ith zodiac tours and landings, Cruceros Australis and its cruises take you to see the main points of interest through Tierra del Fuego: the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, Cape Horn, glaciers and National Parks.
Expert guides in local geography, cultural history, flora and fauna lead all expeditions. In addition, there are special departures every season focused on whale watching or on the recreation of the voyage of Darwin, there are photographic safaris, and a program that complements the cruise with a land tour through Tierra del Fuego including a visit to a King Penguin colony.
Keep in mind | Highlights |
---|---|
Departures from Punta Arenas (Chile) or Ushuaia (Argentina) | The cruises combine soft excursions for everybody and the comfort and services of a hotel |
Round trip programs and one way programs available | The exquisite cuisine with local products paired with Chilean wines |
3 Night, 4 Night and 7 Night Programs available. In addition, 5 Night & 6 Night Special Programs | The expert team of guides ready to share their knowledge |
Season: September to April. | The hospitality staff at M/V Stella Australis and M/V Via Australis will make you feel home! |
Australis features Round Trip programs and One Way programs from Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, from to 3 nights, up to 7 nights.
M/V Via Australis
Excursions per trip: 5
* In September and April, this excursion is replaced with Marta Island
M/V Stella Australis
Excursions per trip: 9
* In September and April, this excursion is replaced with Marta Island
5 NIGHTS & 6 NIGHTS LAND & SEA ROUND TRIP PROGRAMS FROM PUNTA ARENAS ALSO AVAILABLE.
M/V Stella Australis – Via Australis
Excursions per trip: 5
* In September and April this excursion is replaced with Brookes Glacier
3 NIGHTS & 4 NIGHTS ONE WAY PROGRAMS FROM USHUAIA TO PUNTA ARENAS ALSO AVAILABLE, PLEASE ASK.
FLEET
Australis has two spectacular cruise ships: Stella Australis and Via Australis, specially designed to sail the wild waters of the Strait of Magellan in the greatest comfort and safety while offering world class services. They are equipped with cutting edge technology and comply with international standards in safety and service.
Stella Australis and Via Australis have a capacity for 210 and 136 passengers respectively. Passengers may choose from different categories of cabins (all of them with exterior windows to let you enjoy the view), lounges, dining hall, panoramic terraces, and fully equipped to make your Patagonian voyage an unforgettable, inspiring and comfortable experience, made all the more enjoyable by Australis’ spectacular, carefully selected cuisine.
Each ship’s crew is made up of experienced friendly sailors, guides and staff (65 in the case of Stella Australis, and 45 for Via Australis).
CUISINE
Australis offers continental cuisine with buffet lunches and a la carte dinners.
The staff work to cater to various special diet requests.
The bar, which also operates with an “all-inclusive” system, features an international menu and a wide selection of liquors and wines where the favorite is the Calafate Sour.
LIFE ONBOARD
All passengers have access to a library with literature on the flora, fauna, and history of the area, board games, and other onboard entertainment activities.
Every afternoon, at the end of the day, the guides give a brief presentation about the next day’s activities and share their extensive knowledge of Tierra del Fuego.
The official languages onboard are Spanish and English. Guided tours in French and German are available for a minimum of 15 passengers per language. Please ask us if you have other language requirements and Australis will do its best to assist you.
There is a store and prepaid satellite phone onboard.
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
You will be privileged to live an adventure surrounded by spectacular and untouched scenery, in one of the few uninhabited areas on the planet. For this, Australis has a number of initiatives to minimize the impact of its operations, avoiding mass tourism and promoting a series of practices onboard and on expeditions, so that these places are cared for, respected, and maintained.
All expeditions are guided by experts trained to inform and educate based on science, providing recommendations to passengers to generate the least amount of damage on each landing.
THE AREA
While navigating through uniquely beautiful channels at the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego, enjoy impressive geography, marked by towering glaciers, native forests, and exotic flora and fauna.
