Itinerary
- Day 1
Valparaíso
You'll arrive in Valparaíso and spend time walking through the winding alleyways and colorful houses before checking out the local markets. After boarding the MS Fridtjof Nansen, you'll get your expedition jacket, meet the team, and head to your cabin. Once everyone's settled, the ship sets sail and you'll have your first meal aboard while getting comfortable with your new home for the next couple weeks.
- Meals
- Dinner (First meal on board in restaurants Aune and Fredheim)
Included Activities
- Explore Valparaíso's winding alleyways and colorful houses
- Visit local mercados packed with produce
- Funicular ride to Cerro Alegre and Concepción
- Expedition jacket pickup and ship orientation
- First dinner on board
Optional Activities
- Pre-Program exploring more of Valparaíso
Landmarks Cerro Alegre Concepción - Day 2
Peruvian Trench
This is a full day at sea as you cruise south through the Humboldt Current, passing over the Peruvian trench. You'll have time to get familiar with the ship's facilities including hot tubs, sauna, infinity pool, and gym. During the day, the expedition team leads lectures while you keep watch for Peruvian boobies, brown boobies, and whales in the distance as the team explains more about the marine ecosystem.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ship facilities: hot tubs, sauna, infinity pool, gym
- Expert lectures on the Humboldt Current and marine ecosystem
- Wildlife spotting: Peruvian boobies, brown boobies, whales
- Daily briefings with crew
- Science Center and library access
Landmarks Peruvian Trench - Day 3
Niebla
You'll go ashore in Niebla, a seaside town on a peninsula with views of Corral Bay and the Valdivia River. After a walk along the wide sandy beach, you can check out the old Spanish fort ruins and its museum to learn about the region's history. The lighthouse is worth a visit for the views across the river and bay. If the Feria Costumbrista market is open, you'll have the chance to try traditional snacks like empanadas and churros from local vendors.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Escorted landing at Niebla
- Stroll on sandy beach
- Visit ruins of Spanish fort
- Fort museum visit
- Lighthouse exploration
- Views of Corral Bay and Valdivia River
Optional Activities
- Feria Costumbrista market sampling (empanadas, anticuchos, churros)
Landmarks Corral Bay Spanish Fort Ruins, Niebla Valdivia River - Day 4
Castro, Chiloé Island
In Castro, Chile's third oldest city on Chiloé Island, you'll see two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the colonial Iglesia San Francisco, which has survived 15 major earthquakes, and Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Gracia de Nercón. The colorful palafitos (stilt houses) along the waterfront are worth photographing. You can also spend time at the Museo Regional de Castro and Modern Art Museum to get a sense of local history and culture in the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Escorted landing at Castro
- Iglesia San Francisco visit (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Gracia de Nercón visit (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Palafitos (stilt houses) viewing
- Museo Regional de Castro
- Modern Art Museum
Landmarks Iglesia San Francisco, Castro Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Gracia de Nercón Museo Regional de Castro - Day 5
Patagonia
As you sail south through Patagonia, you'll see water in different shades of blue, from aquamarine to deep midnight hues. Keep your eyes open for whales, seabirds, and seals passing by. Between activities, you can relax in the panoramic sauna, use the on-deck hot tubs, or swim in the infinity pool. The onboard chef prepares good meals, and you'll have chances to attend expert lectures and get photography tips from the expedition photographer in the Explorer Lounge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Patagonian waters sailing
- Wildlife spotting: whales, seabirds, seals
- Panoramic sauna use
- On-deck hot tubs and infinity pool
- Explorer Lounge & Bar access
- Expert lectures
- Expedition photography tips
- Day 6
Caleta Tortel
You'll visit Caleta Tortel, an isolated village of around 500 people at the mouth of Río Baker, Chile's largest river. What makes it unique is that boardwalks connect the village instead of streets, spreading across the water and around the mountain base. If conditions allow, you can explore by kayak and browse local handicrafts from villagers. There's also a chance to see a folk dance performance from the community.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Escorted landing at Caleta Tortel
- Boardwalk exploration of village
- Kayaking if conditions permit
Optional Activities
- Viewing local handicrafts
- Folk dance performance (if available)
Landmarks Río Baker 
- Days 7 - 8
Chilean Fjords and White Narrows
