PUNTA ARENAS TO USHUAIA (5 DAY):   Tierra del Fuego Fjord Cruise
Saturday & Tuesday Departures

DAY 1:   PUNTA ARENAS
Check in at Magallanes 990, Punta Arenas, between 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., with cruise ship boarding scheduled for 6:00 p.m. The Captain and crew will give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterward, the ship will set sail for the ”uttermost part of the earth.” Through the mythical Strait of Magellan, we will travel to Southern Patagonia, including Tierra de Fuego. This is the beginning of a Great Adventure! (D)

DAY 2:   AINSWORTH BAY – TUCKER ISLET
At dawn, we 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 we will learn how life begins after the retreat of the ice. We will also take a walk to discover a beaver dam in the marvelous subpolar Magellanic forest. On the beach, we will try to see elephant seals, but we cannot guarantee this as the precise location of the colony is unpredictable. Later, we sail to Tuckers Islets, and after lunch we 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 where we land for a short walk to approach a glacier. (B,L,D)

DAY 3:   PIA GLACIER – GLACIER ALLEY
We will navigate the main part of the Beagle Channel to enter Pia Fjord and disembark near the glacier of the same name. We will take an excursion to a look-out point that is ideal for viewing the mountain range where the glacier originates, and its flow all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, we will sail again along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel through majestic “Glacier Alley”: Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland glaciers. (B,L,D)

DAY 4:   CAPE HORN & WULAIA BAY
We sail through the Beagle and Murray channels to reach Cape Horn National Park, where we will 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, we 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. We will walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coihues, Canelos, ferns, and other native vegetation to reach a look-out point. (B,L,D)
Optional Kayaking Wulaia Bay (booked onboard): Supported by expedition guides, this kayak activity includes paddling through historic areas related to the native Yagan people, bird watching, as well as the pure joy of paddling. The kayaking activity has an approximate cost of US$ 120, with a duration of 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the water.

DAY 5:   USHUAIA – HOME
Arrival to Ushuaia, the most important Argentine city in Tierra de Fuego, and the southernmost city in the world. Disembark at 8:00 a.m., enabling you to visit the city, national park, and continue your trip through Patagonia and beyond. Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Antarctica Cruise services are also available. Contact GSA for details. (B)

Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner