Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords on this unforgettable journey from Ushuaia to Puerto Montt. Sail through icy fjords, witness towering glaciers, and immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of this remote region.
South America
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords: From Ushuaia to Puerto Montt
9 Days aboard Magellan Explorer. From AUD $8,816pp.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- A wilderness experience in Southern Chile
- San Rafael Glacier
- Visit Puerto Eden
- Tierra del Fuego
- Glacier Alley along the Beagle Channel
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Ushuaia, Embarkation
- Day 2: Beagle Channel & Garibaldi Glacier
- Day 3: Day at Sea, Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego
- Day 4: Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
- Day 5: Messier Channel and Caleta Tortel
- Day 6: Day at Sea, Gulf of Penas
- Day 7: San Rafael National Park
- Day 8: Puyuhuapi Channel
- Day 9: Puerto Montt, Disembarkation
Ship Information
For more information on the Magellan Explorer please view the ship page.
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Ushuaia, Embarkation
Your journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, with boarding between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs. We will make a brief technical stop in Port Williams to comply with
Chilean customs and immigration requirements before proceeding along the Beagle Channel.
Dinner included.
Day 2: Beagle Channel & Garibaldi Glacier
The Beagle Channel is a striking narrow passage in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, a region originally named after the fires that burned in local native
settlements when the first European explorers arrived. It belongs to both Chile and Argentina. Today, we sail in view of spectacular ice formations sprawled along the sea from the snow-dusted Darwin Range. We will sail along Glacier Alley, home to a family of five glaciers: the Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche glaciers. We hope to explore the Garibaldi Fjord, where we will be surrounded by hanging and tidewater glaciers; nearby waterfalls are so close they can almost be touched.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Day at Sea, Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego
While heading north along the Strait of Magellan, we explore the waters of the fjords that branch out from Tierra del Fuego. We follow the remote coast around the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a protected area in the southern hemisphere where whales feed. If we are lucky, we may be able to spot humpback or sei whales breaching in the distance. We may also see dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4: Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
We take an exploratory Zodiac cruise to the Amalia Glacier area or the surrounding glaciers along the Peel Fjord in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. We bask in the glacier’s icy-blue beauty and cruise across the sea and among its ice floes to uncover part of Chile's natural mystique. As we sail between snow-capped peaks to get a closer look at the glacier and its brilliant yet rugged textures, we may spot dolphins swimming at a distance, cormorants or condors flying above, and otters.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 5: Messier Channel and Caleta Tortel
We continue sailing north towards Messier Channel and sail through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59 feet) English Narrows to have a closer look at the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in one of the nearby glaciers. Outside Antarctica, some of the largest glaciers in the southern hemisphere are found here. If permits, we will visit Caleta Tortel, a small village, or the surrounding areas in the afternoon. Located between the mouth of the Baker River and a small cove within the Baker channel, Caleta Tortel consists mainly of stilt houses, typical of Chilotan architecture, built along the coast for several kilometers. There are no conventional streets – instead, there are wooden walkways built with Guaitecas cypress. The wooden walkways give the village its distinctive look and its unique culture.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 6: Day at Sea, Gulf of Penas
As we sail north, we cross the Gulf of Penas, enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The expedition team tells us about the indigenous inhabitants of these southern lands, the early Spanish colonizers, and famous explorers such as Charles Darwin, Fitz Roy, and
Alberto de Agostini. We also learn about the region's biodiversity with presentations on the local marine life and flora.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 7: San Rafael National Park
The voyage continues with an expedition day in the Chonos Archipelago. Heading towards the Moraleda Channel, if weather permits we plan to cruise around the area of San Rafael National Park, declared a biosphere reserve. The park is the main entry point to Chile's Northern Patagonian Ice Field. We also explore the surrounding fjords, channels, islands, and coves.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 8: Puyuhuapi Channel
We continue to head north to visit the area around Puerto Aysén and Puyuhuapi. As we cruise and explore the area, we see the landscape unfold with its many fjords, islands, and channels. We hope to visit either Puerto Cisnes, Puyuhuapi, or Magdalena Island where we have the possibility of seeing dolphins, whales, cormorants, sea lions, and river otters.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 9: Puerto Montt, Disembarkation
Morning arrival in Puerto Montt and disembarkation.
Breakfast included.
- Day 1: Ushuaia, Embarkation
- Day 2: Beagle Channel & Garibaldi Glacier
- Day 3: Day at Sea, Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego
- Day 4: Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
- Day 5: Messier Channel and Caleta Tortel
- Day 6: Day at Sea, Gulf of Penas
- Day 7: San Rafael National Park
- Day 8: Puyuhuapi Channel
- Day 9: Puerto Montt, Disembarkation
Next Departure Date: 04 Apr 2026
| Dates | Cabin | From | Additional |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Apr 2026 - 12 Apr 2026 | AUD$8816pp | ||
| Triple Suite | AUD$8816pp | Contact us | |
| Porthole Cabin | AUD$9551pp | Contact us | |
| Veranda Cabin | AUD$10287pp | Contact us | |
| Deluxe Veranda Cabin | AUD$11022pp | Contact us | |
| Deluxe Suite | AUD$12640pp | Contact us | |
| Penthouse Suite | AUD$13228pp | Contact us | |
| Single Veranda Cabin | AUD$13228pp | Contact us |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Triple Suite
Approx. Size: 480 ft2 – 44 m2
Details: Suite with two bedrooms, balcony, and sitting area
Porthole Cabin
Approx. Size: 200 ft2 – 18 m²
Details: Cabin with sitting area and porthole
Veranda Cabin
Approx. Size: 210 ft2 – 19 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony
Deluxe Veranda Cabin
Approx. Size: 240 ft2 – 22 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony
Penthouse Suite
Approx. Size: 360 ft2 – 33 m2
Details: Suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom area
Deluxe Suite
Approx. Size: 480 ft2 – 44 m2
Details: Two-room suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom
Single Veranda Cabin
Approx. Size: 210 ft2 – 19 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony
Magellan Explorer Deckplan
Specifications
- Passengers: 100 max
- Lifeboats: 2, fully enclosed, capacity of 160 (in addition to 8 life rafts, capacity of 160)
- Breadth: 16.2 m
- Propulsion: Diesel engines, 3,440 kW
- Cruising speed: 14 knots in open water
- Staff & crew: 60
- Length: 90.7 m
- Draft: 4.3
- Ice class: LR PC6
What's included?
- Comprehensive pre- and post-voyage information material.
- Special access to Explorers House for guests in Punta Arenas.
- Ship cruise as indicated in the itinerary corresponding to each expedition.
- Daily buffet breakfast, à la carte lunch and dinner, as well as wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water, and snacks on board the ship.
- Loan of waterproof boots for landings, landing fees, contingency plan, and IAATO passenger fee.
- All guided shore excursions, as well as lectures and entertainment on board.
Important notes and additional information
*Itinerary operated in reverse, starting in Ushuaia and ending in Puerto Montt
Note: the itinerary presented above is for reference. As for any expedition cruise, our route will be subject to weather conditions and the requirements of the Chilean authorities.
Optional Activities:
- Kayaking - US$495
- Hiking and Snowshoeing in Antarctica, available for booking on board the ship at USD $85 per person, per excursion.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: South America
The vivid sights and sounds of South America offer something for everyone. Stretching from the Caribbean to Patagonia, the variety of cultures, climates and landscapes has to be experienced firsthand to be believed. The memories you take home will leave you wanting more – we’re sure you’ll want to return again and again, just like us!
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