Linblad Expeditions

Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords

Live in a world without boundaries for twelve days as we thread our way through this isolated wilderness and gaze on a coastline of impenetrable mountains. We’ll travel along protected waters and through endless fetches of ice, immersing ourselves in the spectacular scenery and wildlife of Patagonia and the Chilean fjords. Of this gripping swath of coastline the late explorer Bruce Chatwin once wrote, “Patagonia. She is a hard mistress. She casts her spell…folds you in her arms and never lets go.” Inherit the spell of Patagonia with Lindblad Expeditions; the memory will never let go.

Ship

Detailed Itinerary

Day 2 - Santiago/Overnight Hyatt
Today we arrive in Santiago and transfer to the Hyatt Hotel. Our morning is at leisure before an afternoon panoramic view of the city. Santiago’s appeal is centered around its great cultural life and natural beauty, with the Andes as an inspiring backdrop. Gather for our welcome dinner at the hotel.

Day 3 - Santiago/Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina/Embark Ship
Arrive in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world on the island of Tierra del Fuego at the very tip of the South American continent. Beyond is only the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific converge. Before embarking our ship, visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park, which borders the Beagle Channel and offers a marvelous opportunity to see some of the world’s most unique plants, birds and wildlife.

Days 4 - 5 - Beagle Channel & Strait of Magellan
The extraordinarily beautiful Beagle Channel was named for HMS Beagle on which Charles Darwin explored the area in the 1820s and ‘30s. Our transit of the scenic channel gives us a view of snow-covered peaks, enormous glaciers and huge condors along Tierra del Fuego. Cruise and Zodiac along the magical Magellan Strait with riveting views of glaciers, forests, steep walls and rocky islets.

Day 6 - Puerto Natales & Torres del Paine National Park
Chilean Patagonia offers one of the most spectacular and wildlife-rich areas in the Americas: Torres Del Paine. Glaciers and granite formations overlook plains that abound with guanacos, rheas, flamingoes and foxes. Visit the impressive 200-meter-deep Milodon Cave. The Milodon was a huge, ground-living sloth found in this part of the world. It became extinct during historical times and in 1893, intact pieces of its skin were found in this specific cave.

Days 7-13 - Exploring the Inland Passage & Chilean Fjords
Spend these days adventuring amid incredible scenery. A vast area of soaring, snowcapped mountains, gigantic glaciers, thousands of verdant islands, serene lakes, waterfalls and hot springs — the archipelago is scarcely touched by man. Take Zodiacs out to explore these protected waters and rugged shores, the blue and white of ice contrasting with greens of the forest highlighted by splashes of late-season flowering plants. Look for the Andean condors, albatrosses, grebes, petrels, fulmars, shearwaters and many other birds that inhabit this otherworldly realm.

Keep an eye out for the elephant seals and Commerson’s dolphins that dwell in these waters. Our intrepid Undersea Specialist will capture underwater footage, taking us safely where “our kind,” as Jacques Cousteau referred to humans, otherwise can’t. And at the end of each voyage, our Video Chronicler compiles a fully narrated DVD or video of your expedition.

Day 14 - Castro & Chiloe Island
We have a full day to explore the beauty and culture of the Chiloe Archipelago: charming fishing villages, old wooden churches, rolling agricultural hills and the capital, Castro. Observe and photograph the attractive palafitos, houses built on stilts with traditional wood shingles along the water’s edge. Experience the Chiloe culture, a mix of Catholic belief systems and native Chiloé mythology, populated with strange figures including the troll-like Trauco, magical sea creatures and ghost ships.

Day 15 - Puerto Montt/Disembark/Fly to Santiago/Miami
A full day to explore the Puyehue Thermal Springs set in the impressive lakes region. In the spectacular geography of Puyehue National Park is the Puyehue Hotel and Spa, one of the best hotels in the south of Chile, where we enjoy luncheon. We return via Puerto Octay, a beautiful village located on the bay with picturesque farms, stopping for photos of the volcano and lake.

Continue to the airport for our flight to Santiago, where we connect with an overnight flight to Miami.

Day 16 - Arrive Miami/Home

Cost of This Itinerary

The least expensive cabin costs:
$399 per person per night

The most expensive stateroom costs:
$612 per person per night