10-Nights Chilean Cruise: The Fjords of Patagonia from $6,880

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago de Chile

Transfer: Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airportto Santiago de Chile - City Centre

Hotel: Hotel Pullman Santiago El Bosque (4 Star Rating)

Whether the traveler is in Santiago for business or pleasure Pullman El Bosque is the ideal hotel. Nestled in the outskirts of the exclusive residential neighborhood of Las Condes this wonderful hotel boasts 240 cozy and spacious rooms, all of them equipped with minibar, safe deposit box and cable TV. Other facilities within the hotel are a bar, cafeteria, laundry service, a gym and a great restaurant with a wide range of international cuisine available. Guests can also find an incredible swimming pool located in the 18th floor providing a breathtaking view of Santiago. Comfort, high quality and premium service come together at Pullman Santiago El Bosque Hotel.

One of the best ways to experience Santiago is through its historical development. Today's excursion begins with your private guide escorting you to Santa Lucia Hill, where the Spanish conqueror Pedro de Valdivia founded the city. From here you will continue to Plaza de Armas, the main square, which is surrounded by the Cathedral, the main post office, the National Historic Museum and the municipality of the city. You will also visit Constitución Square and see the government palace, La Moneda. Your next stop of the day will be the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. Created to guard, study and spread the artistic legacy of all pre-Columbian people of America, it is an excellent addition to any tour of Santiago. Later, continue onward to the Central Market, where you will visit a typical seafood restaurant to enjoy a tasty lunch (not included, to be paid for on-site). Afterwards, you will drive through Barrio Bellavista with its many cultural activities, art galleries, theaters and restaurants, and finally, you will make a last stop at the San Cristóbal Hill, a very well-known recreational area with a fantastic view of the city. After visiting San Cristóbal Hill you will be returned to your hotel in Santiago.

Tonight, set out to discover some of the best gastronomy that Santiago has on offer. Arranged to coincide with your preferred dining time, reservations will be made with the restaurant of your choice (subject to availability). To take you to and from the restaurant, private transfers will be arranged. Top dining choices in Santiago include La Mar which specializes in Peruvian fusion and seafood dishes (ceviche in particular), Bocanariz, an innovative restaurant and wine bar where each dish is intended to pair with one of many the venues exceptional wines, and Osaka, an impressive and unique sushi restaurant. If you have another dining option in mind, please speak with your Destination Specialist. Please note, your food and drinks are not included and are to be paid for on-site.

In the early 1980’s, and thanks to the climatic features of the area, the Casablanca Valley became the most suitable place for the Chilean winemaking industry. After meeting your private guide, your first stop will be the William Cole Vineyard; here you will participate on shared walk through the facilities to learn about the history of William Cole and about the winemaking process. Before you leave, you will be invited to taste some of the vineyards best wines. You will continue our tour through the valley towards another nearby vineyard, Viñamar. This place is located in the high part of Casablanca and it was founded with the purpose of producing the most exceptional red, white and sparkling wines in the country. Here you will have the opportunity to visit every corner of the vineyard on another shared experience to learn the secrets of their products and taste their specialties: sparkling wine (Brut), Chardonnay, special reserve Merlot and a glass of Cabernet and Carmenere blend. Afterwards, visit the vineyards restaurant to enjoy a lunch accompanied by, of course, a glass of wine. After this amazing day full of delicious wine and food, you will be returned to your accommodation in Santiago.

Transfer: Santiago de Chile - City Centre to Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez Airport

Transfer: Punta Arenas Airportto Punta Arenas

Hotel: Cabo De Hornos (4 Star Rating)

Cabo de Hornos is located in the center of Punta Arenas, next to the Plaza Munoz Gamero. The accommodation features 110 modern rooms including free Wi-Fi, TV, a private bathroom and laundry service. From each room, passengers have an amazing view of the Strait of Magellan or the historical town of Punta Arenas. In addition, guests can enjoy exquisite cuisine at the gourmet restaurant and end the day with a premium Chilean wine in front of the fireplace. The combination of the hotel's central location in town and the closeness to nature will make the traveler's stay unforgettable.

This scenic city tour of Punta Arenas will begin with a stop at the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum, home to ethnic aboriginal artifacts, examples of regional flora and fauna and a range of historical information. Soon after you will visit the spectacular Nao Victoria Museum. At Nao Victoria, you will be able to interact with replicas of the ships that contributed to the discovery of the area and the colonization of the land. Afterwards you will continue your journey by exploring a variety of landmarks and highlights such as the Main Square and the statue of Fernando de Magallanes. Last but not least, you will make your way to the lookout point known as Cerro de la Cruz to enjoy panoramic views of the city, the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego Island. After a lovely half-day getting acquainted with this remote corner of the world, you will be returned to your hotel.

