Santiago, Torres del Paine, and Patagonia Cruise

Magellanic Penguins, Tucker Islet, Chile

11 Days/9 Nights

From $6,339 per person

(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)

Select Departures from October to March

Overview

Enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world on this tour of Southern Patagonia. Begin in Santiago and continue on to Torres del Paine, one of the best parks for outdoor enthusiasts in South America, with a spectacular natural setting and massive granite peaks. The last part of the tour is a five day Australis cruise traveling through the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel to Cape Horn, the southernmost point of the continent, and finishing in Ushuaia, Argentina.

Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 9 nights (2 nights in Santiago, 3 nights in Torres del Paine, and 4 nights aboard the ship), and 24 meals (10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 7 dinners).

Best Time to Go: September-April.

Destinations: South America, Chile, and Patagonia.

Interests: Adventure, All-Inclusive Properties, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, Wildlife Viewing, and Wine Tasting.

Places Visited: Santiago, Torres del Paine National Park, Punta Arenas, and Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Santiago.

Depart to Santiago via overnight flight.

Day 2: Santiago.

After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. Note: Check-in time is 2:00 PM. We can request early check-in but cannot guarantee it.

Day 3: Santiago-City Tour-Winery Tour.

In the morning, you will have a panoramic city tour of Santiago, which will include Parque O’Higgins, Plaza de Armas (the city’s historic center), Palacio de la Moneda, ex-National Congress, Mapocho Station Cultural Center, Santa Lucia Hill, the place of Santiago’s founding in 1541,and the Bohemian district of Bellavista. In the afternoon, you will visit your choice of one of the following vineyards around Santiago (included in price): Concha y Torro, Cousino Macul, and Undurraga. Overnight in Santiago. (B)

Day 4: Santiago-Punta Arenas-Torres del Paine.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, you will be taken from the airport by van (+/- five hours of travel time) to Torres del Paine. For Hotel Las Torres (3/4 Star accommodations), en route (after traveling for two hours), you will visit the Cerro Negro cattle ranch and see first-hand the lifestyle of the settlers at the end of the world and roam around the beautiful colonial house. Depending on the time of arrival, the visit will include a traditional Magallanes-style barbeque. Overnight in Torres del Paine. (B,L,D)

Day 5: Torres del Paine.

Choose from one full-day or two half day optional excursions (included in the cost of the tour). Overnight in Torres del Paine. (B,L,D)

Day 6: Torres del Paine.

Choose from one full-day or two half day optional excursions (included in the cost of the tour). Overnight in Torres del Paine. (B,L,D)

Day 7: Torres del Paine-Punta Arenas-Australis Cruise.

Check in at the Cruceros Australis office in Punta Arenas from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cruise-ship boarding at 6:00 p.m. The Captain and crew give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterward, the ship departs for “the uttermost part of the earth”. Our excursion will take us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. We have just embarked on a Great Adventure! Overnight aboard the Ship. (D)

Day 8: Australis Cruise-Ainsworth Bay-Tucker Islet.

At dawn, we continue navigating through Almirantazgo Sound until finally arriving near Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay, where we enjoy a walk to discover a beaver dam in the midst of a marvelous Magellanic forest. On the beach we observe a colony of Elephant Seals. Later we visit Tucker Islet, where we view colonies of Magellanic Penguins and Cormorants from the Zodiac boats. The islet’s penguins migrate in April; as a replacement we visit Brookes Bay, for a short walk to see a glacier. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)

Day 9: Australis Cruise-Pia Glacier-Glacier Alley.

We navigate through the main part of Beagle Channel to reach Pia Bay, where we disembark near Pia Glacier. We take a short hike to a lookout point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, we sail again along the northwest arm of Beagle Channel through majestic “Glacier Alley”: Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland glaciers. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)

Day 10: Australis Cruise-Cape Horn-Wulaia Bay.

We sail through Beagle and Murray channels to reach and disembark in Cape Horn National Park (weather permitting). Cape Horn, on Hornos Island, is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory. This mythical place is known as the “End of the Earth”; a visit is a singular privilege. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005. In the afternoon, we go ashore in historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest aboriginal settlements. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coigües, Canelos, ferns and other native vegetation to reach a lookout point. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)

Day 11: Australis Cruise-Ushuaia.

Arrival at Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city on Tierra del Fuego, and the southernmost city in the world. (Disembarkation is at 8:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., depending upon the departure). (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Itinerary Map

What's Included

Price Includes

South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
Airport/hotel/pier transfers with baggage handling.
Hotel accommodations including taxes and service charges.
Accommodations on board the M/V Stella Australis.
All meals scheduled on board including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and other meals as indicated on the itinerary.
Port tax in Punta Arenas, Chile ($50).
Excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
Local, English-speaking tour guides.

Price Does Not Include

International airfare.
Domestic airfare.
Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
Hotel nights after the cruise.
Gratuities to tour guides, ship crew and guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
Gifts and personal items.
Travel insurance.

We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare and travel insurance, and to make these arrangements for you.

Accommodations

Santiago

Hotel Plaza San Francisco

Hotel Cumbres Lastarria

Lastarria Boutique Hotel

The Singular Santiago

Torres del Paine

Hotel Las Torres

Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa

Patagonia

Stella Australis

Additional Details

Group/Private: All airport transfers in Santiago are private, and the city tour and winery tour in Santiago are group tours for single passengers and 3 Star accommodations, and private for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations. All services in Torres del Paine and on the Australis Cruise are operated on a group basis. The transfers from the pier in Ushuaia, Argentina to the airport in Ushuaia, and from AEP Airport to EZE Airport in Buenos Aires are private.

Elevations: Santiago is 1,700 feet above sea level, and Torres del Paine National Park elevations can reach 4,000 feet or more, depending upon your itinerary.

Passport/Visa: For Chile, U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens (except Greece) require a valid passport (for the duration of your visit) and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Greek citizens can stay for up to 60 days. Australian, and Canadian citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee (considered a multiple entry visa) of $95 and $132 respectively upon arrival (subject to change without notice due to currency fluctuations or other reasons). Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Chilean embassy in their country before traveling. For Argentina, U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a valid passport (for the duration of your visit) and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Australian and Canadian citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee of $100 and $75 respectively (subject to change without notice due to currency fluctuations or other reasons) online, and must show proof of payment prior to arrival. The reciprocity fee for U.S. citizens has been suspended until further notice. For citizens of Australia, this fee covers unlimited entries to Argentina for 10 years, while citizens of Canada are charged the fee every time they enter the country (or $150 for multiple visits within five years). The fee can be paid online at ProvinciaNet.com.ar. You will need to register in order to make the payment. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the embassy of Argentina in their country before traveling.

Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.

To Book This Trip: For 3 and 4 Star accommodations, we require a non-refundable deposit of $1,200 in single occupancy, and $1,100 per person in double and triple occupancy. For 5 Star and Deluxe accommodations, we require a non-refundable deposit of $1,800 in single occupancy, and $1,500 in double and triple occupancy. The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days prior to departure.