In the footsteps of Darwin from Punta Arenas

Check-in takes place at Punta Arenas between 13:00 p.m. and 17:00 p.m. on the departure day of the Australis cruise. At 18:00 p.m. we invite guests to board the luxurious ship M/V Stella Australis. After a welcome toast and introduction of the captain and crew, the ship sets off on a journey to one of the furthest corners of planet Earth. At night, it crosses the Strait of Magellan and enters the maze of channels that define the southern edge of Patagonia. The twinkling lights of Punta Arenas gradually fade into the distance as the ship enters the Whiteside Channel between the islands of Darwin and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.

At dawn, the ship sails up the Admiralty Fjord (Seno Almirantazgo), a spectacular branch of the Strait of Magellan that stretches almost half of Tierra del Fuego. The snow-capped peaks of Karukinka Natural Park stretch along the northern side of the fjord, while its southern shore is defined by the deep fjords and wide bays of Alberto de Agostini National Park. Guests make landfall at Ainsworth Bay, where, alongside numerous birds, there is a colony of southern elephant seals, which can sometimes be spotted from the Zodiac boat. Two guided tours are available: one follows the edge of a stream, bogs and beaver habitats to a moss-covered rock wall with waterfalls tumbling down, hidden deep in untouched Arctic forest; the second is a more strenuous hike along the ridge of an ice moraine. Both tours offer stunning views of the Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountains.

Leaving Ainsworth Bay behind, the M/V Stella Australis sails west through Admiralty Fjord to the Tucker Islets. After lunch, guests board the Zodiacs again to see up close the colonies of Magellanic penguins that inhabit these tiny islands. More than 4000 penguins nest on the Tucker Islands, laying eggs and caring for their chicks. Many other bird species also visit the area. These include king cormorants, oystercatchers, Chilean skuas, sea geese, dolphin gulls, eagles, and even - although extremely rarely - Andean condors. In September and April - when the penguins move elsewhere - this tour is replaced by a short walk to the glacier front in nearby stunning Brookes Bay.

At night, the luxury ship M/V Stella Australis circles the western tip of Tierra del Fuego, sailing through the very narrow straits of the Gabrial, Magdalena and Cockburn channels. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the ship turns east and reenters the Beagle Channel. In the morning, M/V Stella Australis enters the Pia Fjord, where guests disembark aboard the Zodiak boat and, after reaching the shore, embark on a trip to the Pia Glacier. Travelers have the choice between a short hike that leads to a lookout that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the spectacular glacier that flows from the mountain peaks down to the sea, or a longer, more challenging route up the side moraine of the old Pia Glacier . No one knows how the huge mass of snow and ice got its name, the most popular theory is that it was named in honor of Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king.

After returning to the ship, guests continue their cruise east along the Beagle Channel through an area called the Avenue of Glaciers. True to its name, as they sail aboard the exclusive M/V Stella Australis cruise ship, travelers pass many impressive glaciers flowing into the sea from the Darwin Mountains and the Darwin Ice Field rising above the northern shore of the Avenue. Most of the names of the glaciers are the names of European countries - the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.

Early in the morning, Stella Australis sails through the narrow Murray Channel between the islands of Navarino and Hoste and drops anchor in the legendary Wulaia Bay, one of the few places in the archipelago where the history of civilization is as fascinating as the natural environment surrounding guests. It was originally the site of one of the largest indigenous settlements of the Yámana tribe in the region. This bay was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain FitzRoy in the 1830s while traveling on HMS Beagle. The area is known for its fascinating beauty and dramatic geography. After visiting the Australis-sponsored museum located in an old radio station, which is dedicated to the Yámana people and the activities of European missionaries in the area - passengers can choose from three hiking tours (of increasing difficulty) that lead into the densely forested mountains above the bay . On all trails, visitors have the opportunity to walk through the enchanted Magellanic Forests full of Lenga, Coigüe, Canelo and ferns, finally reaching viewpoints over the bay. Before guests return to the Stella Australis, we invite them to throw the letter or card that future travelers will deliver to the recipients into a wooden barrel inside the museum, thus maintaining the ancient seafaring tradition brought back to life by our company.

In the afternoon, the luxury ship Stella Australis crosses Nassau Bay and enters the remote archipelago that includes Cape Horn National Park. If weather and sea conditions are favorable, travelers can disembark on the windswept island that hides the legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch naval expedition - named after the town of Hoorn in western Frisia - Cape Horn is a vertical, 425-meter-tall rocky promontory overlooking the stormy waters of the Drake Strait separating South America from Antarctica. For many years it was the only shipping route between the Pacific and the Atlantic, often called the "End of the Earth". The park was declared a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 2005. The Chilean Navy operates a permanent lighthouse on the island, staffed by a lighthouse keeper and his family. There is also a tiny Stella Maris chapel and a modern Cape Horn monument.

