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south america: chile

Stella Australis Patagonia Expedition Cruise

Four- and five-day small ship cruises between Punta Arenas, Chile, and Ushuaia, Argentina, explore the heart of Patagonia's scenic beauty and glaciers. Cruise scenic fjords in search of whales and wildlife, explore up close on small craft excursions and walk ashore in the company of expert naturalist guides aboard the comfortable Stella Australis, which operates two unique itineraries to show you the best of Patagonia. This cruise is the perfect combination to any South American tour.

Day 1 - Punta Arenas

Check in at Punta Arenas, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cruise ship boarding at 6:00 p.m. The Captain and crew give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterwards, the ship departs for “the uttermost part of the earth”. Our excursion will take us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. Embark on a Great Adventure!

Accommodations: Stella Australis
Included Meals: dinner

Day 2 - Ainsworth Bay - Tuckers Islets

At dawn, continue navigating through Almirantazgo Sound, arriving at Ainsworth Bay, inside the Alberto De Agostini National Park. From a distance we may see the Marinelli Glacier which descends from the Darwin Mountain Range, and learn how life begins after the retreat of the ice. Also take a walk to discover a beaver dam in the marvelous subpolar Magellanic forest. On the beach, try to see elephant seals, but we cannot guarantee this as the precise location of the colony is unpredictable.

Later, sail to Tuckers Islets, and after lunch board the Zodiac boats to view Magellanic Penguins (which only live in the Southern Hemisphere), and Cormorants. In September and April this excursion is replaced by Brookes Bay for a short walk to approach a glacier.

Accommodations: Stella Australis
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 3 - Pia Glacier - Glacier Alley

Navigate along the main part of the Beagle Channel to reach Pia Fjord and disembark near Pia Glacier. Take a short hike to a look-out point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, continue sailing along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel through majestic “Glacier Alley”.

Accommodations: Stella Australis
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4 - Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay

Sail through the Beagle and Murray channels to reach Cape Horn National Park and disembark (weather permitting). Cape Horn, is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory, and in the past it was the only entrance to the Pacific Ocean. This place is known as the “End of the Earth”, and it’s the last territory before Antarctica. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005.

In the afternoon, go ashore in historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed here on January 23rd, 1833, during the voyage of the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. Walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coihues, Canelos, ferns, and other native vegetation to reach a look-out point.

Accommodations: Stella Australis
Included Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 5 - Ushuaia

Arrival at Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city on Tierra del Fuego, and the southernmost city in the world. Disembark at 8:00 a.m., enabling you to get an early start on visiting the city and national parks, and on continuing your trip through Patagonia.

Accommodations: n/a
Included Meals: breakfast

Alternate Itinerary: In addition to the 5-day route listed above, there is a 4-day cruise itinerary that sails north from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas.

4-Day Itinerary
Day 1 - Ushuaia
Day 2 - Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay
Day 3 - Aguila Glacier
Day 4 - Magdalena Island - Punta Arenas

Itinerary Notes: Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, National Park regulation or at the captain's discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

Included: Accommodation, sea transportation, all meals, open bar when on duty (without additional costs for wines, beverages and liquors, shore excursions and on-board entertainment.

Exclusions: Airfare; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature; insurance of any kind; optional tours and transportation; port taxes and fees ($30), migration fee and national park fee ($30); which may be modified by the port authorities of each country. Trekking or hiking boots are required for all passengers.

Room Configurations: Single rate applies in categories A or B only. Single rate in AA, AAA, AA Superior or AAA Superior is 1.5 of the category rate.

Families & Children: Infants up to 3 years old have a 100% discount, sharing the bed with their parents. Children between 4 and 12 years old have a 50% discount, sharing a cabin with an adult.

Arrival & Departure: The Stella Australis Patagonia Expedition Cruise begins and ends in either Punta Arenas or Ushuaia depending on the itinerary chosen. Please plan flights to arrive by 1:00pm on day 1 of the cruise. Departure flights should be planned to depart no earlier than than noon on the final day of the cruise.

Payment & Cancellation: In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of $300 is required at the time of booking. A Reservation Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Cancellations are subject to the following per-person fees, based on number of days prior to departure:
119 to 60 days - full deposit ($300)
59 to 50 days - 25% of sales value
49 to 40 days - 50% of sales value
39 to 30 days - 75% of sales value
29 to 0 days - 100% of sales refund

Terms & Conditions: This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information is sent upon confirmation.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend our travelers protect their investment with travel insurance. Please note that you must purchase your travel insurance policy within 14 days of booking your trip for it to cover pre-existing medical conditions. Click the link below for a selection of policies from our partners at Travelex.



Qualifications: The Stella Australis Patagonia small ship cruise will be enjoyed by anyone with a love for nature and the outdoors.

Seasonal Pricing: Low Season rates apply the month of October; December 9, 11, 13, 14, 17 and 18; and March 15-19. HIgh Season rates apply the months of November, December (dates not listed in low season), January and February, and March 1-2. Special Rates apply December 21 and 28. Promo Rates apply the months of September and April.

For additional information and reservations, please contact us:

800-728-2875 | 530-583-1775 | fax 530-583-1711 | travel@AdventureSmithExplorations.com