DURATION
20 DAYS

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
EASY

Wonders of Argentina & Chile with Australis Cruise

Argentina and Chile are blessed with a plethora of natural recluses that will take your breath away. From Patagonia, with the Perito Moreno Glacier and Punta Arenas as highlights, to the cosmopolitan cities of Buenos Aires and Santiago. Every corner of the southernmost tip of the American continent offers postcard-worthy landscapes.
With climates that vary considerably from north to south, the flora and fauna that can be discovered at every turn at these latitudes are some of the most diverse. The culinary offering must not be forgotten either; anyone who visits here will be able to revel in the famous local delicacies, all of which are a product of the fusion of indigenous and European recipes. Meats, empanadas, humitas, casseroles, pasta, and pizzas are just some of the culinary delights that will always be accompanied by a large number of local wine varieties.

Day 1

Buenos Aires

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, you will be transferred to your hotel before exploring the city at your own pace.

At night, try a typical Argentine dish in one of the many restaurants that the city has to offer.

Day 2

Buenos Aires

City Tour – Dinner & Tango Show

During this tour, you can visit the most beautiful, historical and important places of the city. The best thing about this is that you choose which. Plus you get the chance to do it at your own pace. Discover the history of “Plaza de Mayo” the site of the most important historical events in the country since it ́s foundation. Once you leave May Square along May Avenue and enjoy a coffee at the historical “Café Tortoni”. If you like, take a short trip on the first ever subway line in South America.

Wonder in awe at the oldest residential neighborhood in Buenos Aires: San Telmo. Walk along it ́s cobble-stoned streets and discover its antiques shops and picturesque buildings. Live and feel the original Tango in the neighborhood of La Boca: walk along “Caminito Street” and enjoy the dancers and souvenir shops. See the mythical Boca Juniors soccer stadium. If you will we can take you to the Pasión Boquense Museum and take a look around. On the next stop you can contemplate the modernization of the city while traveling along Madero Port and its exclusive docks Walking through Retiro you will come to one of the most aristocratic areas of the city: Recoleta. Once you get there ,there ́s a lot to discover, but the most important one is the Recoleta Cemetery where Eva Peron, “Evita” rest in peace.

Day 3

Buenos Aires – Puerto Iguazú

Brazilian Falls

At appropriate time, you will be transferred to the local airport, to take your flight to Puerto Iguazu.

Upon arrival at the airport Puerto Iguazu, you will be transferred to your selected Hotel.

You will be picked up at the appropriate time. Departures for a half-day visit to the falls on the Brazilian side accompanied by specialized bilingual guide. The tour starts at the Visitor Center to access the route of the footbridges with modern panoramic buses that make the transfer inside from the park from where you get a spectacular panoramic view of the 275 falls that make up the Iguazu Falls, of which the most important on the Brazilian side are four: Floriano, Deodoro, Benjamín Constant and Salto Unión or Devil’s Throat. Once the walk is over you will reach the panoramic elevator that leads you to the bus that will take you again to the access gate. We will drive you back to the hotel.

Day 4

Puerto Iguazú

Argentine Falls

You will be picked up in the morning to departure for a full day tour around the bushy forest accompanied by specialized bilingual guides. You will walk through traditional circuits where you will appreciate the amazing flora and fauna. And of course the famous fall at Devil’s Throat. The lower trail gives the chance to watch most of the falls in the front and from below (degree of difficulty due to the stairs), superior trail which requires less physical effort and last but not least the Devil´s Throat (acceded through the Ecological Train). From there, you will do a walk along the new footbridge up to the large balconies located along the edge and front of the Devil’s Throat. We will drive you back to the hotel.

Day 5

Puerto Iguazú – Bariloche

At appropriate time, you will be transferred to the Puerto Iguazu airport, to take your flight to Bariloche.

Upon arrival to the airport, you will be transferred to your selected Hotel.

Day 6

Bariloche

History & Nature

An active way to get to know the most classic circuit of San Carlos de Bariloche, joined by a guide explaining the story of this city. Going across the most important viewpoints of the area like Campanario Hill and Llao-Llao Peninsula there are also amazing views of Lakes Moreno and Nahuel Huapi and the mountains Capilla and Lopez.

By the end of this day the cooking class takes place at Gilbert ́s Brewery and beer tasting as well. Finally there is a typical argentinian dinner to enjoy: fernet, empanada, main course, dessert.

