Day 1 - Wednesday - Departure from Punta Arenas
- From 9am to 4pm, passengers check in at 245 San Martin St, Ushuaia.
- From 5pm to 6pm: boarding "Mare Australis" expedition cruise ship. The crew, headed by the Captain, will welcome you aboard for cocktails with your cruise companions. 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 begB&B/Inning of a Great Adventure!
**World's farthest southern city, located on the border of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains, the port of Ushuaia, originally a penal colony, is now the capital of the Argentinean province of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is the threshold to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Here, we will enjoy the wonders of this landscape where the sea meets the forests and mountains. This southern Argentinean town is the embarking and disembarking port for those passengers who take the 3 or 4-night tour between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas or vice-versa. There are optional tours available to visit the area.
Day 2 - Thursday - Navigation
- We will sail through the Beagle and Murray Channels to disembark in Cape Horn National Park. Cape Horn, a sheer, almost 425-meter-high promontory, where the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean merge, was discovered in 1616 by the Dutch commercial expedition organized by Isaac Le Maire. The Cape owes its name to the Port of Hoorn, the expedition’s departure point.
- In the afternoon we will disembark in historical Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest native settlements. This area is also renowned for the spectacular beauty of its vegetation and geography. We will walk through a Magellanic forest filled with Lengas, Coigües, Canelos, ferns and other species to reach a look-out point.
**We will visit Horn Island, to get a panoramic view of the famous and mythical Cape Horn, the place where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet, and last promontory of South America. Cape Horn, an island featuring cliffs of almost 425 meters high, was discovered on January 30, 1616 by a Dutch commercial expedition organized by Isaac LeMaire and under the command of Captain Wilhem Schouten. The Cape owes its name to the Port of Hoorn from where the expedition departed on June 14, 1615.
**Located at the northern end of Navarino Island and on the shores of the Beagle Channel, Puerto Williams- with no more than two-thousand inhabitants- is proud to be the farthest southern town of the world. In the woods that surround this outpost, we will discover splendid waterfalls, lakes and rivers very apt for fishing. We will learn about the place where the last direct surviving descendants of the Yagan Indians still live. Another attraction is the Martin Gusinde Museum, which houses the history of the native cultures of the region. There are optional tours of the area.
Day 3 - Friday - Navigation
- We will disembark in Chico Inlet for a zodiac boat approach to Piloto and Nena glaciers, providing us with a closer look at these awe-inspiring masses of ancient ice.
Day 4 - Saturday - Punta Arenas
- Early in the morning, we will disembark on Magdalena Island, the home of an immense colony of more than 120,000 Magellanic Penguins that we will be able to observe during our walk to the Lighthouse that guides different ships on their way through the Strait of Magellan.
- After our visit, we will return to Punta Arenas, where we will disembark at 11:30 a.m., concluding our adventure.
**Located 25 miles north of Punta Arenas, in the middle of the Strait of Magellan, Magdalena Island is a natural reserve of Magellan penguins, cormorants, and other birds which peacefully coexist with sea-lions. Here we will discover a “rookery” of more than 60 thousand couples of penguins that come back year after year to nest in the same burrows built by them. Between October and March they occupy almost the entire island, and are a unique sight. One can walk through the island along a marked path leading to a lighthouse where there is an exhibition of photographs and information on the marine life in the Strait of Magellan.
**More than 140,000 people inhabit Punta Arenas, the capital city of the XII Region of Magallanes, Chile. Geographically, it is located in parallels 53 South and 72 longitude West, in the borders of Strait of Magellan, the access door to the two oceans: the Pacific and the Atlantic. This city is the front door to visit diverse attractions of the zone, among them are Tierra del Fuego, Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Williams and Antarctica. The city boasts the farthest southern ski center of the world, which has the unique characteristic of being the only one in the world with view to the ocean; this center is only 8 km to the west of Punta Arenas.
