Essential Patagonia
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ANTARCTIC 2021.22 ESSENTIAL PATAGONIA Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine INAUGURAL SEASON Contents 1 Overview 2 Itinerary 8 Arrival and Departure Details 10 Your Ship: Ultramarine 12 Included Activities 13 Adventure Options 15 Dates and Rates 16 Inclusions and Exclusions 17 Your Expedition Team 18 Extend Your Trip 19 Meals on Board 20 Possible Excursions 22 Packing Checklist Overview Essential Patagonia: Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine Retrace Charles Darwin’s epic voyage to the ‘edge of the world’ on our Essential Patagonia: Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine expedition, a comprehensive journey into Chile’s spectacular network of fjords and channels. Helicopter flightseeing and Zodiac cruises along this enchanting stretch of coastline provide awe-inspiring perspectives of some of the most remote and picturesque landscapes on Earth. From Magellanic penguin colonies and other seabirds to South American sea lions and southern elephant seals, the fascinating array of wildlife is as abundant as the majestic blue-toned tidewater EXPEDITION IN BRIEF glaciers. Join us in this enchanting wonderland and experience all the natural splendors Encounter iconic wildlife, such as Magellanic penguins, sea lions and of southern Patagonia. seabirds By coming aboard for this special journey, you will also be among the first guests Experience some of the world’s most remote glacial and fjord to experience our pioneering new vessel, Ultramarine. This purpose-built vessel is systems, including Glacier Alley designed to extend the boundaries of exploration and offer an unmatched experience, Retrace Darwin’s route through the including a flightseeing tour you’ll never forget and a range of adventure options Beagle Channel and learn about the more extensive than any other ship in its class. We’re excited to host you on your storied history of southern Chile unforgettable adventure! Please feel free to reach out to our team of Polar Travel Cruise in a Zodiac for a unique Advisers, who are happy to answer your questions and provide assistance at any time. perspective of glaciers, fjords and channels Enjoy helicopter flightseeing from Ultramarine for a unique perspective of the landscape 1 Itinerary DAY 1 | ARRIVE IN From BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA To Buenos You may arrive in Buenos Aires at any Santiago Aires time during Day 1 of your itinerary. Upon CHILE ARGENTINA Torres arriving in this splendid city, known for its del Paine architecture and rich European heritage, Strait of Puerto Magellan you will independently transfer to your Natales group hotel (pre-expedition hotel night Atlantic Alacalufes Ocean National Park included in mandatory transfer package). Strait of Magellan Punta Arenas DAY 2 | FLY TO USHUAIA & EMBARK Admiralty Sound After an early breakfast at the hotel, Ushuaia Agostini the group will transfer to the airport National Park and board our private charter flight to Pacic Ocean Ushuaia, Argentina. Cape Horn Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to a central downtown Diego Ramírez Islands location to have some time on your own to explore this quaint port town before ESSENTIAL PATAGONIA making your way to the pier. Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine On board the Ultramarine Flights to/from Buenos Aires/Santiago Torres del Paine excursion 2 After a late afternoon embarkation, opening of the Panama Canal, this cape you will sail along the historic Beagle was part of a major global trade route. IMPORTANT REMINDER Channel, which transects the Tierra If sea and weather conditions allow, As this voyage will start in Argentina del Fuego archipelago in the extreme you may go ashore for a hike out to the and enter Chile, please ensure you south of South America. lighthouse, the tiny Stella Maris (“Star obtain visas for both countries DAY 3 | CAPE HORN of the Sea”) Chapel, and the albatross- as required by your nationality. As we begin our exploration of Chile’s shaped monument honoring the many Residents of some countries may southern extent, expect a new adventure mariners who lost their lives attempting also be required to pay a reciprocity every day. Though each expedition will to “round the Horn.” Atop the windswept fee to enter Chile. be different, depending on the weather, promontory, pause for a moment to take we aim to start our journey to the “edge in the panoramic view and to enjoy the of the earth” with a visit to historic peaceful solitude that can only be found explored places on the planet. This Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). At the at one of the most southern stretches small archipelago was actually thought southernmost point of the Tierra del of land in the world. You can even have to be the southernmost land mass in Fuego (“Land of Fire”) archipelago, the your passport stamped by the family the world when it was discovered in most isolated place in the Americas, operating the lighthouse! 