Day 7

Bariloche

Puerto Blast

Setting out by boat from Puerto Pañuelo (Pañuelo Port,) on the Llao Llao peninsula, and after one hour of sailing, you’ll arrive at Centinela Island, resting place of Perito Francisco Pascasio Moreno, father of National Parks in Argentina, followed by a visit to Cascada de los Cántaros (Cántaros Waterfall.) Later on, a walk through the lush vegetation of the Valdivian rainforest, arriving at Lago Cántaros (Cántaros Lake,) the mouth of the waterfall, where you can witness the overwhelming sight of a 1,500-year-old larch tree. A short 5 minute sail later, you will finally arrive at Puerto Blest, a place that has amazed tourists from all over the world. From there, you’ll be able to tour the bay and the shores of Lago Frías and its peculiar green waters, which originate at one of the glaciers on Cerro Tronador, the natural border between Argentina and Chile.

Day 8

Bariloche – El Calafate

At appropriate time, you will be transferred to the international airport, to take your flight to El Calafate.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Day 9

El Calafate

Perito Moreno with Navigation

The tour begins at the Bajo las Sombras port located one hour and a half from El Calafate. Getting on board to navigate the Lago Rico where you can appreciate the amazing ice wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier and its icebergs. This 1-hour trip offers a spectacular view of the ice walls of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Afterwards, there is time to explore quietly the glacier’s balconies/runways, where there are several stops in viewpoints within the National Park and a visit to the runways, scenic spot peak. The way from El Calafate to the glacier is a succession of lakes, streams, forests and snowy mountains. At the end of the journey, you arrive at the west end of the Magallanes peninsula, where you start walking on the runways which have a total distance of 3 km. They are at different levels and allow you to contemplate the glacier from different angles and balconies.

Day 10

El Calafate

Day at leisure. Today you can do a Full day Navigation to see more Glaciers and enjoy a Gourmet Lunch in front of a glacier. Please see some options under the “Optional Tour” Menu.

Day 11

El Calafate – Ushuaia

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Ushuaia.

Upon arrival, you will be transferredto your selected Hotel.

Day 12

Ushuaia

Nacional Park Tierra del Fuego

The hotels in Ushuaia are at a 10 kilometers bus ride from the first stop: Ensenada Zaratiegui; also known as “Bahía Ensenada”. The most relevant attractions in the area will be visited on foot, and in contact with Nature. Short and pleasant walks paths are an invitation to know in detail this paradise at the end of the world, where the mountains can be reached from near the sea, and rivers and lakes live next the sea coast. These low difficulty hikes do not pose a challenge to passengersthat loves to walk. You will enjoy the landscapes along the Beagle Channel, Lapataia Bay, Green Lagoon and rivers Ovando and Lapataia. Near Acigami lake lunch is served inside dining tents that provide protection from the wind and rain.

Day 13

Ushuaia

Gable Island & Penguin Colony

From the hotel, we leave Ushuaia Eastbound along National Route No. 3. Once at Harberton Ranch, visit in the Marine Mammal Museum “Acatushún”, and the surroundings of one of the first white men settlements in Tierra del Fuego. Take a motorboat towards Martillo Island. From the boat, you’ll have the chance to see penguins in their breeding lair. Navigation on the motorboat continues up to the main attraction of the day: the enormous Gable Island. Lunch. Hike to know more of this gorgeous island. On the way, you’ll see remains left behind by the Yámana’s civilization and by the first settlers in an infinite and primordial landscape, magical and extreme. You’ll cross over beaver dams and through the forest to reach the Beagle Channel shore. You’ll take a boat to Puerto Harberton where you’ll take the bus back to the hotel.

Day 14

Cruise

Ushuaia – Australis Cruise

Check in at 409 San Martín Ave. in downtown Ushuaia between 10:00 and 17:00 (10 AM-5 PM) on the day of your cruise departure.

Board the Australis Cruise at 18:00 (6 PM). After a welcoming toast and introduction of captain and crew, the ship departs for one of the most remote corners of planet Earth. During the night we traverse the Beagle Channel and cross from Argentina into Chilean territorial waters. The lights of Ushuaia disappear as we turn into the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands.

