Antarctica Cruise from Chile Itinerary
19-day cruise from Chile to Antarctica
This 19-day cruise from Chile to Antarctica is a great route for seeing Chilean Patagonia and Antarctica in one expedition.
The journey begins in Chile's capital, Santiago, before heading south to Punta Arenas in Patagonia, across the Drake Passage towards the Antarctic Peninsula. After exploring the White Continent the trip heads back north back through Patagonia to explore the incredible fjords of Cape Horn and Torres del Paine national park.
Key information
| Destinations | South America, Antarctica |
|---|---|
| Activity | Cruise & Sailing, Nature & Wildlife |
| Physical Level | Easy |
 Season |
November - March |
Suggested itinerary
Get to know Chile’s lively capital city
Day 1–3 in Santiago
Surrounded by hills, energetic Santiago is the beating heart of Chile and home to 40% of its people. The best way to explore Santiago is simply by strolling around its unique neighbourhoods, starting with the museum, malls and architecture of the Centro.
Don't miss
Climb San Cristobal Hill in Santiago
Take the cable car or walk up to San Cristobal Hill for a stunning panorama of the city. It’s a great way to see the city before going on to explore its vibrant street art, galleries, beautiful parks and colonial architecture up close, perhaps via a bike tour. Look out for Plaza de Armas and La Moneda Presidential Palace.
Head to Punta Arenas, the gateway to Antarctica
Day 4 in Punta Arenas
Sitting alongside the Strait of Magellan, this sprawling city provides a base for those wanting to explore the wilderness of Chile’s southernmost Patagonia and is a popular starting point for many Antarctic cruises. Most visitors will fly into the city’s airport before connecting to Torres del Paine, Tierra del Fuego or neighbouring Argentina.
Cross the formidable Drake Passage
Day 5 in Drake Passage
Considered by many polar travellers to be the gateway to Antarctica, the Drake Passage is a common feature for cruises to the Antarctic Peninsula. Straddled between Chile’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, this infamous waterway is named after the 16th-century English explorer Sir Francis Drake.
Don't miss
Navigating Drake Passage
If you’re starting your voyage from South America, you’ll spend two days navigating Drake Passage. You’ll encounter giant albatross — and occasionally giant waves — as you await your first view of Antarctica’s icebergs.
Whale watching
Antarctica is one of the best places on earth to see whales. From orcas to humpbacks, minke to sperm, the relative isolation whales have enjoyed in the Antarctic means they are curious of ships and even approach them.
Explore the Antarctic Peninsula
Day 6–12 in Antarctic Peninsula
You don't take a holiday to Antarctica ‒ you make a trip of a lifetime.
This colossal frozen netherworld is bigger than the USA. The sun doesn’t rise for six months of the year and it's constant daylight the rest. It's the most untouched, alien place on our planet ‒ but the rewards are exceptional. Antarctica’s landscapes are surreal: utterly immense rolling icefields, icebergs the size of stadiums, glassy seas deeper than a skyscraper.
Its wildlife is abundant and utterly unperturbed by people. Armies of penguins waddle across the ice, train-sized humpback whales and orcas breach from the inky depths, seals flounder on the snowfields. On a calm day, when the sunlight bounces off every surface, the silence is all-encompassing. It's like nowhere else on earth.
Don't miss
Penguins in Paradise Bay
Home to gentoo penguins and the occasional humpback whale, Paradise Bay is a must-stop on any Antarctica cruise. Come to see penguins diving off ice floes and huge chunks of jagged ice surrounding the harbour. Wrap up — Paradise Bay’s temperatures remain below freezing year round.
Get your camera ready at Lemaire Channel
Antarctica is a land of beauty, but perhaps the best views are reserved for the 1km stretch of Lemaire Channel, located between the mainland and Booth Island. It’s so photogenic that travellers have nicknamed it Kodak Gap.
Postcards from Port Lockroy
This British research base was founded in 1944 and abandoned in 1962, and now operates as a museum staffed by volunteers. They operate the centre as it was in the 1940s, which means no internet or TVs, but you can buy and send postcards from one of the most southerly Post Offices in the world.
Sea kayaking
Not all excursions are on dry land! Your ship may carry kayaks, giving you a chance to explore the ice floes under paddle power.
Sail past Cape Horn
Day 13–14 in Cape Horn
The rocky headland of Hornos Island, where the wild oceans of the Pacific and Atlantic meet, lies the fabled Cape Horn. A popular sight for Antarctic tour ships, the discovery of Cape Horn in the 1600’s was of huge significance for trade, though it is still recognised as one of the most hazardous sailing routes In the world.
Don't miss
Cruise Cape Horn fjords
Forget everything you think you know about cruises; the voyages between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas are genuine expeditions that get you up close to the dramatic fjords, glaciers and wildlife of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn.
Hike “the W” in Torres del Paine
Day 15–19 in Torres del Paine National Park
Tucked away in the southernmost corner of Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of place.
The national park merits its reputation as a world-renowned hiking destination. It brims with classic routes with postcard vistas and lesser-known trails for solitude seekers. The hiking here ranges from easy to challenging, from short day hikes to long circuits of up to ten days.
There are many ways to experience Torres del Paine. Shoestring-budget backpackers rough it at campsites or in simple dorm-style refugios, packing in all their own food and gear. Mid-range travellers seek the convenience of a guided and fully supported adventure, as well as the company of a small group. Luxury travellers indulge in upscale resorts that offer private, tailored excursions into nature. There’s really something for everyone in the park.
Don't miss
Birdwatching in Patagonia
What Patagonia lacks in megafauna it more than makes up for in rare bird life. There are Magellanic penguins on the Valdes Peninsula, Andean Condors soaring above Torres del Paine, flamingos in Tierra del Fuego, and much more everywhere else. Bring your binoculars!
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