Patagonia adventure cruise

Around the break of dawn, the Ventus crosses Nassau Bay and enters the archipelago of Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, you'll land on the windswept island that harbours legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition, Cape Horn is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. For many years it was the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic, and was often referred to as the "End of the Earth." The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005.

Sailing back across Nassau Bay, the ship anchors at fabled Wulaia Bay, where the human history is just as compelling as the natural environment. Originally the site of one of the region’s largest Yámana aboriginal settlements, the bay was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain Fitz-Roy in the 1830s during their voyages on HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for its mesmerising beauty and dramatic geography. After a visit to the museum in the old radio station you'll have a choice of three hikes (of varying degrees of difficulty) into the heavily wooded mountains behind the bay.

Overnight the ship sails around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the Ventus tacks eastward and enters the Beagle Channel again. By morning you'll be entering Pia Fjord and boarding the zodiac landing craft for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier. After disembarking you'll take a short hike for a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea or a longer, more challenging walk up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier.

Back aboard you'll steam further west along the Beagle Channel, entering another fjord and dropping anchor near Garibaldi Glacier, one of only three Patagonian glaciers that are still growing, for a hike through virgin forests to a glacial waterfall with spectacular views of the glacier and fjord. For those who choose to stay onboard, the captain will point the bow towards the beautiful sky blue Garibaldi Glacier so everyone can enjoy the panoramic view from the upper decks.

Early in the morning the ship sails through the Cockburn Channel and enters Agostini Sound. From there it is possible to see the glaciers that descend from the middle of the Darwin Mountain Range – some of them reaching the water. You'll disembark for an easy walk with stunning views. In the afternoon, you'll approach the Condor Glacier via zodiac landing craft and hopefully see some of the abundant Andean Condors in the area.

After an overnight cruise through Magdalena Channel and back into the Strait of Magellan, you'll anchor off Magdalena Island, which lies about halfway between Tierra del Fuego and the Chilean mainland. Crowned by a distinctive lighthouse, the island used to be an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers and is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellanic penguins. Weather permitting you'll go ashore and hike past thousands of penguins to a small museum inside the vintage 1902 lighthouse. Many other bird species are also found on the island. In September and April – when the penguins dwell elsewhere – this excursion is replaced by a ride aboard zodiacs to Marta Island to observe South American sea lions.

After a short cruise south along the strait, the ship arrives at Punta Arenas around 11:30am. Wave goodbye to your new cruise friends and crew before disembarking to continue your onward journey.

More time? Speak to a Chimu Adventures advisor for ideas on how to extend your trip to destinations in Chile, Argentina or even further afield.