Chilean Patagonia: Fjords, Glaciers and Torres del Paine

Arrive in Santiago, the capital city of Chile. Set against the Andes and Chilean Coastal mountain ranges, Santiago is home to half of the country’s population. Transfer from the airport to the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago (or similar).

Arrival Time: Arrive before 11:00 a.m. local time.
Arrival City: Santiago, Chile

Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, located in a valley surrounded by the Andes mountains. It is the political, cultural, and economic center of the country. The city is known for its modern skyline, historic neighborhoods, and vibrant street life. Santiago also offers easy access to ski resorts, vineyards, and natural parks nearby. With its mix of urban energy and mountain scenery, it is one of South America’s most dynamic cities.

Join the recommended flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, Chile’s southern gateway to Patagonia; transfers to the airport and luggage assistance will be provided. From there, you'll be driven to the outpost of Puerto Natales and check into The Singular Patagonia (or similar) for the evening. Enjoy a group dinner before retiring.

Punta Arenas was founded as a penal colony by Chile in 1848. Nestled amid spectacular mountain vistas on the eastern shores of the Brunswick Peninsula, it played host to mariners crossing the continent by ship. Europeans followed, searching for newly discovered gold and establishing vast swaths of sheep farms locally and throughout the surrounding region. Over time, Punta Arenas became one of Chile’s most important ports as, before the opening of the Panama Canal, it laid on the northernmost transcontinental shipping route.

With a population of roughly 18,000, Puerto Natales is the capital of the Ultima Esperanza Province. Founded in 1911, it quickly developed into a major residential center and shipping port for the area’s products. Nestled on a gently-sloping point amid spectacular scenery, the town overlooks the Ultima Esperanza Gulf and has a nice view of the Balmaceda Mountain. It provides services for the region’s intense livestock activity. Many of its inhabitants work at the Argentinian coal mines in Rio Turbio and return home over the weekend. A growing number of tourists are using the town as a jumping-off point for visiting the spectacular Torres del Paine and Balmaceda National Parks, and the nearby fjords. In 1892 and 1897, two geographic surveyors mapped the area and ascertained its potential for livestock farming. The first expedition was led by Capt. Eberhard, while the second, a Swedish one, was led by Otto Nordenskjöld. Eberhard discovered the Milodón Cave and was one of the first settlers in the area. A German-born immigrant in transit along the Strait of Magellan, he disembarked in Punta Arenas and decided to stay in this area. His brother continued to California, their original destination, where he later founded the renowned Eberhard Faber pencil making company. When the area opened to settlement in 1893, the lands lying along the coast were occupied mostly by German and English settlers who had previously come to Punta Arenas. There still remain a few interesting buildings dating from the estancia heydays. Pier Information The ship will remain at anchor. Guests will be brought ashore by ship’s tenders to the jetty located close to the center of town, which can be reached on foot. Shopping The main shopping area is located about 11 blocks from the landing jetty. Cuisine Two of the better restaurants in town are Tranquera and Circulo Español. Other Sites Cerro DoroteaA walk up this hill rewards with superb views of the whole Ultima Esperanza Sound.Milodón Cave National MonumentAbout 15 miles out of Puerto Natales stands this monument near the cave, where in 1895 Capt. Eberhard found the nearly intact remains of a prehistoric animal called milodón, a type of ground sloth. The finding caused such a stir that Wellington Furlog, a scientiest at Cornell University, set out in 1907 to comb Patagonia in search of living specimens of this species.

Drive into this UNESCO Biosphere reserve and spend three days at Tierra Patagonia Hotel or Explora Patagonia (or similar), discovering one of the most wildlife-rich areas in the Americas, covering 450,000 acres of glaciers, forests, grasslands, rivers and colorful lagoons. Choose among a variety of possibilities, including walks and hikes, horseback riding, sailing among icebergs to the foot of the immense Grey Glacier, visiting the Salto Grande waterfall and seeing the towers of the central massif from the Blue Lagoon. Look out for guanacos, gray foxes, rheas and Andean condors.

It is one of South America’s most iconic wilderness destinations, famous for its dramatic granite towers, turquoise lakes, and vast Patagonian landscapes. The park offers world-class hiking routes such as the renowned W Trek, where visitors encounter glaciers, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife including guanacos and condors. Its raw beauty and ever-changing weather create an unforgettable adventure in one of the planet’s most pristine natural environments.

It is one of South America’s most iconic wilderness destinations, famous for its dramatic granite towers, turquoise lakes, and vast Patagonian landscapes. The park offers world-class hiking routes such as the renowned W Trek, where visitors encounter glaciers, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife including guanacos and condors. Its raw beauty and ever-changing weather create an unforgettable adventure in one of the planet’s most pristine natural environments.