Additional Information:
** During the cruise there will be interesting talks on the wildlife, history and geography of this legendary region given by the Mare Australis Expedition Group. The talks will take place both on board (with audio-visual support) and on land.
** During the cruise, there will be daily inland tours lasting approximately two hours. These tours are organized and managed by the Mare Australis Expedition Group and consist of walks through trails in the native forest and visits to glaciers. The tours include talks on the flora and fauna of the area. A delicious whisky with the millenary ice, or a cup of hot chocolate will be served at the end of the excursions.
** Excursion clothing:
** Cabins: click the image to zoom
Frequent Ask Questions
· What is included in the cruise rate?
- Breakfast, lunch and dB&B/Inner.
- Open Bar.
- Daily land excursions.
- Welcome and good-bye drinks.
- Whisky and hot chocolate during the excursions to the glaciers.
- All activities inside the ship.
· What will we see?
- Navigation through the legendary Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel.
- Navigation through the glaciers, channels and fjords of the Darwin Mountain Range.
- The southernmost cities in the world: Puerto Williams and Ushuaia.
- The areas declared by the United Nations as the most virgin ones in the world.
- Flora and Fauna of great beauty: native forests, sea lions, seals, cormorans, exotic flowers, dolphins, etc.
- One of the largest penguin colonies in the southern hemisphere.
- Cape Horn, the point where the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans merge. That United Nations delcared as the most virgin one in the world.
· What kind of lectures are there on the cruise?
- Navigation routes.
- Flora and fauna of the Magellan region.
- Glaciology.
- The Beagle Channel.
- Marine mammals.
- The Strait of Magellan.
- Magellan penguins.
- The Indians.
·Do we always disembark at Cape Horn National Park?
- Disembarkation at Cape Horn National Park is subjet to weather conditions. Disembarkation success rate for this excursion last season was 85%.
· Are penguins seen throughout the whole season?
- No, penguins can be seen from early October through early April. Then, they migrate to the North.
· Is there a shop on board?
- Our ship has a nice shop on board where you will find exclusive designs in sports wear, souvenirs and different gift items, specially created for Mare Australis.
· Is there a doctor on board?
- There is a doctor on board. lf you require medical attention this will be considered as an additional charge. We obviously hope that you do not require this kind of attention.
· Should we tip on board?
- Tips are at the discretion of the passenger. We suggest US$ 15 per day per passenger, to be paid in cash on the last day of the cruise.
· What will the climate be like?
- During the Cruise season, the temperature fluctuates between 5 and 15 degrees centigrade. While rainfall in the western islands of the archipelago can reach 4.000 millimeters per year, in the eastern sector of the Strait of Magellan they are hardly over 254 millimeters per year.
· Are pets allowed?
- We regret not being able to accept animals on board.
· Are there safety boxes available?
- Cruceros Australis is not responsable for loss of money, Travelers checks, jewels or other valuables. For your comfort we have safety boxes in each cabin.
· Are passports and visas necessary?
- Visa/Passport requirements vary according to passenger’s country of origin, so that this shall be verified at the time of making the reservation. Each passenger is responsible for carrying the necessary documents to enter Argentinean and Chilean territory. Minors not traveling with both parents must carry an authorization of the absent parent signed before a notary public.
· Is there any insurance?
- The responsibility of Cruceros Australis for the losses or damages is limited to the passage contract. We recommend that you to check on your personal insurance policy. We recommend www.travelguard.com.
· What is the kind of electricity on board?
- Cabins are equipped with 220 volt plugs. In bathrooms, there are plugs for both 220 volts and for 110 volts.
· Which is the official language?
- Official languages on board are Spanish and English. However, guides speaking French, German and Italian will be available.
· How can I pay on board?
- Items purchased at the shop such as souvenirs, videos, sportswear and others can be paid with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Diners credit cards, travelers checks, US dollars, Euros or Chilean pesos.
· Are there hair dryers on board?
Yes, you may ask for it at Reception.
· Are there elevators on board?
- The ship does not have elevators or equipment necessary for the handicap. |
