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Antarctica & Patagonia Expedition
from $15,382 pp

  • Duration: 18 Days
  • Destinations: Antarctica, Argentina, Chile

Antarctica & Patagonia Expedition (Southbound)

From Valparaíso, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina

18 Days | October 27, 2023 | Hurtigruten Expeditions

Ship: MS Fridtjof Nansen

AAA Member Price: From $15,382*


  • 18-day expedition cruise from Chile to Antarctica, aboard hybrid-powered ship MS Fridtjof Nansen, exploring the Chilean fjords and Patagonia

  • Visit Antarctica in late spring and discover its incredible wildlife, like colonies of Gentoo and Chinstrap penguins courting and building nests.

  • Four days exploring the Antarctic peninsula up close, on landings and ice cruises with your Expedition Team, or optional kayaking and snowshoeing activities.


Guided by your Expedition Team, you'll spend four incredible days exploring Antarctica's immense, pristine icescapes. Springtime is courting season and you'll be able to observe penguins mating. There's no fixed program: we adapt our itinerary to take every opportunity to get closer to nature and enjoy unique experiences on ice cruises and landings.

Call to Book 1-800-529-3222
Included With Your Trip

AAA Member Benefits:

• 90 euro per person onboard credit for all Expedition Cruises

• Kr300 (Norwegian Krone) onboard credit per person for all one-way sailing dates

• Kr600 (Norwegian Krone) onboard credit per person for all roundtrip sailing dates


Included in Your Expedition


Flights

  • Flight in economy class from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires

Transfer

  • Transfer from the ship to Ushuaia airport after the expedition cruise

Expedition Cruise

  • A stay in a cabin of your choice
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner including beverages* in Restaurants Aune and Fredheim
  • À la carte dining in Restaurant Lindstrøm for suite guests
  • Complimentary tea and coffee
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi on board
  • Complimentary reusable water bottle
  • English-speaking Expedition Team leading activities onboard and ashore
  • Range of included activities


Onboard Activities

  • In-depth lectures and discussions hosted by experts on the Expedition Team
  • Full use of our Science Center, extensive library and advanced biological and geological equipment
  • Citizen Science program where you can assist with live scientific research
  • Photography tips and techniques for capturing landscape and wildlife from our onboard professional photographer
  • Use of ship's hot tubs, infinity pool, panoramic sauna, outdoor and indoor gyms, and running track
  • Informal gatherings with the crew for daily briefings

Landing Activities

  • Escorted landings with small expedition boats
  • Loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities
  • Complimentary wind and water-resistant expedition jacket
  • Expedition photographers on hand to assist you


Note

  • All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
  • Excursions and activities are subject to change
  • Please ensure you can meet all entry and boarding requirements
  • No gratuities are expected

Additional Information

Day 1: Valparaiso, a UNESCO gem

Your expedition cruise begins in colorful Valparaíso, known as the 'Jewel of the Pacific'. Friendly and bursting with color, this gloriously sprawling UNESCO-listed city is filled with exciting smells, sounds and people. It’s an exhilarating maze of hillside alleyways and barrios, winding streets of colorful houses and mercados packed with local produce. Take it all in on the funicular ride up to Cerro Alegre and Concepción. If you'd like to explore more of the region, you can join our optional Pre-Program to tour the extraordinary Atacama Desert before you embark MS Fridtjof Nansen, your hybrid-powered expedition ship.

Day 2-3: Orientation and Discovery

Over the next two days at sea, you'll learn more about the wonders we'll encounter during our trip.

Our Expedition team are experts in fields from oceanography and geology to ornithology and history. Get stuck in with fascinating lectures, hands-on presentations in the Science Center, and learn about our Citizen Science projects.

It's also the perfect time to unwind. With three excellent restaurants, a pool, hot tubs and wellness centre – not to mention our Explorer Lounge & Bar—you’ll have everything you need to relax, recharge, and get ready for adventure.

Day 4: Castro's Chilotan charm

Set among the lush vegetation of Chiloé Island, Castro is Chile’s third oldest city and home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Iglesia San Francisco and Iglesia de Señora de Gracia de Nercón.

You can enjoy terrific views of the city’s colorful palafitos—stilt houses along the waterfront—from the nearby hills, so keep your camera ready. For some culture, head to the Regional Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.

Bring your binoculars as Chiloé is an important habitat for bird species like Green-backed Firecrowns and Chilean flamingos. It’s also home to penguins, Black-necked swans, Ringed Kingfishers and Silvery Grebes.

Day 5: The waters of Patagonia

We cruise south towards Puerto Natales, the capital of Última Esperanza. The iceberg-studded waters of Patagonia are captivating, with stunning shades of blue, from the brightest aquamarine to the deepest midnight hues.