It is one of South America’s most iconic wilderness destinations, famous for its dramatic granite towers, turquoise lakes, and vast Patagonian landscapes. The park offers world-class hiking routes such as the renowned W Trek, where visitors encounter glaciers, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife including guanacos and condors. Its raw beauty and ever-changing weather create an unforgettable adventure in one of the planet’s most pristine natural environments.

You'll have a final morning to explore Torres del Paine before continuing on to Puerto Natales, where you'll embark the ship. Be on deck to look for condors and other wildlife on your way out of Puerto Natales as your Captain and local pilots guide the ship through the Kirke or White Narrows, accessible only to small ships like the National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions fleet—always a challenge to navigate because of the powerful currents that flow through the pinch point.

It is one of South America’s most iconic wilderness destinations, famous for its dramatic granite towers, turquoise lakes, and vast Patagonian landscapes. The park offers world-class hiking routes such as the renowned W Trek, where visitors encounter glaciers, waterfalls, and abundant wildlife including guanacos and condors. Its raw beauty and ever-changing weather create an unforgettable adventure in one of the planet’s most pristine natural environments.

With a population of roughly 18,000, Puerto Natales is the capital of the Ultima Esperanza Province. Founded in 1911, it quickly developed into a major residential center and shipping port for the area’s products. Nestled on a gently-sloping point amid spectacular scenery, the town overlooks the Ultima Esperanza Gulf and has a nice view of the Balmaceda Mountain. It provides services for the region’s intense livestock activity. Many of its inhabitants work at the Argentinian coal mines in Rio Turbio and return home over the weekend. A growing number of tourists are using the town as a jumping-off point for visiting the spectacular Torres del Paine and Balmaceda National Parks, and the nearby fjords. In 1892 and 1897, two geographic surveyors mapped the area and ascertained its potential for livestock farming. The first expedition was led by Capt. Eberhard, while the second, a Swedish one, was led by Otto Nordenskjöld. Eberhard discovered the Milodón Cave and was one of the first settlers in the area. A German-born immigrant in transit along the Strait of Magellan, he disembarked in Punta Arenas and decided to stay in this area. His brother continued to California, their original destination, where he later founded the renowned Eberhard Faber pencil making company. When the area opened to settlement in 1893, the lands lying along the coast were occupied mostly by German and English settlers who had previously come to Punta Arenas. There still remain a few interesting buildings dating from the estancia heydays. Pier Information The ship will remain at anchor. Guests will be brought ashore by ship’s tenders to the jetty located close to the center of town, which can be reached on foot. Shopping The main shopping area is located about 11 blocks from the landing jetty. Cuisine Two of the better restaurants in town are Tranquera and Circulo Español. Other Sites Cerro DoroteaA walk up this hill rewards with superb views of the whole Ultima Esperanza Sound.Milodón Cave National MonumentAbout 15 miles out of Puerto Natales stands this monument near the cave, where in 1895 Capt. Eberhard found the nearly intact remains of a prehistoric animal called milodón, a type of ground sloth. The finding caused such a stir that Wellington Furlog, a scientiest at Cornell University, set out in 1907 to comb Patagonia in search of living specimens of this species.

Today and during the following days you’ll be treated to the spectacular features of an active glaciated landscape with hanging valleys and tributary glaciers. This region was navigated by Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition, and it took most of November 1520 for his ships to find a way through the channels that lie between the continental mainland and Tierra del Fuego to the south. The crew will look to make a first stop in the extensive maze of channels and islands of the Chilean fjords, where you may go out by Zodiac and kayak.

Strewn through the coast of Chile, these beautiful fjords are world renowned for being one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth. Snow-capped volcanoes nestle majestically alongside rolling valleys of ice and frosty glaciers. Rugged beauty, breathtaking scenery not to mention diverse and profuse wildlife abounds – expect to watch whales from the deck, see playful Magellan Penguins and perhaps even spot the rare Andean Condor. Affectionately named “The End of the World” by the Spaniards who discovered the region in eighteenth century in a quest to Christianise South America, these extraordinary waterways not only encompass a medley of jagged mountains and iceberg strewn bays, but feature a kaleidoscopic spectrum of unexpected colour that offers photographic opportunities like no other destination.