Day 15

Cruise

Cape Horn – Wulaia Bay

Around the break of dawn, the Australis cruise crosses Nassau Bay and enters the remote archipelago that comprises Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we shall go ashore on the windswept island that harbors legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition — and named after the town of Hoorn in West Friesland — Cape Horn is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. For many years it was the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic, and was often referred to as the “End of the Earth.” The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. The Chilean navy maintains a permanent lighthouse on the island, staffed by a lightkeeper and his family, as well as the tiny Stella Maris Chapel and modern Cape Horn Monument (currently awaiting repair after being damaged by fierce winds).

Sailing back across Nassau Bay, we anchor at fabled Wulaia Bay, one of the few places in the archipelago where the human history is just as compelling as the natural environment. Originally the site of one of the region’s largest Yámana aboriginal settlements, the bay was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain FitzRoy in the 1830s during their voyages on HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for its mesmerizing beauty and dramatic geography. After a visit to the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station — which is especially strong on the Yámana people and European missionaries in the area — passengers have a choice of three hikes (of increasing degrees of difficulty) that ascend the heavily wooded mountain behind the bay. On all of these you stroll through an enchanted Magellanic forest of lengas, coigües, canelos and ferns to reach panoramic viewpoints overlooking the bay.

Day 16

Cruise

Pía Glacier – Garibaldi Glacier

Overnight we continue our Patagonia glacier tour around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the very narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the Australis cruise tacks eastward and enters the Beagle Channel again. By morning we are entering Pia Fjord and boarding the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier.After disembarking we take a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea or a longer much more difficult walk up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier.

No one knows for certain how the hulking mass of snow and ice got its feminine moniker, but one theory says it was named for Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king.

Making our way further west along the Beagle Channel, we enter another long fjord and drop anchor near Garibaldi Glacier for another shore excursion. Garibaldi is one of only three glaciers in Patagonia gaining mass rather than staying the same or slowly shrinking. This time we hike through virgin Magellanic forest to a glacial waterfall, a towering wall of ferns and moss, and spectacular viewpoints looking down on the glacier and fjord. The walk is demanding — very steep, negligible trail, rough footing — and not for everyone. For those who choose to stay onboard, our captain will point the bow towards the beautiful sky blue Garibaldi Glacier so everyone can enjoy the panoramic view from the upper decks.

Day 17

Cruise

Agostini Sound – Águila Glacier – Cóndor Glacier

Early in the morning, we will sail through the Cockburn Channel and enter Agostini Sound.From there it is possible to see the glaciers that descend from the middle of the Darwin Mountain Range — some of them reaching the water.This morning, we will disembarkand go for an easy walk around a lagoon, which was formed by the melting of the Águila Glacier.We will reach a spot right in front of that glacier with stunning views.In the afternoon, we will approach the Condor Glacier via Zodiac — and hopefully see some of the abundant Andean Condors in the area.

Day 18

Punta Arenas – Santiago de Chile

After an overnight cruise through Magdalena Channel and back into the Strait of Magellan, we anchor off Magdalena Island, which lies about halfway between Tierra del Fuego and the Chilean mainland. Crowned by a distinctive lighthouse, the island used to be an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers and is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellanic penguins. At the break of dawn, weather permitting, we go ashore and hike a path that leads through thousands of penguins to a small museum lodged inside the vintage 1902 lighthouse. Many other bird species are also found on the island. In September and April — when the penguins dwell elsewhere — this excursion is replaced by a ride aboard Zodiacs to Marta Island to observe South American sea lions.

After a short cruise south along the strait, disembarkation at Punta Arenas is scheduled for around 11:30 AM.

*Camera extension poles are prohibited on Magdalena Island.

At appropiate time, you will be transfer to Punta Arenas airport to take your flight to Santiago de Chile.

Day 19

Santiago de Chile

Your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby to begin your tour of the city. Chile’s capital city is a sophisticated, sprawling metropolis wedged between the Andes and mountainous coastal range, which plays home to 6 million Santiaguinos, one third of Chile’s population. One of the iconic landmarks you’ll discover during this excursion is the La Moneda presidential palace. Originally a colonial mint, it was designed by Italian architect, Joaquín Toesca. The Plaza de Armas main square is surrounded by some beautiful buildings, including the impressive cathedral and central post office, as well as the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, which houses over 700 exhibits. Then of course there’s San Cristobal Hill, where you’ll get a panoramic view of the city and the omnipresent Andes. Your guide will be on hand to tell you all about the city and give you some tips on where are the best places to find the spirit of Santiago.

Day 20

Santiago de Chile

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the international airport, to take your flight.