Overview of the Australis Glacier Cruise & Patagonia Hiking
This most picturesque of Patagonia tours combines a five-day voyage aboard the Chilean cruise ships, Stella Australis or Ventus Australis, passing idyllic scenery of fjords, glaciers and forests through the Strait of Magellan from Chile to Argentina, with a thorough exploration of Argentina’s most famous Patagonian national parks. The ship stops along the way for Patagonia hiking and boating excursions to observe fascinating wildlife in their natural habitat, including penguins, elephant seals and an array of sea birds. You’ll visit two of Argentina’s national parks, Tierra del Fuego and Los Glaciares and witness the Perito Moreno Glacier, renowned for its vivid turquoise hue and the skyscraper size blocks of ice that frequently fall from its face. Hiking in the wilds of Patagonia is a life-altering experience, a walk back in time, offering a new definition of solitude.
Trip Features
- 12 Days
- Starting at $7,750 per person
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PHYSICAL RATING
Difficult -
ACTIVITIES
Hiking, Glacier Cruising -
HIGHLIGHTS
Cape Horn National Park, Beagle Channel, Penguins, Glacier Alley
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Arrive into Punta Arenas via Santiago. From the Punta Arenas airport, you’ll meet your guide and transfer to the Australis headquarters (1385 OHiggins Street, Arturo Prat Port). You’ll check-in aboard the M/V Stella Australis or M/V Ventus Australis Expedition cruise ships between 13:00 and 17:00 to start your great Patagonia adventure vacation, beginning with a welcome from the captain and crew and cocktails with your glacier cruise companions. The glacier cruise ship will then depart for the city of Ushuaia at 18:00, through the mythical Strait of Magellan. (D)
At dawn, the ship will navigate through the Almirantazgo Fjord. You will disembark in Ainsworth Bay near Marinelli Glacier to cruise up and observe an elephant seal colony up-close, and view the Magellan Forests. During the afternoon, you’ll motor into Tucker Islet aboard zodiac boats to see a small colony of Magellanic penguins along with other bird species such as skuas and cormorants and most likely dolphins and sea lions. (B,L,D)
Navigating along the main part of the Beagle Channel to reach Pia Fjord, you disembark near Pia Glacier. Here you take a short hike to a look-out point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, you continue sailing along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel through majestic Glacier Alley. (B,L,D)
You sail through the Beagle and Murray channels to reach Cape Horn National Park, where you will disembark (weather permitting). Cape Horn is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory, and before the Panama Canal, was the westward route to the Pacific Ocean. This place is known as the End of the Earth, and its the last territory before Antarctica. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005. In the afternoon, you will go ashore in historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the regions largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed here on January 23rd, 1833, during the voyage of the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. Here you will walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coihues, Canelos, ferns, and other native vegetation to reach a look-out point. (B,L,D)
Early in the morning (08:00 to 09:30) you’ll arrive in Ushuaia, southernmost city in the world. You’ll disembark and be transferred to your local hotel where you can check-in and drop-off luggage before heading into town. You’ll have the rest of the day and evening to explore this charming city on your own. (B)
Depending on the flight schedule you’ll have time for some on your own sightseeing in Ushuaia, with a visit to the fascinating End of the World Museum or the Presidium, before your transfer to the airport for your flight to El Calafate for your next adventure. When you arrive in El Calafate, you’ll travel to El Chalten, a small remote town at the foot of Mt. Fitz Roy, and be taken to your hotel with dramatic views of the mammoth granite walls of the mountain and other important peaks. After getting settled, you may enjoy a short or long hike in preparation for the rest of your Patagonia hiking. The hour-long hike to Piedras Blancas Glacier goes through a beech forest where you may hear Magellanic woodpeckers at work. Reaching the gateway to the Continental Icecap, you’ll view the Marconi Glacier. If you care to make a longer more rigorous hike, you may choose the five-hour trek of Cerro Polo which offers a panoramic view of Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Continental Icecap. (B)
After breakfast, you will start a full day of hiking a Patagonian classic: Mt. Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its climbing difficulty. This is the pinnacle of trekking Patagonia. Every year, countless expeditions attempt to reach the summit, but only a few succeed. After a half hour of hiking, you reach the viewpoint of the Fitz Roy River and Margarita waterfall. Continue for another 30 minutes until you reach the Mirador del Cerro Torre, a lookout facing the Cerro Torre and Adelas ranges. From this point, the trail descends into the valley. The trail ends on the shores of Laguna Torre, offering a stunning view of Mt. Torre surrounded by the Egger and Standhard spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop together with the glacier Torre. You will have time to enjoy the view, eat lunch, and rest before returning on the same trail to the town of El Chalten. (B, L)
Patagonia Hiking Details: 11-12 miles / Elevation gain: 1,000-1200 ft / Average time: 7 hours
Today’s segment of trekking Patagonia includes a full-day hike to the Laguna Capri base camp (Fitz Roy base camp). The hike towards Fitz Roy features spectacular views of the massif. The peak was sacred and venerated by local Tehuelche groups who believed the mists enshrouding it were volcanic ash, calling it Chalten (God of Smoke). You will begin hiking south from El Pilar, passing Laguna Piedras Blancas on the way to Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt. Fitz Roy. Three glaciers drain into this emerald lagoon with majestic Mt. Fitz Roy towering above. Stop en route for lunch and then resume the hike to Laguna Capri, where the image of Mt. Fitz Roy is reflected. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of the sweeping Patagonian steppe and Fitz Roy, highlights of any Patagonia tour. After a full day of hiking, return to your hotel for a good meal and night’s sleep. (B, L)