1619 by the Spanish Garcia de Nodal this steep, rocky headland on Hornos DAY 4 | DIEGO RAMÍREZ ISLANDS expedition. Named after the expedition’s Island marks the northern boundary of Your ship will then continue cruising cosmographer, the archipelago held the famous Drake Passage, where the farther south, to the Diego Ramírez this distinction for 156 years, until Capt. Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. From Islands, the most southern point of James Cook’s discovery of the South the 1700s to the early 1900s, prior to the South America and one of the least- Sandwich Islands in 1775. Weather 3 permitting, depending on conditions, stimulating presentations by your glaciers have taken their names—España we may choose to zodaic cruise or ship Expedition Team will enrich your (Oblicuo), Romanche, Alemania (Roncagli), cruise cruise around these tussock- knowledge of the glacial systems, Francia, Italia, and Holland Glaciers. grass-covered islands to admire geology, environment, wildlife and Situated within the protected boundary the abundant birdlife. A designated storied history of the region as you of Alberto de Agostini National Park, Important Bird Area, and part of the retrace Charles Darwin’s historic journey both Pia and Garibaldi Glaciers sit at the recently-designated Diego Ramirez through the Beagle Channel, a 150-mile head of picturesque ice-choked fjords Islands and Drake Passage Marine Park, (240 km) strait separating Tierra del that offer jaw-dropping views. Located the archipelago is home to millions of Fuego’s main island from several smaller within the Cordillera Darwin (Darwin breeding seabirds, and an exceptional islands. Named after Captain Robert Mountain Range), the impressive place for birdwatching. Binoculars in FitzRoy’s famous ship on which Charles Pia Glacier extends from the soaring hand, birders will marvel at the sight Darwin was a passenger, the channel mountaintops down into the sea. A short of multiple species of albatross (these presents plenty of photo ops to capture hike to a lookout point provides superb islands are the southernmost albatross seabirds hovering overhead and dramatic vistas of the glacier and mountains. breeding ground in the world), including vistas of jagged-peaked mountains and black-browed albatross, shy albatross massive tidewater glaciers. Rugged and Surrounded by pristine sub-Antarctic and grey-headed albatross. Sightings of untouched, this magnificent landscape forests, Garibaldi Glacier flows from a dolphins, South American fur seals, and is as starkly beautiful as it was when separate mountain, providing equally rockhopper, macaroni and Magellanic Darwin first laid eyes on it in 1833. exceptional views, with the Darwin penguins are also possible here. Mountains rising dramatically out of Glacier Alley (as it’s nicknamed) is one the fjord. We can explore this area by of the most spectacular ship passages in DAY 5 | PIA & GARIBALDI Zodiac, including a beautiful glacial GLACIERS, GLACIER ALLEY Tierra del Fuego. To honour the European waterfall nearby. As our ship sails back north toward countries that first explored the region, the the southern edge of Tierra del Fuego, 4 As we navigate the fjords, your DAY 7 | CRUISING deep, windswept fjords, narrow channels Expedition Team will keep watch for THE CHILEAN FJORDS and isolated bays, with an eye toward the Andean condors, massive birds rivaled Continuing north, we’ll navigate rugged landscape, unique wildlife and in wingspan by only the wandering through a remote network of coastal impressive glaciers that tumble from the albatross. fjords and channels, including time towering mountains into the icy waters spent venturing out into the Pacific below, along with the imperial and king DAY 6 | DAINELLI (AGUILA) GLACIER Ocean. Your Expedition Team will cormorants, South American terns, black- Located at the end of a tranquil lagoon prepare for the adventures that await, necked swans and southern wigeons surrounded by lush sub-Antarctic helping you further understand the (Chiloé wigeons) that frequent the fjord. forests in Agostini Sound, Dainelli glacial systems, as well as the flora and Glacier (sometimes called Aguila— fauna that can be found in this part Torres del Paine National Park is one Spanish for “Eagle” Glacier) is a unique of Chile. Take a moment, as we glide of the most stunning wilderness areas sight, as it appears to flow over rolling past soaring snow-capped peaks, to in South America, and Puerto Natales hills rather than mountains. Cruising contemplate the mariners of long ago is the gateway. This enormous park aboard a Zodiac toward the blue-tinged who traveled these same sheltered is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, so wall of ice, conditions permitting, you passageways, and were rewarded with designated for both its natural wonders will be humbled by the wonder of the same wondrous sights. and ancient human history, and named nature’s power. We hope to venture for the three granite peaks that tower ashore for an easy hike along the beach DAYS 8 & 9 | PUERTO NATALES & above the glacier-fed lakes.