PatagoniaThe rugged and mysterious South American region of Patagonia is like no other place on earth. And starting in 2011, Cruise West will show it to you as it demands to be shown… up-close. Located in southern Chile and Argentina, Patagonia boasts a magical range of topography – including the Andes Mountains, expansive plains, a live volcano, breathtaking lakes, the southern hemisphere’s largest glaciers outside of Antarctica, and Tierra Del Fuego – the “Land of Fire” discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520.
Santiago to Buenos AiresDay 01 | Santiago, Chile Arrive and check into your included hotel for the first of two nights. Take a walking city tour that includes the Plaza de Armas (center square), Pre-Columbian Art Museum, La Moneda Presidential Palace, and Hidalgo Castle. Enjoy a welcoming reception, dinner, and folkloric show.
D
| Day 02 | Santiago/Valparaiso Journey to Casablanca Valley, one of Chile’s supreme wine regions, for a wine tasting and lunch. In Valparaiso, ride in a historic funicular to the top of a hill to visit the home of famed Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.
BLD
| Day 03 | Punta Arenas Fly to Punta Arenas, board your ship, enjoy a welcoming cocktail reception, and set sail. Go ashore on Magdalena Island, weather permitting, where you’ll watch for Magellanic penguins as you walk to an important lighthouse.
BLD
| Day 04 | Ainsworth & Brookes Bay Weather permitting, see Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountain Range. Discover a beaver dam in a sub-polar Magellanic forest. Land by inflatable excursion craft in Brookes Bay for a short walk to one of many glaciers. On the beach in Ainsworth Bay, we will try to see elephant seals, but we cannot guarantee this as the precise location of the colony is unpredictable.
BLD
| Day 05 | Isla Carlos III Travel through the legendary Strait of Magellan towards Carlos III Island and Rupert Islet. Visit the Francisco Coloane coastal-marine park to look for humpback whales, sea lions, and dolphins.*
BLD
*This day’s itinerary is subject to change.
| Day 06 | Garibaldi Fjord/Pia Glacier Cruise scenic Garibaldi Fjord for stunning views of Garibaldi Glacier and the snow-field of the Darwin Range. Then land by inflatable excursion craft at the very foot of spectacular Pia Glacier.
BLD
| Day 07 | Cape Horn View the magnificent 425-meter-high rocky promontory of Cape Horn – known as the “End of the Earth.” Go ashore at historic Wulaia Bay, visited by Darwin himself, to discover the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography.
BLD
| Day 08 | Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego In the morning, arrive at Ushuaia – southernmost city in the world, where our voyage ends. Fly to Buenos Aires, check into your included hotel, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before enjoying a farewell Tango show and dinner.
BD
| Day 09 | Buenos Aires, Argentina Tour Buenos Aires, including the National Congress, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government House, and the Plaza de Mayo. Watch the Tango performed on the streets. Visit the suburb of La Boca, home to many important artists. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then head to the airport for your flight home.
BL
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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner Buenos Aires - SantiagoDay 01 | Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive in Buenos Aires and check into your included hotel. Tour the city, seeing such sights as the National Congress, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government House, and the Plaza de Mayo. Visit the suburb of La Boca, home to many important artists. Enjoy an incredible welcome Tango dinner show.
D
| Day 02 | Buenos Aires
Take a full day train excursion to Tigre, in the delta of the Parana River. This pleasant journey along the River Plate’s coast will reveal beautiful residential areas, private neighborhoods, sailing clubs, and marinas. Enjoy a variety of entertainment along the way.
BLD
| Day 03 | Ushuaia
Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city in Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) and the southernmost city in the world. Take a half day to discovery the sites, including the National Park – El Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. In the evening, board your ship for a welcoming cocktail reception.
BLD
| Day 04 | Cape Horn
Sail through the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn. Weather permitting, view the magnificent 425-meter-high rocky promontory. Go ashore at historic Wulaia, visited by Darwin himself, to discover the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography.
BLD
| Day 05 | Garibaldi & Pia Glaciers
Cruise through majestic Glacier Alley on the way to Pia Fjord. Disembark via inflatable excursion craft in front of Pia Glacier. Then sail to Garibaldi Fjord for incredible views of the Garibaldi Glacier and the snow-field of the Darwin Range.
