Exploring Patagonia

Arrive in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Transfer to our hotel in the heart of the fashionable Recoleta neighbourhood, and explore the nearby galleries, museums, and cafés. Enjoy a tango performance, followed by our welcome dinner tonight.
The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires (D)

Spend the day discovering Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, known as the Paris of South America. On a city tour, see the remarkable Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Perón. Continue to the historic presidential palace, La Casa Rosada, and the cathedral in Plaza de Mayo. After lunch, explore the cobblestoned lanes of San Telmo, as well as the colourful artists’ quarter of La Boca.
The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires (B/L)

Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, and visit Tierra del Fuego National Park. Board our ship and sail toward the famed Beagle Channel.
M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. Ventus Australis (B/L/D)

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 three walks to experience the spectacular beauty of the Magellanic forest.
M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. Ventus Australis (B/L/D)

As we navigate the Magdalena Channel, spot penguins, dolphins, albatross, 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. Take 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 geological forces that shaped this dramatic land.
M.V. Stella Australis or M.V. Ventus Australis (B/L/D daily)

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, grey foxes, Patagonian hares, and black-necked swans. Settle into our spectacular hotel. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa (B/L/D)

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.
Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa (B/L/D daily)

Today, drive to the Punta Arenas airport for the flight to Santiago. Arrive in Santiago this evening and check in to our hotel.
The Singular Santiago (B/L)

Spend a full day exploring Santiago. On a walking tour of the city centre, see the elegant Plaza de Armas, the Palacio de la Moneda, and the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral. View the impressive collection at Santiago’s Chilean Museum of Pre-Columbian Art and enjoy a farewell celebration at a Chilean winery. This evening, transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B/L)