Strewn through the coast of Chile, these beautiful fjords are world renowned for being one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth. Snow-capped volcanoes nestle majestically alongside rolling valleys of ice and frosty glaciers. Rugged beauty, breathtaking scenery not to mention diverse and profuse wildlife abounds – expect to watch whales from the deck, see playful Magellan Penguins and perhaps even spot the rare Andean Condor. Affectionately named “The End of the World” by the Spaniards who discovered the region in eighteenth century in a quest to Christianise South America, these extraordinary waterways not only encompass a medley of jagged mountains and iceberg strewn bays, but feature a kaleidoscopic spectrum of unexpected colour that offers photographic opportunities like no other destination.

Tierra del Fuego is one of Patagonia’s crown jewels. Visit its newest and largest protected area: Karukinka Natural Park. Established in 2004 through a gift from Goldman Sachs, Karukinka is one of the largest donations ever made for conservation. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions is thrilled to have special permission from the Wildlife Conservation Society to visit this private reserve, which spans 1,160 square miles and harbors the endangered culpeo fox, Andean condors, albatrosses, grebes, petrels, fulmars, shearwaters and many other kinds of wildlife. You might explore Jackson Bay, backed by a skyline of rugged mountains, and look for wildlife including black-browed albatrosses, which nest on one of the nearby small islands. You may walk a trail to a lovely waterfall and look for elephant seals resting on not only the beach but also high in the grass meadows and even in the small river draining the valley inland.

Tierra del Fuego is a large archipelago located at the southernmost tip of South America, shared by Chile and Argentina. It is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan and is known for its wild, windswept landscapes. The region features mountains, glaciers, forests, and long stretches of coastline facing the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It has a sparse population and a strong connection to exploration history, including early European navigators. Today, Tierra del Fuego is known for its natural beauty, wildlife, and remote, rugged environment.

Karukinka Natural Park is a vast protected area located in the Chilean part of Tierra del Fuego. It is known for its wild, untouched landscapes of mountains, peat bogs, forests, and rivers. The park lies in a remote region where human presence is minimal and nature dominates. It provides habitat for unique wildlife such as guanacos, Andean condors, and foxes. Karukinka offers a rare glimpse into one of the most pristine and isolated ecosystems on Earth.

This southernmost corner of the South American continent is also home to Cape Horn, the island at the convergence of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: famously difficult waters that, throughout the centuries, have been the graveyard of many ships from the time before the Panama Canal. Sail the Beagle Channel and look to hike and kayak one of the wild areas in this region of beech forests, mountains and rivers. Take Zodiacs out to explore these protected waters and rugged shores, keeping watch for the shearwaters, petrels, albatrosses and many other birds that inhabit this otherworldly realm. Experience more stunning wilderness as you explore the fjords and glaciers of the region by Zodiac, kayak and on foot.

Strewn through the coast of Chile, these beautiful fjords are world renowned for being one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth. Snow-capped volcanoes nestle majestically alongside rolling valleys of ice and frosty glaciers. Rugged beauty, breathtaking scenery not to mention diverse and profuse wildlife abounds – expect to watch whales from the deck, see playful Magellan Penguins and perhaps even spot the rare Andean Condor. Affectionately named “The End of the World” by the Spaniards who discovered the region in eighteenth century in a quest to Christianise South America, these extraordinary waterways not only encompass a medley of jagged mountains and iceberg strewn bays, but feature a kaleidoscopic spectrum of unexpected colour that offers photographic opportunities like no other destination.

This southernmost corner of the South American continent is also home to Cape Horn, the island at the convergence of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans: famously difficult waters that, throughout the centuries, have been the graveyard of many ships from the time before the Panama Canal. Sail the Beagle Channel and look to hike and kayak one of the wild areas in this region of beech forests, mountains and rivers. Take Zodiacs out to explore these protected waters and rugged shores, keeping watch for the shearwaters, petrels, albatrosses and many other birds that inhabit this otherworldly realm. Experience more stunning wilderness as you explore the fjords and glaciers of the region by Zodiac, kayak and on foot.

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions has been given special permission to visit extraordinary Staten Island, and this ship is one of the only expedition ships ever allowed here. It is a place of superlatives, barely touched in recent decades and visited primarily by a few scientists and the staff of the tiny naval observatory. The island was named by Dutch explorers in 1615. Its mountainous, forested landscapes and rugged fjords are beautiful, and there is much to discover here. The exact schedule remains flexible to take best advantage of conditions. Search for southern rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, other waterbirds, fur seals and sea lions. You might also look for otters on your landings ashore, and you'll see the replica of the 1884 San Juan de Salvamento “lighthouse at the end of the world,” which inspired Jules Verne’s novel by the same name. There are chances to walk in the southern beech forests. These days are bound to stand out as a unique chance to explore a very remote place.