The next morning, the luxury expedition ship M/V Stella Australis enters Argentine territorial waters to arrive at the shore in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, at around 8:00 a.m. Ushuaia was founded in 1884 as one of the places of contact between the indigenous people of Patagonia - the Yámana people - and Europeans. Its name comes from the Yámana language and means deep bay. The city is surrounded by the southernmost peaks of the Andes. With approximately 65 inhabitants, Ushuaia is the second largest city in Tierra del Fuego, after Rio Grande. Travelers have the whole day to explore the city. One of the most interesting places worth visiting is the Prison at the End of the World, a former prison that has now been transformed into a maritime museum containing a fascinating Antarctic collection, and a monument to those who were once imprisoned there. The town is also a good place for shopping (especially locally produced chocolate) or hanging out in one of the many cafes.

Guests return to M/V Stella Australis at 17:30 p.m. After a welcome toast and introduction of the captain and crew, the ship sets off to one of the most remote corners of the Earth. At night it crosses the Beagle Channel and crosses from Argentina into Chilean territorial waters. The lights of Ushuaia slowly disappear as the ship sails through the narrow Murray Channel between the islands of Navarino and Hoste.

Early in the morning, the luxury expedition ship M/V Stella Australis once again sails through Nassau Bay to Cape Horn. This day is a repetition of the fourth day of the expedition with landing on the shore and walking. However, a second landing at some of the more iconic locations along the route can sometimes be more rewarding than the first: it gives you more time to explore each location in detail. At Cape Horn, guests get a second chance to visit the Stella Maris Chapel, chat with the lighthouse keeper and his family, or photograph the unusual subpolar flora that inhabits the cape's rocks. In Wulaia Bay, guests can explore the museum in more detail, take a longer walk than the first time, watch the birds along the shore, or search the mail barrel to see if the recipient of someone who once left a letter here lives close to their home and whether so he couldn't play polar postman. This second approach also increases the guests' chances of landing on Cape Horn Island.

In the morning, M/V Stella Australis enters the Pia Fjord, where guests disembark aboard the Zodiak boat and, after reaching the shore, embark on a trip to the Pia Glacier. Travelers have the choice between a short hike that leads to a lookout that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the spectacular glacier that flows from the mountain peaks down to the sea, or a longer, more challenging route up the side moraine of the old Pia Glacier . No one knows how the huge mass of snow and ice got its name, the most popular theory is that it was named in honor of Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king.

Sailing further west along the Beagle Channel, the M/V Stella Australis enters another deep fjord and drops anchor near the Garibaldi Glacier, inviting guests for another shore excursion. The Garibaldi Glacier is one of three glaciers in Patagonia that is still growing, rather than remaining the same or slowly shrinking like most glaciers in the world. This time we hike through the pristine Magellanic Forest to an icy waterfall, a high rock wall covered with ferns and moss, and then to spectacular viewpoints showing the magnificent glacier and the fjord below. The walk is demanding - very steep, on a poorly marked path on uneven ground - so not for everyone. For those who choose to stay on board, our captain will point the bow of the M/V Stella Australis cruise ship towards the beautiful blue Garibaldi Glacier so everyone can enjoy the panoramic view from the upper viewing decks.

After dark, the ship returns to the Beagle Channel and sails west along the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego to a wonderland protected within the Alberto de Agostini National Park. Rounding the Brecknock Peninsula on the western edge of Tierra del Fuego, the luxury ship M/V Stella Australis briefly ventures out into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. It then navigates a zigzag route through the Cockburn, Magdalena and Keats Fjord canals, finally reaching the picturesque Agostini Fjord. Named after an Italian Salesian priest who worked in the region in the first half of the 20th century, Agostini Fjord is surrounded by numerous glaciers and steep, wild mountains reminiscent of the famous towers of Torres del Paine.

This day's morning tour takes travelers to the Águila ("Eagle") Glacier, which rises above a tranquil glacial lagoon surrounded by ancient forest. After the Zodiac lands on the beach, passengers hike around the lagoon to where the glacier's jagged blue façade rises. Sometimes you can spot a condor circling high in the sky, and there are always plenty of birds on the shores of the lagoon. This landing is the perfect opportunity to experience the beauty of Patagonia's subarctic rainforest and see how the forces of nature have shaped this spectacular landscape.

*In April and September, instead of Magdalena Island, we take guests to Marta Island

After an overnight cruise through the Magdalena Channel, the M/V Stella Australis returns to the waters of the Strait of Magellan and then drops anchor off the shores of Magdalena Island, which lies halfway between Tierra del Fuego and Chile. Topped with a distinctive lighthouse, this island was an essential source of supplies for sailors and explorers, and is inhabited by a huge colony of Magellanic penguins. At dawn, weather permitting, hikers will go ashore and walk along a path that leads among thousands of penguins to a small museum housed in a lighthouse dating back to 1902. The island is inhabited by many other species of birds. In April and September - when the penguins live elsewhere - this tour is replaced by a trip aboard the Zodiac boat to Marta Island to observe South American sea lions. After a short cruise south along the strait, the expedition aboard M/V Stella Australi ends with disembarkation in Punta Arenas, which is scheduled to take place around 11:30.

Please note: the use of photographic tripods is prohibited on Magadalen Island.