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
Patagonia Explorer
5 Days aboard Ventus Australis. From NZD $3,083pp.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Explore glaciers which stretch from the mountaintops to the sea
- Visit Charles Darwin landing site
- Walk through the enchanted Magellan Forest and discover endemic flora
- See Magellan Penguins whilst on the way to Magdalena Island lighthouse
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Ushuaia
- Day 2: Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay
- Day 3: Pia Glacier - Garibaldi Glacier
- Day 4: Agostini Sound – Águila Glacier – Cóndor Glacier
- Day 5: Magdalena Island - Punta Arenas
*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: Ushuaia
Check in between 10:00 and 16:00 at 409 San Martín Street. Board the M/V Ventus Australis cruise ship at 17:30. After a welcoming cocktail reception hosted by the Captain and his crew, the M/V Ventus Australis will depart for one of the remotest parts of the planet. Our voyage will take us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, which includes the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.
Day 2: Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay
We sail through Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, where, weather permitting, we shall go ashore. The legendary Cape Horn was discovered in 1616 and is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory. For many years it was an important navigation route between the Pacific and the Atlantic, and is referred to as the ‘End of the Earth'. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. In the afternoon, we will go ashore at historic Wulaia Bay, originally the site of one of the region's largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed there in 1833 during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We will take an enchanted walk through the Magellan Forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic vegetation, to reach a panoramic viewpoint.
Day 3: Pia Glacier - Garibaldi Glacier
We navigate along the Northwest arm of the Beagle Channel to reach Pia Fjord, where we disembark. We will then take a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular Pia Glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea. In the afternoon, we will enter Garibaldi Fjord where we will disembark for a hike through the forest up to a glacial waterfall to enjoy the spectacular views. For those who choose to stay onboard, our Captain will point the bow towards the beautiful blue Garibaldi Glacier so that they can enjoy the panoramic view from the upper decks.
Day 4: Agostini Sound – Águila Glacier – Cóndor Glacier
In the morning, we will be sailing through Cockburn Channel to anchor in Chico Sound. Travelling in well-equipped Zodiac boats, we will explore Alakaluf Fjord and enjoy the view of Piloto and Nena Glaciers from the sea. You will find yourself being drawn to the intense blue colour of Piloto Glacier, which is due to its compression and age. We will learn about the formation of glaciers and their influence on the unexpected topography of the Fuegian-Patagonian channels. In the afternoon, we will enter the spectacular De Agostini Sound, right in the heart of the Darwin Mountain Range – the perfect viewing point to appreciate glaciers that make their way down to the sea from the upper ice field. Later that afternoon, we will travel aboard Zodiacs to the Águila Glacier where we will embark upon an easy walk to its base. It's the perfect opportunity to experience the beauty of Patagonia's cold rainforest and to see how the power of nature has molded the spectacular landscape.
Day 5: Magdalena Island - Punta Arenas
Early in the morning, weather permitting, we will go ashore on Magdalena Island, located in the middle of the Strait of Magellan. The island used to be an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers and is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellan Penguins that we will be able to see during our walk to the lighthouse. In September and April, this excursion is replaced by a ride aboard Zodiacs to Marta Island to observe South American Sea Lions. Finally, disembarkation at Punta Arenas is scheduled for 11:30.
Next Departure Date: 31 Jan 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jan 2025 - 27 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 | |
| 31 Jan 2025 - 04 Feb 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 08 Feb 2025 - 12 Feb 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 16 Feb 2025 - 20 Feb 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 24 Feb 2025 - 28 Feb 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 04 Mar 2025 - 08 Mar 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 12 Mar 2025 - 16 Mar 2025 | NZD$6028pp | ||
| 20 Mar 2025 - 24 Mar 2025 | NZD$4398pp | ||
| 28 Mar 2025 - 01 Apr 2025 | NZD$4398pp | ||
| 05 Apr 2025 - 09 Apr 2025 | NZD$3083pp | ||
| 26 Sep 2025 - 30 Sep 2025 | NZD$3139pp | ||
| 04 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 12 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 20 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 28 Oct 2025 - 01 Nov 2025 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 05 Nov 2025 - 09 Nov 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 13 Nov 2025 - 17 Nov 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 21 Nov 2025 - 25 Nov 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 29 Nov 2025 - 03 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 07 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 15 Dec 2025 - 19 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 23 Dec 2025 - 27 Dec 2025 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 31 Dec 2025 - 04 Jan 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 08 Jan 2026 - 12 Jan 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 16 Jan 2026 - 20 Jan 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 24 Jan 2026 - 28 Jan 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 01 Feb 2026 - 05 Feb 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 09 Feb 2026 - 13 Feb 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 17 Feb 2026 - 21 Feb 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 25 Feb 2026 - 01 Mar 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 05 Mar 2026 - 09 Mar 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 13 Mar 2026 - 17 Mar 2026 | NZD$6217pp | ||
| 21 Mar 2026 - 25 Mar 2026 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 29 Mar 2026 - 02 Apr 2026 | NZD$4567pp | ||
| 06 Apr 2026 - 10 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
Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.