Isla de los Estados is a remote and rugged island located off the eastern tip of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. It is characterized by steep mountains, dense forests, and a deeply indented coastline shaped by fjords and bays. The island has a harsh, wet, and windy climate, making it largely uninhabited except for a few scientific and naval presence. It is known for its rich wildlife, including seabirds and marine mammals. Isla de los Estados remains one of the most isolated and wild places in South America.

Isla de los Estados is a remote and rugged island located off the eastern tip of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. It is characterized by steep mountains, dense forests, and a deeply indented coastline shaped by fjords and bays. The island has a harsh, wet, and windy climate, making it largely uninhabited except for a few scientific and naval presence. It is known for its rich wildlife, including seabirds and marine mammals. Isla de los Estados remains one of the most isolated and wild places in South America.

Disembark in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Fly to Buenos Aires (National Geographic Explorer) or Santiago (National Geographic Endurance) and connect with your flight home.

Departure Time: Depart after 9:00 p.m. local time.
Departure City: Buenos Aires, Argentina

At 55 degrees latitude south, Ushuaia (pronounced oo-swy-ah) is closer to the South Pole than to Argentina's northern border with Bolivia. It is the capital and tourism base for Tierra del Fuego, the island at the southernmost tip of Argentina.Although its stark physical beauty is striking, Tierra del Fuego's historical allure is based more on its mythical past than on rugged reality. The island was inhabited for 6,000 years by Yámana, Haush, Selk'nam, and Alakaluf Indians. But in 1902 Argentina, eager to populate Patagonia to bolster its territorial claims, moved to initiate an Ushuaian penal colony, establishing the permanent settlement of its most southern territories and, by implication, everything in between.When the prison closed in 1947, Ushuaia had a population of about 3,000, made up mainly of former inmates and prison staff. Today the Indians of Darwin's "missing link" theory are long gone—wiped out by diseases brought by settlers and by indifference to their plight—and the 60,000 residents of Ushuaia are hitching their star to tourism.The city rightly (if perhaps too loudly) promotes itself as the southernmost city in the world (Puerto Williams, a few miles south on the Chilean side of the Beagle Channel, is a small town). You can make your way to the tourism office to get your clichéd, but oh-so-necessary, "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp. Ushuaia feels like a frontier boomtown, at heart still a rugged, weather-beaten fishing village, but exhibiting the frayed edges of a city that quadrupled in size in the '70s and '80s and just keeps growing. Unpaved portions of Ruta 3, the last stretch of the Pan-American Highway, which connects Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, are finally being paved. The summer months (December through March) draw more than 120,000 visitors, and dozens of cruise ships. The city is trying to extend those visits with events like March's Marathon at the End of the World and by increasing the gamut of winter activities buoyed by the excellent snow conditions.A terrific trail winds through the town up to the Martial Glacier, where a ski lift can help cut down a steep kilometer of your journey. The chaotic and contradictory urban landscape includes a handful of luxury hotels amid the concrete of public housing projects. Scores of "sled houses" (wooden shacks) sit precariously on upright piers, ready for speedy displacement to a different site. But there are also many small, picturesque homes with tiny, carefully tended gardens. Many of the newer homes are built in a Swiss-chalet style, reinforcing the idea that this is a town into which tourism has breathed new life. At the same time, the weather-worn pastel colors that dominate the town's landscape remind you that Ushuaia was once just a tiny fishing village, snuggled at the end of the Earth.As you stand on the banks of the Canal Beagle (Beagle Channel) near Ushuaia, the spirit of the farthest corner of the world takes hold. What stands out is the light: at sundown the landscape is cast in a subdued, sensual tone; everything feels closer, softer, and more human in dimension despite the vastness of the setting. The snowcapped mountains reflect the setting sun back onto a stream rolling into the channel, as nearby peaks echo their image—on a windless day—in the still waters.Above the city rise the last mountains of the Andean Cordillera, and just south and west of Ushuaia they finally vanish into the often-stormy sea. Snow whitens the peaks well into summer. Nature is the principal attraction here, with trekking, fishing, horseback riding, wildlife spotting, and sailing among the most rewarding activities, especially in the Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego (Tierra del Fuego National Park).

Arrive and check in to your hotel. Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, is an eclectic combination of Latin and European influences. The tree-lined streets and postcolonial architecture draw on the city’s Spanish, French and Italian heritage, while the many cafés and bodegas and vibrant nightlife are decidedly Argentine. Its barrios, or neighborhoods, exude an intimate atmosphere that belies the city’s size. Full of bohemian flair, historic San Telmo’s cobblestone streets and Belle Époque–style buildings reverberate with the mesmerizing melodies of the tango.