Patagonia Hiking Details: 13-14 miles / Elevation gain 2200-2300ft / Average time: 9 hours
After breakfast, you may wish to relax or get in some more hiking in the area including a short trek from town to overlook Mt. Torre. In the afternoon, you’ll drive in a private van to El Calafate and have the rest of the afternoon to get acquainted with this charming city on your own. Overnight at a local hotel in El Calafate. (B)
Option 1: PERITO MORENO GLACIER SIGHTSEEING AND GLACIER CRUISE – minimum 2 travelers
This private tour allows you to spend the day gazing at the most famous glacier in South America from several angles. You’ll glimpse your first breathtaking views of the glacier down a narrow arm of Lago Argentino with the majestic backdrop of the Andes. As spectacular as this is, the view pales compared to the experiences you’ll have later today. From El Calafate, it is about a two-hour drive on a paved road to reach the Perito Moreno Glacier. Here you will spend time on the catwalks, taking in the mesmerizing views of the constantly calving glacier. The area’s wildlife includes Andean condors, buff-necked ibis, black-chested buzzard eagles and ashy headed geese. An hour-long afternoon tour starts at Bajo de las Sombra where you’ll board a vessel to cross Lake Rico, passing icebergs. On reaching Iceberg Channel, the boat will stop at a safe distance to allow passengers time to photograph the Perito Moreno Glacier’s wall and watch for falling chunks of ice. You will be returned to El Calafate in the afternoon. (B,L)
*Shared boat tour
Option 2: PERITO MORENO GLACIER ICE HIKE – $290 Upgrade Per Person
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your El Calafate hotel. An hour long bus ride takes you to the Bajo de las Sombras port on the shore of Lake Argentino. From there, you will board a comfortable boat for a 20 minute navigation across the lake. The cruise offers incredible views of the Perito Moreno glacier with its massive front wall of blue ice and surrounding field of icebergs. Following a beach landing, you’ll stop at a small shelter where the trekkers will be divided into groups of less than twenty. A short walk along an ancient beech forest takes you to the edge of the glacier, a prime location for photographing this spectacular natural wonder. You will be fitted with crampons and receive a safety briefing from your guides before beginning an unforgettable two hour trek on the glacier, with time for photos and a lunch break. This moderate trek will take you past small streams, lagoons, crevasses, and other ice formations as you explore the fascinating landscape of the Perito Moreno glacier. After completing the trek, you will embark on the boat for the return trip across the lake. A short bus ride brings you to an elaborate boardwalk system located across the lake from the glacier. From here you will be able to view and photograph the glacier from many angles, and possibly witness icebergs calving thunderously into the lake. In the late afternoon, you will return to your hotel for another comfortable night’s rest.** (B,L)
*Shared boat tour
**The upper age limit for the regular Perito Moreno excursion is 65, regardless of fitness level with no exceptions.
You’ll be transferred from your hotel to the airport to fly to Buenos Aires. On arrival in the exciting capital, you’ll be transferred to a hotel for the night. (B)
You’ll be transferred to the Buenos Aires International Airport for your flight home from your Patagonia tours. If time allows and you wish to extend your stay in the bustling capital city, we would be happy to make arrangements. (B)
Important Note: We strongly encourage travelers to arrive in Chile one night before their Australis cruise departure in order to accommodate for international flight delays, postponed luggage, or other unplanned events. You must check-in to the cruise between 13:00 and 17:00 in Punta Arenas and the ship is not able to wait for delayed passengers. Please contact us for information on spending time in Santiago or Punta Arenas.
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Phone
1-877-784-5401Included Hotel
El Calafate, Argentina
Trip FAQs
We have so much to share with you! How does this all work? Start with the frequently asked questions below, and if you want to talk to us directly, simply reach out by phone or form.
Talk to a Travel ExpertYou have the flexibility to choose your own travel dates on most of our trips. Certain trips, such as cruises, have fixed schedules. Availability on these trips is always changing so please contact us with your preferred travel time and we can find the perfect itinerary for you
We provide full service tours so in general our trips include all guided activities with professional English-speaking guides, accommodations, transportation, airport transfers, entrance fees and permits, select meals, and pre-departure services. You will be responsible for international airfare while we will book all in-country airfare. Contact one of our expert travel planners for even more details on this specific tour.
The first step is to get in touch with a Southern Explorations travel planner for date availability and information on activities, accommodations and other travel aspirations you may have. Give us a call at 1.877.784.5400, fill out this form or email info@southernexplorations.com.
Yes! All of our posted itineraries can be considered a starting point and we’re happy to tailor a trip to your exact desires. There may be some elements of a trip, such as a cruise or all-inclusive lodge stay, that cannot be modified but we can always adjust the tours around those components.
We have more detailed information about each destination in the Plan Your Trip section of this website. Our team of friendly travel planners is also available to walk you through various options and to work with you on the perfect trip!
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Learn More About PatagoniaTestimonials
Southern Explorations was all we expected and more! They were very efficient and the local guides were very knowledgeable and extremely friendly and attentive. They took care of every last detail through our whole trip. I would highly recommend taking the Australis boat trip to Cape Horn. My husband and I loved the zodiak trips and hikes to shore. The food and lectures were extremely good and the presenters were very knowledgeable of animals
– Joanne Roussy
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