Discover the wild beauty of Patagonia on the M/V Ventus cruise that showcases the region’s pristine landscapes, rich wildlife and fascinating human history aboard an expedition ship that brings an extraordinary level of comfort and service to the uttermost edge of the world. Leaving the twinkling lights of Ushuaia behind, the vessel calls on fabled spots like Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay before cruising down the Beagle Channel.
South America
Fjords of Tierra del Fuego
5 Days aboard Ventus Australis. From NZD $3,083pp.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- See Magellan Penguins in their natural habitat
- Visit a glacial waterfall with spectacular views
- Enjoy the history and scenery that Ushuaia has to offer
- Sail to Cape Horn National Park and explore the historic area
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Punta Arenas
- Day 2: Ainsworth Bay - Tuckers Islets
- Day 3: Pia Glacier - Glacier Alley
- Day 4: Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay
- Day 5: Ushuaia
*M/V Ventus Australis vessel offers longer round trip cruises. For more information on detailed itineraries, feel free to contact us.
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: Punta Arenas
Check in at 1398 Costanera del Estrecho Ave. (Arturo Prat Port) in Punta Arenas between 13:00 and 17:00 (1-5 PM) on the day of your Australis cruise departure. Board the vessel at 6 PM. After a welcoming toast and introduction of captain and crew, the ship departs for one of the remotest corners of planet Earth. During the night we cross the Strait of Magellan and enter the labyrinth of channels that define the southern extreme of Patagonian. The twinkling lights of Punta Arenas gradually fade into the distance as we enter the Whiteside Canal between Darwin Island and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.
Day 2: Ainsworth Bay - Tuckers Islets
By dawn the ship is sailing up Admiralty Sound (Seno Almirantazgo), a spectacular offshoot of the Strait of Magellan that stretches nearly halfway across Tierra del Fuego. The snowcapped peaks of Karukinka Natural Park stretch along the north side of the sound, while the south shore is defined by the deep fjords and broad bays of Alberto de Agostini National Park. We go ashore at Ainsworth Bay, which harbors copious bird life and a colony of southern elephant seals which can sometimes be spotted from the Zodiacs. Two guided excursions are available: one is along the edge of a stream, peat bog and beaver habitat to a waterfall-and-moss-covered rock face tucked deep inside a pristine sub-polar forest; the other is a more strenuous hike along the crest of a glacial moraine. Both afford views of Marinelli Glacier and the Darwin Mountains.
Leaving our Ainsworth Bay tour behind, we sail west along the sound to the Tucker Islets. After lunch, we board the Zodiacs again for a close-up view of the Magellan penguins that inhabit the tiny islands. More than 4,000 penguins use Tucker as a place to nest, give birth and nurture their chicks. Many other bird species also frequent the area including king cormorants, oystercatchers, Chilean skuas, kelp geese, dolphin gulls, eagles and even the occasional Andean condor. In September and April -- when the penguins live elsewhere -- this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a glacier at nearby stunning Brookes Bay.
Day 3: Pia Glacier - Glacier Alley
Overnight we sail around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the very narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the Australis cruise tacks eastward and enters the Beagle Channel again. By morning we are entering Pia Fjord and boarding the Zodiacs for a Pia Glacier tour. After disembarking we take a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea or a longer much more difficult walk up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier.
No one knows for certain how the hulking mass of snow and ice got its feminine moniker, but one theory says it was named for Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king.
Back onboard the ship, we continue east along the Beagle Channel through an area called Glacier Alley. Living up to its name, the passage features a number of impressive tidewater glaciers flowing down from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice Sheet on the north shore. Most of them named after European countries -- Holland, Italy, Germany, Spain and France.
Day 4: Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay
During the morning we cruise across Nassau Bay into the remote archipelago that includes Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we shall go ashore on the windswept island that harbors legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition -- and named after the town of Hoorn in West Friesland -- 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. The Chilean navy maintains a permanent lighthouse on the island, staffed by a lightkeeper and his family, as well as the tiny Stella Maris Chapel and modern Cape Horn Monument.
