Stella Australis

4 Day Patagonia Cruise from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas

The new 5 deck Stella Australis is an impressive expedition cruiser, offering enthralling cruise itineraries around Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. On board facilities include the impressive Patagonia dining room, which provides a panoramic view and serves regional and international cuisine with a carefully chosen range of Chilean and Argentinean wines. The lounge areas are ideal for relaxing and admiring the spectacular scenery. The Zodiacs will whisk you to shore to explore this remote and intriguing continent at close range, whilst the on board lectures will compliment your cruise experience. The 100 well appointed cabins provide a relaxing retreat, with large picture windows and en suite shower facilities ensuring a comfortable home from home.

Info

Embark

Check-in at San Martin 409, Ushuaia, between 9am and 4pm. Boarding is between 5pm and 6pm.

Day 1: Ushuaia

Board the Stella Australis in the early evening and join the Captain and crew for a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterwards, the ship sets sail for one of the most pristine wilderness areas in the world.

Day 2: Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay

This morning begins with a cruise through the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay, en route to Cape Horn National Park. Disembark here, weather permitting, and visit the mythical Cape Horn. Discovered in 1616 it is an imposing, 425 metre high rocky promontory. Once an important navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans it is known as the “End of the Earth” and was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. In the afternoon you will go ashore at Wulaia Bay, which was once the site of one of the largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed here in 1833, during the voyage of HMS Beagle. This area is known for its beautiful landscape and lush vegetation. Take a walk through a Magellanic forest and look out for Lengas, Coihues, ferns and Canelos.

Day 3: Agostini Sound - Águila Glacier

In the morning you will sail through the desolate Brecknock, Ocasión and Magdalena Channels to enter the spectacular Agostini Sound, in the heart of the Darwin Range, in Tierra del Fuego. Here you can observe the glaciers flowing down the mountainside. After lunch you will transfer to the zodiac boats and head to the Águila Glacier, where you will take an easy walk on the shore of the lagoon surrounded by mountains until you reach the base of the glacier. Learn about Patagonia's cold rainforest and the forces that moulded the landscape.

Day 4: Magdalena Island - Punta Arenas

You will go ashore at Magdalena Island early this morning, weather permitting. Located in the Strait of Magellan, it was once an invaluable source of supplies for navigators and explorers. The island is inhabited by an impressive colony of Magellanic Penguins which can be seen at close range as you walk towards the lighthouse, which guides ships on their way through the strait. In September and April this excursion is replaced by a Zodiac boat ride to Marta Island to observe sea lions. After this visit you sail to Punta Arenas, disembarking at approximately 11:30 am. This marks the end of your cruise experience.