Over two days, you'll sail through the maze of Chilean fjords, and conditions permitting, visit Puerto Edén, a village accessible only by sea where some of the last Kawésqar people live. If that's not possible, you'll cruise the fjords spotting wildlife and use small expedition boats to get closer looks. On day 8, you'll navigate through the White Narrows, which narrows to less than 330 feet in places and requires slack water and daylight to pass through safely. From there, you head into Puerto Natales and see some of the continent's most beautiful landscapes.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Sailing through Chilean fjords
- Small expedition boat launches
- Puerto Edén village visit (conditions and tides permitting)
- Indigenous Kawésqar cultural insights
- White Narrows navigation
- Wildlife spotting
Landmarks Puerto Edén White Narrows - Day 9
Puerto Natales
In Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, you can choose between a panoramic bus tour or a hiking excursion through rugged terrain with steppes, forests, deserts, glaciers, and lakes. Watch for guanacos, rheas, and possibly pumas, along with Chilean flamingos and Andean condors. After exploring, there are many eateries, bars, and outdoor shops to check out, or you can visit the artisan village at Etherh Aike or walk along the waterfront.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Panoramic bus or hiking tour of Torres del Paine National Park
Optional Activities
- Visit artisan village at Etherh Aike
- Waterfront strolls
- Dining at local eateries and bars
- Outdoor shop browsing
Landmarks Torres del Paine National Park - Days 10 - 11
Magellan Strait and Chilean Fjords
You'll depart Puerto Natales sailing back through the White Narrows, then head deep into the Chilean fjords toward Garibaldi Fjord. Surrounded by islands, glaciers, and steep mountains, you'll attend expert lectures on pre-Columbian history, local geology, and community folklore. Elephant seals, dolphins, and whales often swim alongside the ship, and the expedition photographer will help you capture the best wildlife and landscape shots.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- White Narrows passage
- Chilean fjords sailing
- Expert lectures on pre-Columbian history, geology, and folklore
- Wildlife spotting: elephant seals, dolphins, whales
- Photography assistance from onboard photographer
Landmarks Garibaldi Fjord - Day 12
Garibaldi Glacier
As you cruise through Garibaldi Fjord in Alberto de Agostini National Park toward Garibaldi Glacier, you'll watch the Andes mountains drop directly into the Pacific with great glaciers calving ice into the fjords. The area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where seals, sea lions, and numerous seabirds including the Andean condor live. If weather and conditions cooperate, you'll get all the way to the glacier at the head of the fjord.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Garibaldi Fjord cruising
- Garibaldi Glacier viewing
- Wildlife spotting: seals, sea lions, Andean condor
Landmarks Garibaldi Glacier Alberto de Agostini National Park - Day 13
Puerto Williams
You'll explore Puerto Williams, another contender for the world's southernmost city, and take in its peaceful atmosphere. The Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum has Indigenous Yaghan artifacts, maps, photographs, and a traditional canoe, plus a replica of the bow from the Yelcho, the ship that rescued Shackleton's men in 1916. You can hike through beautiful scenery on your own or join a guided excursion, and if weather permits, try kayaking while watching for seabirds including the albatross.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Escorted landing at Puerto Williams
- Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum visit
- Guided hiking excursion option
Optional Activities
- Solo hiking through scenic areas
- Kayaking (weather permitting)
- Birdwatching for seabirds and albatross
Landmarks Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum - Day 14
Cape Horn and Beagle Channel
You'll cruise through the Beagle Channel toward Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America, where the Atlantic and Pacific collide creating powerful swirling waves. The channel's rocky walls drop steeply into deep icy blue water, and you'll look for rare endemic Peale's dolphins and other wildlife. If weather cooperates, you can safely land and explore Cape Horn itself before continuing through the fabled waterways toward Ushuaia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Beagle Channel cruising
- Cape Horn navigation and attempted landing
- Wildlife spotting: Peale's dolphins
Landmarks Cape Horn Beagle Channel - Day 15
Ushuaia and Return to Buenos Aires
You'll arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost city in Tierra del Fuego Province, with the Martial Glacier providing a spectacular backdrop. Your expedition cruise through Patagonia and the Chilean fjords ends here, and then you'll fly back to Buenos Aires. If your schedule allows, there's an optional Post-Program available for additional adventure.
Included Activities
- Arrival in Ushuaia
- Ship to airport transfer
Optional Activities
- Optional Post-Program in Buenos Aires
Landmarks Martial Glacier 