In the afternoon we navigate the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands and drop anchor at historic Wulaia Bay, one of the few places in the archipelago 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 FitzRoy in the 1830s during their voyages on the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for its mesmerizing beauty and dramatic geography. After a visit to the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station -- which is especially strong on the Yámana people and European missionaries in the area -- passengers have a choice of three hikes (of increasing degrees of difficulty) that ascend the heavily wooden mountain behind the bay. On all of these you will be strolling through an enchanted Magellan forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic fauna to reach a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the bay. Before leaving Wulaia Bay, drop something into the wooden mail barrel inside the museum – letters or postcards meant to be hand delivered by future travelers – an ancient mariner tradition revived by Australis.
Day 5: Ushuaia
The following morning we sail into Argentine waters and dock in Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Arrival at 08:30 a.m. and 9:30 am according to date of departure.
Next Departure Date: 27 Jan 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jan 2025 - 31 Jan 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| B Twin | NZD$6028pp | Contact us | |
| A Matrimonial | NZD$8250pp | Contact us | |
| AA Matrimonial | NZD$8806pp | Contact us | |
| AAA Matrimonial | NZD$9546pp | Contact us | |
| AA Superior | NZD$11398pp | Contact us | |
| AAA Superior | NZD$12324pp | Contact us | |
| 04 Feb 2025 - 08 Feb 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 12 Feb 2025 - 16 Feb 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 20 Feb 2025 - 24 Feb 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 28 Feb 2025 - 04 Mar 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 08 Mar 2025 - 12 Mar 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 16 Mar 2025 - 20 Mar 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 24 Mar 2025 - 28 Mar 2025 | NZD$4398pp | ||
| 01 Apr 2025 - 05 Apr 2025 | NZD$3083pp | ||
| 22 Sep 2025 - 26 Sep 2025 | NZD$3139pp | ||
| 30 Sep 2025 - 04 Oct 2025 | NZD$3139pp | ||
| 08 Oct 2025 - 12 Oct 2025 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 16 Oct 2025 - 20 Oct 2025 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 24 Oct 2025 - 28 Oct 2025 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 01 Nov 2025 - 05 Nov 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 09 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 17 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 25 Nov 2025 - 29 Nov 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 03 Dec 2025 - 07 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 11 Dec 2025 - 15 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 19 Dec 2025 - 23 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 27 Dec 2025 - 31 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 04 Jan 2026 - 08 Jan 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 12 Jan 2026 - 16 Jan 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 20 Jan 2026 - 24 Jan 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 28 Jan 2026 - 01 Feb 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 05 Feb 2026 - 09 Feb 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 13 Feb 2026 - 17 Feb 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 21 Feb 2026 - 25 Feb 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 01 Mar 2026 - 05 Mar 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 09 Mar 2026 - 13 Mar 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 17 Mar 2026 - 21 Mar 2026 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 25 Mar 2026 - 29 Mar 2026 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 02 Apr 2026 - 06 Apr 2026 | NZD$3139pp |
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
B Twin
Twin / 16,5 m2 / 177 sq.ft
A Matrimonial
Matrimonial / 16,5 m2 / 177 sq.ft
AA Matrimonial
Matrimonial / 16,5 m2 / 177 sq.ft
AAA Matrimonial
Matrimonial / 16,5 m2 / 177 sq.ft
AA Superior
Superior / 20,5 m2 / 220 sq.ft
AAA Superior
Superior / 20,5 m2 / 220 sq.ft
AA Twin
Twin / 16,5 m2 / 177 sq.ft
AAA Twin
Twin / 16,5 m2 / 177 sq.ft
Ventus Australis Deckplan
Specifications
- Launching season: 2017-201
- First Departure:January 2nd, 2018
- Passenger Capacity: 210
- Total Cabins: 100
Whats included?
- On-board accommodation
- All meals throughout the voyage
- Tours led by English-speaking Guide
- Activities as specified
- On board entertainment
- All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (only when bar is on duty)
What’s not included?
- Air transportation
- Passport, visa, immigration fees
- Airport arrival/departure taxes
- Airport transfers
- Additional hotel nights
- Port taxes*
- National park fees*
- Travel Protection Plan
- Laundry service
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
*Port Taxes & National Park Fees
Port taxes and national park fees are not included in the price of the voyage and will be an additional cost of US$120 per person for the 2024 season. These will be charged to you during the booking process.
**Required clothing
Please note that trekking or hiking shoes are required for all passengers.
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!
Downloadable travel guide
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