Check in at 1398 Costanera del Estrecho Avenue (Arturo Prat Port) in Punta Arenas between 13:00 and 17:00 (1-5 PM); Embarkation will commence at 18:00 (6 PM). After a welcoming toast and an introduction of the captain and crew, the ship will depart for one of the most remote corners of the planet. During the night, cross the Strait of Magellan and enter the labyrinth of channels that define the southern extreme of Patagonia. The twinkling lights of Punta Arenas gradually fade into the distance as the vessel enters the Whiteside Canal between Darwin Island and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.

Meal(s): Dinner

Hotel: Stella Australis (4 Star Rating)

The purpose-built Stella Australis exploration vessel is ideal for discovering the fjords of Patagonia. Onboard, the décor in each of the 100 cabins is low- key though comfortable, while spacious lounge areas and observation decks let the stunning landscape and views do the talking.

Transfer: Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas Pier

By dawn the ship is sailing up Admiralty Sound (Seno Almirantazgo), a spectacular offshoot of the Strait of Magellan that stretches nearly halfway across Tierra del Fuego. The snow capped peaks of Karukinka Natural Park stretch along the north side of the sound, while the south shore is defined by the deep fjords and broad bays of Alberto de Agostini National Park. Go ashore at Ainsworth Bay, which harbors an incredible array of bird life and a colony of southern elephant seals which can sometimes be spotted from the Zodiacs. Two guided excursions are available: one is along the edge of a stream, peat bog and beaver habitat to a waterfall-and-moss-covered rock face tucked deep inside a pristine sub-polar forest; the other is a more strenuous hike along the crest of a glacial moraine. Both afford views of Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountains. Leaving Ainsworth Bay behind, sail west along the sound to the Tucker Islets. After lunch, board the Zodiacs again for a close-up view of the Magellan penguins that inhabit the tiny islands. More than 4,000 penguins use Tucker as a place to nest, give birth and nurture their chicks. Many other bird species also frequent the area including king cormorants, oystercatchers, Chilean skuas, kelp geese, dolphin gulls, eagles and even the occasional Andean condor. In September and April - when the penguins live elsewhere - this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a glacier at nearby stunning Brookes Bay.

Hotel: Stella Australis (4 Star Rating)

The purpose-built Stella Australis exploration vessel is ideal for discovering the fjords of Patagonia. Onboard, the décor in each of the 100 cabins is low- key though comfortable, while spacious lounge areas and observation decks let the stunning landscape and views do the talking.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Overnight the ship will sail 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 vessel tacks eastward and enters the Beagle Channel again. By morning you will be entering Pia Fjord and boarding the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier. After disembarking, 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. Back onboard the ship, continue east along the Beagle Channel through an area called Glacier Alley. Living up to its name, the passage features a number of impressive tidewater glaciers flowing down from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice Sheet on the north shore. Most of them are named after European countries: Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.

Hotel: Stella Australis (4 Star Rating)

The purpose-built Stella Australis exploration vessel is ideal for discovering the fjords of Patagonia. Onboard, the décor in each of the 100 cabins is low- key though comfortable, while spacious lounge areas and observation decks let the stunning landscape and views do the talking.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

During the early morning, navigate the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands and drop anchor at historic Wulaia Bay, one of the few places in the archipelago where 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 1830’s during their voyages on the 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 - you will have a choice between three hikes (of increasing degrees of difficulty) that ascend the heavily wooded mountain behind the bay. On all of these you will be strolling through an enchanted Magellan forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic fauna to reach a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay. Before leaving Wulaia Bay, drop something into the wooden mail barrel inside the museum - letters or postcards meant to be hand delivered by future travelers - an ancient mariner tradition revived by Australis.

In the afternoon you’ll cruise across Nassau Bay into the remote archipelago that includes Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, 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 light keeper and his family, as well as the tiny Stella Maris Chapel and modern Cape Horn Monument.

Hotel: Stella Australis (4 Star Rating)

The purpose-built Stella Australis exploration vessel is ideal for discovering the fjords of Patagonia. Onboard, the décor in each of the 100 cabins is low- key though comfortable, while spacious lounge areas and observation decks let the stunning landscape and views do the talking.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Transfer: Ushuaia Port to Ushuaia

Hotel: Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort (5 Star Rating)

Las Hayas Resort Hotel is located in an area of 5 hectares surrounded by a natural forest, under the Martial Glacier, 2.5km from the city of Ushuaia, with a spectacular view of the Bay of the Beagle Channel.

The following morning, sail into Argentine waters and dock in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Australis is scheduled to arrive at 8:30 or 9:30 AM depending on the date of departure.

Meal(s): Breakfast

Transfer: Ushuaia to Ushuaia Airport