BLD
| Day 06 | Isla Carlos lll
Travel through the legendary Strait of Magellan towards Carlos lll Island and Rupert Islet. Visit the Francisco Coloane coastal-marine park to look for humpback whales, sea lions, and dolphins.*
BLD
*This day’s itinerary is subject to change.
| Day 07 | Ainsworth & Brookes Bay
Sail through Almirantazgo Sound to Brookes Bay, a scenic amphitheatre of glaciers. Land by inflatable excursion craft for a short walk to approach one of the glaciers. Visit Ainsworth Bay and, weather permitting, see the Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountain Range. Discover a beaver dam in a sub-polar Magellanic forest. On the beach, we will try to see elephant seals, but we cannot guarantee this as the precise location of the colony unpredictable.
BLD
| Day 08 | Punta Arenas/Santiago
Go ashore at Magdalena Island, weather permitting, where you’ll watch for Magellanic penguins as you walk to an important lighthouse. In the late morning, disembark the ship, fly to Santiago, Chile, and check into your included hotel. Tour Santiago – including the Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Pre-Columbian Art Museum, La Moneda Presidential Palace, and Hidalgo Castle. Enjoy a farewell dinner and folkloric show.
BD
| Day 09 | Santiago/Valparaiso
Visit Casablanca Valley – one of Chile’s supreme regions – to take part in a wine tasting. In Valparaiso, ride in a historic funicular to the top of a hill to visit the home of famed Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. Head to the airport for your flight home.
BL
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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner Santiago to Buenos Aires + Torres del PaineDay 01 | Santiago, Chile Arrive and check into your included hotel for the first of two nights. Take a walking city tour that includes the Plaza de Armas (center square), Pre-Columbian Art Museum, La Moneda Presidential Palace, and Hidalgo Castle. Enjoy a welcoming reception, dinner, and folkloric show.
D
| Day 02 | Santiago/Valparaiso Journey to Casablanca Valley, one of Chile’s supreme wine regions, for a wine tasting and lunch. In Valparaiso, ride in a historic funicular to the top of a hill to visit the home of famed Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda.
BLD
| Day 03 | Santiago/Punta Arenas/Puerto Natales
Fly to Punta Arenas and board a motorcoach for a scenic drive to the city of Puerto Natales. On the way, enjoy a traditional lunch at the Estancia Rio Penitente, plus a sheep sheering demonstration and show. Overnight at the Hotel Costa Australis, located on the edge of the astonishing Ultima Esperanza fjord.
BLD
| Day 04 | Torres del Paine National Park Visit Milodon Cave, home to stalactites and a replica of the Milodon – a pre-historic animal whose remains were discovered here. As you travel toward Torres del Paine National Park, discover the Magellanic deciduous forest, the Patagonian steppe, and perhaps a South American camel or Rhea – a relative of the African Ostrich.
Inside the Park, which is a biosphere, marvel at turquoise lakes, the magnificent Salto Grande waterfall, and mountains covered by ice. Then, view icebergs in Grey Lake, with Grey Glacier in the background. BLD
| Day 05 | Punta Arenas Travel from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, board your ship, enjoy a welcoming cocktail reception, and set sail. Go ashore on Magdalena Island, weather permitting, where you’ll watch for Magellanic penguins as you walk to an important lighthouse.
BLD
| Day 06 | Ainsworth & Brookes Bay Weather permitting, see Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountain Range. Discover a beaver dam in a sub-polar Magellanic forest. Land by inflatable excursion craft in Brookes Bay for a short walk to one of many glaciers. On the beach in Ainsworth Bay, we will try to see elephant seals, but we cannot guarantee this as the precise location of the colony is unpredictable.
BLD
| Day 07 | Isla Carlos III Travel through the legendary Strait of Magellan towards Carlos III Island and Rupert Islet. Visit the Francisco Coloane coastal-marine park to look for humpback whales, sea lions, and dolphins.*
BLD
*This day’s itinerary is subject to change.
| Day 08 | Garibaldi Fjord/Pia Glacier Cruise scenic Garibaldi Fjord for stunning views of Garibaldi Glacier and the snow-field of the Darwin Range. Then land by inflatable excursion craft at the very foot of spectacular Pia Glacier.