Along with the stunning geography of the southernmost tip of Patagonia, during the trip you can see the habitat of large colonies of sea lions and elephant seals, beavers, whales, and dolphins. You can also spot a number of Patagonian birds including different species of gulls and terns, giant petrels, cormorants, albatrosses, condors, and ducks, as well as one of the most important colonies of Magellanic penguins in the southern hemisphere.
ape Horn was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005 and is crowned by a 7-meter high steel monument by Chilean sculptor, José Balcells Eyquem. Located in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, this legendary landmark, considered the world’s most southerly point, was discovered by Europeans in 1616, and for centuries was an important navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
Cape Horn, often called the “end of the world”, is a place that evokes strong emotional and spiritual feelings among visitors. Its location between two oceans and the intensity of the surrounding atmospheric phenomena make your visit a unique and unparalleled experience.
HIGHLIGHTS
Magdalena Island
Magdalena Island is a natural habitat for thousands of Magellan Penguins and one of the biggest southern penguins colony of Chile. Walk through trails to the top of the island to finally get to the lighthouse that guides the ships crossing the Strait of Magellan and also houses the Environmental Interpretation Center with the history of the area.
Wulaia Bay
A historical site which was one of the largest settlements of the original canoeing inhabitants of the region, the Yamana. Charles Darwin went ashore in this place on January 23rd, 1833 during his voyage onboard the HMS Beagle. This place also offers a visual spectacle of great beauty because of its vegetation and geography. We arrive to a lookout point, walking through the Magellanic forest, where native trees such as lengas, coigües, canelos, and ferns, among other species, grow.
Cape Horn National Park
The mythical Cape Horn, an almost vertical 425 meter high cliff was discovered in 1616. For many years it was an important navigation route for sailboats sailing between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Known as the end of the world. Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June, 2005.
Pía Glacier
We will go on an excursion towards a lookout point offering excellent conditions for observing the mountain range, where this impressive glacier originates and its entire displacement can be seen until it reaches the sea.
Tuckers Islets
We shall observe Magellanic penguins (a bird which lives exclusively in the southern hemisphere) and cormorants from the Zodiac boats.
Ainsworth Bay
Near the Marinelli Glacier, in the Darwin Mountain Range and inside the Alberto de Agostini National Park, we shall go on a walk exploring a beaver dam and the wonderful surrounding sub-polar Magellanic forest. On the beach we will try to see sea elephants, although we are not able to guarantee such sighting, since the exact location of the colony is unpredictable.
Piloto and Nena Glaciers
We can see the glaciers from the zodiac boats. The intense blue color of the Piloto glacier is awe-inspiring due to its age and compression. We will learn about the formation of the glaciers and their influence on the abrupt geography of the Tierra del Fuego- Patagonia channels.
Águila Glacier
We will disembark to do an easy walk on the shore of a lagoon surrounded by mountains until we reach Águila Glacier. We can see the cold rainforest of Patagonia and the movements that shaped the landscape of this amazing place.
WHAT TO PACK
To be able to make the most of your trip, and due to the characteristics of the environment and the unpredictable weather conditions, you should bring the appropriate equipment.
Hat
Sun Glasses
Sunscreen
Waterproof Parka
Sweater
Waterproof Gloves
Waterproof Pants
Waterproof Hiking Shoes or Boots
On the cruise ship, your stay must be comfortable, it is recommend sports clothing for both women and men.
Rates in double occupancy per person in US$. Rates are “from rates” and only for a limited cabin stock per departure.
Single rate in A, AA, AAA, AA Superior or AAA Superior will be 150% of the category rate. Single rate does not apply to Category B.
Cabins AA Superior and AAA Superior are only available in M/V Stella Australis.
M/V Via Australis
Departures on Friday
Boarding time: 06:00 PM / Disembarking time: 11:30 AM
M/V Stella Australis
Departures every Saturday
Boarding time: 06:00 PM / Disembarking time: 08:00 AM
M/V Via Australis
Departures on Monday
Boarding time: 06:00 PM / Disembarking time: 09:30 AM