Day 1 - Wednesday - Mar 13, 2024
Arrive in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires after an overnight flight and check into the Alvear Icon Hotel (or similar). In the afternoon, we begin our guided afternoon explorations of this vibrant city, seeing the city's Beaux-Arts palaces, the brightly painted bohemian community of La Boca, known for its street art and galleries, the Plaza de Mayo, and the famous presidential palace (called the rose palace) with its legendary balcony forever associated with Eva Peron. (Day 2: L)
Day 2 - Thursday - Mar 14, 2024
Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Before embarking, relax and enjoy lunch on a catamaran cruise of the Beagle Channel, a region of beech forests, mountains, and rushing rivers. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Friday - Mar 15, 2024
Day 4 - Saturday - Mar 16, 2024
| Cruising Garibaldi Glacier, Chile |
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| Glacier of Agostini, Chile |
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Glacier Alley: Sail into a vast wilderness of snow-capped peaks and mirror-like lakes, thick glaciers, and islets blanketed with vegetation. In this pristine landscape, myriad fjords or senos cut between soaring granite walls and waterfalls splash down from high above. The region we explore for the next two days is known as Glacier Alley. This entire region is part of a greater UNESCO Biosphere Reserve focusing on the Magellanic Sub-Antarctic evergreen rainforest. This incredibly biodiverse region arose with the retreat of the glaciers which formed these fjords. We begin at Seno Pia, a secluded fjord in the northwestern arm of the Beagle Channel with an impressively large glacier at its terminus. Next is Seno Garibaldi, part of Alberto de Agostini National Park, a dramatic region where the formidable Andes meet the sea. We will visit the Garibaldi Glacier by Zodiac and ship, marveling at this stunning wall of ice. Seno Agostini is the origin of numerous glaciers from the nearby mountains, originating at more than 6,600 feet in elevation. We'll explore this region from our Zodiacs, getting close to floating brash ice and bergy bits, watching for wildlife and hoping to witness the thundering process of glacial calving. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Sunday - Mar 17, 2024
| Francisco Coloane Marine Park, Chile |
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Located in the Strait of Magellan, Francisco Coloane Marine Park is the largest marine protected area along the Chilean coast, and it was also the first, established in 2003. This productive area supports vast and unique biological diversity, which will be the focus of our visit. A large summer population of humpback whales uses these waters as feeding grounds, as do South American sea lions. Black and white Peale's dolphins are frequently seen, and we'll search for the endemic and endangered Chilean dolphin. We'll explore the marine park by Zodiac, kayak, and on foot. We'll search for large marine and terrestrial birds including the Andean condor or the giant Antarctic petrel, and on Rupert Islet we'll visit a large Magellanic penguin colony. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Monday - Mar 18, 2024
| Torres del Paine National Park, Chile |
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Our next two days will be spent exploring the region around Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. We'll drive to the park on our first day, and you'll have the option to trek on foot or explore part of the park by vehicle. The landscape is big, wide, and sprawling, with some of the most dramatic mountain scenery anywhere, and wildlife that includes rheas, foxes, and herds of guanaco. You'll discover one of the most spectacular and wildlife-rich areas in the Americas, covering 450,000 acres of glaciers, forests and grasslands, rivers, and gem-colored lagoons, crowned with the pinnacles of Torres del Paine. Our second day will be spent closer to Puerto Natales itself, to learn more about the burgeoning Chilean gastronomic scene, as well as the culture and history of the indigenous people of the region. Enjoy alternate opportunities for birding for Andean condors or hiking the beautiful terrain of the region. (B,L,D)
Day 7 - Tuesday - Mar 19, 2024
| Torres del Paine National Park, Chile |
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Day 8 - Wednesday - Mar 20, 2024
| Torres del Paine National Park, Chile |
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Day 9 - Thursday - Mar 21, 2024
Kirke Narrows: After the last morning in Torres del Paine, we have two days to continue our exploration of the Chilean fjords. Our captain and local pilots guide us through Kirke Narrows, accessible only to a small expedition ship such as National Geographic Endurance. While the wildlife of the region will leave you speechless, the combination of unspoiled scenery, national parks, and lush Magellanic forests is what makes the fjords of Chile so captivating. We continue to explore the extensive maze of pristine channels and islands, where we may explore by Zodiac and kayak or take a walk in the surrounding forest. (B,L,D)
Day 10 - Friday - Mar 22, 2024
This morning, we arrive in Punta Arenas, the largest city in Patagonia. With local guides, we'll visit the historic center of the city, the Plaza de Armas, and a local handicraft market. Visit the Patagonian Institute and the Salesian Museum, to learn the region's archaeology and wildlife. Alternatively, go for a hike in the Magallanes National Reserve, which offers outstanding views of the valley below and of Punta Arenas. Later, be on deck as National Geographic Endurance navigates the Strait of Magellan, en route to Isla Magdalena. The island has been designated a national nature reserve because of its importance as a penguin breeding site. Go ashore at this national nature reserve, home to 120,000 nesting Magellanic penguins. Photo opportunities abound here. (B,L,D)
Day 11 - Saturday - Mar 23, 2024
Day 12 - Sunday - Mar 24, 2024
Karukinka Natural Park & Bahia Ainsworth: Continue to the newest and largest protected area on Tierra del Fuego: Karukinka, meaning "our land" in the language of the ancient inhabitants. We have obtained permission to visit this private reserve, which harbors abundant wildlife, including endangered culpeo foxes, guanacos, black-browed albatross, Andean condors, and elephant seals. On our last day in the Chilean fjords, we set out to explore in Zodiacs and kayaks and on foot. Visit Bahia Ainsworth, at the base of Marinelli Glacier, to explore the subpolar Magellanic forest. Keep an eye out for southern elephant seals along the beach. (B,L,D)
Day 13 - Monday - Mar 25, 2024
| Cruising Cape Horn, Chile |
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Day 14 - Tuesday - Mar 26, 2024
| Isla de los Estados, Argentina |
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On the first of these days we visit Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of the South American continent. Conditions permitting, make a landing to look out at the waters of the Drake Passage. We continue to Isla de los Estados, whose wild, untouched landscapes are home to Magellanic penguins, fur seals, otters, sea lions, and countless water birds. We have received special permission to visit here. Our exact schedule will remain flexible to take best advantage of conditions for exploring this natural wonderland. See a reconstruction of the 1884 San Juan de Salvamento "lighthouse at the end of the world", which inspired Jules Verne's novel of the same name. National Geographic Endurance is one of the few expedition ships to be granted access here, and the experience is bound to be unforgettable. (B,L,D)
Day 15 - Wednesday - Mar 27, 2024
| Isla de los Estados, Argentina |
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Day 16 - Thursday - Mar 28, 2024
| Isla de los Estados, Argentina |
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Day 17 - Friday - Mar 29, 2024
Disembark in Ushuaia and take a charter flight to Buenos Aires to connect with your overnight flight home. (Day 18: B,L)