BLD
| Day 09 | Cape Horn View the magnificent 425-meter-high rocky promontory of Cape Horn – known as the “End of the Earth.” Go ashore at historic Wulaia Bay, visited by Darwin himself, to discover the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography.
BLD
| Day 10 | Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego In the morning, arrive at Ushuaia – southernmost city in the world, where our voyage ends. Fly to Buenos Aires, check into your included hotel, and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure before enjoying a farewell Tango show and dinner.
BD
| Day 11 | Buenos Aires, Argentina Tour Buenos Aires, including the National Congress, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government House, and the Plaza de Mayo. Watch the Tango performed on the streets. Visit the suburb of La Boca, home to many important artists. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then head to the airport for your flight home.
BL
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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner Buenos Aires - Santiago + Torres del PaineDay 01 | Buenos Aires, Argentina
Arrive in Buenos Aires and check into your included hotel. Tour the city, seeing such sights as the National Congress, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government House, and the Plaza de Mayo. Visit the suburb of La Boca, home to many important artists. Enjoy an incredible welcome Tango dinner show.
D
| Day 02 | Buenos Aires
Take a full day train excursion to Tigre, in the delta of the Parana River. This pleasant journey along the River Plate’s coast will reveal beautiful residential areas, private neighborhoods, sailing clubs, and marinas. Enjoy a variety of entertainment along the way.
BLD
| Day 03 | Ushuaia
Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city in Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) and the southernmost city in the world. Take a half day to discovery the sites, including the National Park – El Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. In the evening, board your ship for a welcoming cocktail reception.
BLD
| Day 04 | Cape Horn
Sail through the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn. Weather permitting, view the magnificent 425-meter-high rocky promontory. Go ashore at historic Wulaia, visited by Darwin himself, to discover the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography.
BLD
| Day 05 | Garibaldi & Pia Glaciers
Cruise through majestic Glacier Alley on the way to Pia Fjord. Disembark via inflatable excursion craft in front of Pia Glacier. Then sail to Garibaldi Fjord for incredible views of the Garibaldi Glacier and the snow-field of the Darwin Range.
BLD
| Day 06 | Isla Carlos lll
Travel through the legendary Strait of Magellan towards Carlos lll Island and Rupert Islet. Visit the Francisco Coloane coastal-marine park to look for humpback whales, sea lions, and dolphins.*
BLD
*This day’s itinerary is subject to change.
| Day 07 | Ainsworth & Brookes Bay
Sail through Almirantazgo Sound to Brookes Bay, a scenic amphitheatre of glaciers. Land by inflatable excursion craft for a short walk to approach one of the glaciers. Visit Ainsworth Bay and, weather permitting, see the Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountain Range. Discover a beaver dam in a sub-polar Magellanic forest. On the beach, we will try to see elephant seals, but we cannot guarantee this as the precise location of the colony unpredictable.
BLD
| Day 08 | Punta Arenas
Go ashore at Magdalena Island, weather permitting, where you’ll watch for Magellanic penguins as you walk to an important lighthouse.
Transfer to Puerto Natales. Enjoy a traditional lunch at the Estancia Rio Penitente, plus a sheep sheering demonstration and show. Overnight at the Hotel Costa Australis, located on the edge of the astonishing Ultima Esperanza fjord.
BD
| Day 09 | Torres del Paine National Park Visit Milodon Cave, home to stalactites and a replica of the Milodon – a pre-historic animal whose remains were discovered here. As you travel toward Torres del Paine National Park, discover the Magellanic deciduous forest, the Patagonian steppe, and perhaps a South American camel or Rhea – a relative of the African Ostrich.
Inside the Park, which is a biosphere, marvel at turquoise lakes, the magnificent Salto Grande waterfall, and mountains covered by ice. Then, view icebergs in Grey Lake, with Grey Glacier in the background.
BLD
| Day 10 | Punta Arenas Travel from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, where you will take your flight to Santiago. BL | Day 11 | Santiago/Valparaiso
Visit Casablanca Valley – one of Chile’s supreme regions – to take part in a wine tasting. In Valparaiso, ride in a historic funicular to the top of a hill to visit the home of famed Chilean poet, Pablo Neruda. Head to the airport for your flight home.
BL
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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner |
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