier. Embark on a challenging hike through the Magellanic forest if you choose. The next day, cruise through majestic Agostini Sound, and disembark for a closer look at Águila Glacier. During an easy walk, take in spectacular views of the brilliant blue-and-white ice set off by black mountains, and learn about the geologic forces that shaped this dramatic land.
M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. Ventus Australis
Take a morning walk on Magdalena Island, home to a colony of more than 100,000 Magellanic penguins. Disembark in Punta Arenas and continue across the southern Pampas, looking for herds of guanacos as well as rheas, gray foxes, Patagonian hares, and black-necked swans. Then settle into our spectacular hotel overlooking the staggering peaks of Torres del Paine National Park.
During the next three days, tailor your exploration to your interests, choosing among a variety of hiking and horseback-riding excursions in the park. Discover Lago de Grey and its incredibly blue sculpted ice; hike through beech forests along the shore of Laguna Azul; and marvel at rock paintings left by the indigenous Aonikenk people, some of the earliest inhabitants of the region. Photograph wildlife near the northern limits of the park; or relax at the hotel, taking advantage of its wonderful amenities. Enjoy evening lectures, and cap off your stay in the park with a festive barbecue in the company of local gauchos, getting a glimpse into traditional Patagonian cowboy culture.
Today, drive to the Punta Arenas airport for the flight to Santiago. Arrive in Santiago this evening and travel into the Maipo Valley to our boutique hotel located on the famed Viña Santa Rita—one of Chile’s most prestigious wineries. Settle into our late 19th-century-style hotel nestled amid an oasis of vineyards, parks, and gardens. Tonight, gather in the hotel’s dining room for a private multi-course meal paired with Chilean wines from Santa Rita’s award-winning vineyards.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at our hotel before embarking on a private tour of the estate’s 40-hectare park and gardens, which were designed by 19th-century French landscape architect Guillaume Renner. Then gather on the outdoor terrace for a wine tasting and lunch. Later, enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of Viña Santa Rita—founded in 1880 and known for its cultivation of red wine varietals—including the estate’s vineyards, stone-and-mortar cellar, and tasting room. Continue to the nearby Andino Museum to peruse an impressive collection of pre-Columbian art. This evening, transfer to the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL) and catch your flight home.