As we sail, there's a good chance you’ll see whales, seabirds, penguins and more. Take in the scenery from the panoramic sauna or on-deck hot tubs and pool, enjoy locally sourced cuisine, or relax in the Explorer Lounge.

Our Expedition Team will be on hand with fascinating lectures on local history and wildlife, and our onboard photographer can help with tips on landscape photography.

Day 6: Remote Puerto Eden

After cruising through Patagonian waters, we arrive at the enchanting village of Puerto Edén in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park.


This tiny village sits at the end of a deep fjord. It’s only accessible by sea, and the ferry that connects it to the mainland only visits once a month. There are no roads here—just wooden boardwalks connecting houses and shops.

Among its 250-strong population, you’ll meet some of the last remaining members of the indigenous Kawéskar, giving you a fascinating insight into Patagonian culture. The unique community is designated a Living Human Treasure by UNESCO.

Day 7-8: Bohemian Puerto Natales

Our expedition cruise continues to Puerto Natales, where we'll spend the night. You can opt to go hiking in Torres del Paine National Park—an incredible experience well worth doing.

The rugged landscape has steppe, forest and desert, punctuated by glaciers and lakes. Guanacos, rheas and pumas roam freely. Look out for Chilean Flamingos and you may even spot the mighty Andean condor.

Puerto Natales is a popular hub for hikers and adventurers, with many eateries, bars and outdoor shops. Visit the artisan village at Etherh Aike; enjoy a gin tour at the Last Hope Distillery; or stroll the photogenic waterfront.

Day 9: Exploring Chile's fjords

We cruise south along the Chilean coast through the ruggedly beautiful, broken island chains of the fjords of Magallanes Province. Isolated islands and hidden bays create a rich haven for wildlife.

From deck, you can scan for colonies of Magellanic Penguins. If you’re lucky you might also spot elephant seals and whales. Or you can get hands on in the Science Center and study ice samples under the microscopes.

Your day’s activities will be decided by your Expedition Team. If the conditions are right, we'll take to the water in our small expedition boats for a closer look, or you might join a guided hike on a glacier.

Day 10-11: Rounding Cape Horn

After sailing through the Beagle Channel, we’ll pass the southernmost tip of South America, Cape Horn. Once treacherous for sailors, today we'll round it in comfort. Conditions can still be changeable, but if weather allows, we'll even attempt to land there.

From here, we'll navigate the legendary Drake Passage towards Antarctica. En route, you'll find out what lies ahead and how to make your visit as safe and as sustainable as possible.

In the Science Center, the Expedition Team will give lectures about Antarctica’s animals, history, geology, as well as the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. You can also get involved in our Citizen Science projects.

Day 12-15: Antarctica: another world

Nothing prepares you for your first sight of Antarctica’s immense, frozen beauty. Icebergs, sculpted by nature, float in the straits. Gentoo and chinstrap penguins court while Adélie penguins nest. Over 45 species of seabird wheel overhead. Here, nature is king and we are mere observers.

You’ll spend an exciting four days busily exploring several of more than 20 possible landing sites, on and around the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Wherever we go and whatever we do, each day will offer something different and thrilling.

We might sail into a flooded volcanic caldera or land in icy bays, where remnants of whaling paraphernalia lie abandoned. You may also get a chance to go kayaking among icebergs and seals, or snowshoe to penguin colonies on optional activities.

Bird enthusiasts should look skywards for Antarctic seabirds such as skuas, jaegers, petrels and terns. Through Citizen Science projects and onboard lectures you'll learn more about polar exploration, this precious habitat, and how we can all protect it.

Day 16-17: Sailing towards Argentina

After four days expedition cruising in Antarctica, it’s time to head back. Recap your experiences with your Expedition Team and fellow guests, visit the Science Center, relax in the Explorer Lounge, or share a delicious meal as the waves roll by.

You'll be joined on board by an anthropologist and some younger members of the Yaghan community from Puerto Williams. Learn about the life and traditions, and the challenges they face in modern Chile, in a presentation, followed by some traditional songs.

Make the most of your time on board with some pampering in our Wellness Centre. Unwind in the sauna, pool and hot tubs too before we arrive in Ushuaia.

Day 18: Ushuaia and Buenos Aires

Your expedition cruise ends in Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina’s southernmost province. From here, you’ll take a flight back to Buenos Aires, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your adventure.

Why not join our popular Post-Program to tour the legendary Iguazu Falls, an amazing way to wrap up your travels. Or you can stay on in Buenos Aires, enjoying the city sights, cosmopolitan culture and tango shows before heading home.

Departure Dates
Start: October 27, 2023
End: November 13, 2023
Price: $15,382 pp


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Product Code: AAA-Hurtigruten

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