AUSTRALIS IN 4 DAYS - From Ushuaia to Punta Arenas
From Ushuaia to Punta Arenas in Chile sailing along the Beagle Channel
Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Wulaia Bay, Gunther Plüschow Glacier, Magdalene Island...
4 days - 3 nights
Of the two programs onboard the Australis Cruises, this one is the shortest. This journey will take us from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas sailing on both ships, Mare Australis and Via Australis. First we will sail along the Beagle Channel and the Murray Channel to get to Cape Horn, a really spectacular place in the End of the World, and then we will disembark at Wulaia Bay, in which place lived the yamanas Indians, with whom Charles Darwin made contact; this is also the place discovered by the English traveler Fitz Roy at the beginning of the 19th century.
We will continue with our itinerary on board the Australis Cruise to get to the Gunther Plüschow Glacier, which was named for the German pilot who came to this land at the beginning of the 19th century on his plane called Tierra del Fuego (Feuerland), and then we will head for Chico Sound to appreciate two very beautiful glaciers: Piloto and Nena.
Finally, we will disembark at Magdalene Island, where we will watch the Magellan penguins walking towards the lighthouse, which serves as a guide to those travelers that sail the Strait of Magellan.
Then we will end our trip in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, which has a marked architectonical colonial Portuguese style.
Another option is to visit, before getting on board the Australis Cruise, the city of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, so we would be staying 7 more days in this city, which is worthwhile. We will really get the most of the trip, taking also into account that the ship leaves from Ushuaia Port.
In this city, is the Tierra del Fuego National Park and the Train of the End of the World which passes by Fagnano and Escondido Lakes, where we can find the transition to the Patagonian steppe and the last mountain range of the Andean Cordillera; this is a very extraordinary combination of landscapes. In the other program, we will take the opposite route. We will leave from Punta Arenas and head for Ushuaia, in 5 days.
Ushuaia
We will go onboard the Australis Cruise (Mare Australis/Via Australis) to start our adventure. We will check in after midday. Then we will head for the End of the World, sailing the waters of the Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn and the Beagle Channel towards our final destination: Punta Arenas.
The Strait of Magellan is a navigable route immediately south of mainland Chile and north of Tierra del Fuego; this waterway is the most important natural passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. Cape Horn is the southernmost archipelago in Tierra del Fuego, being the southernmost tip of South America it delimits the northern passage of the Drake Passage which separates America and the White Continent.
Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay
We will continue with our itinerary along the Beagle Channel and Murray Channel, where we will get to the Cape Horn National Park and, whether permitting, we will disembark there to enjoy this natural wonder. Cape Horn appears like a big hill of about 425 meters high. This is a really spectacular place known as the End of the World.
It was declared Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO in June, 2005.
In the afternoon, we will go down to Wulaia Bay, a perfect place to enjoy, which was the establishment of one of many and biggest civilization in the region. There we can watch and admire the beautiful wildlife or this area.
Then we will set for the Magellan forest where are lengas, coihues, ferns, among other species, up to a viewpoint to enjoy an excellent view of the magnificent natural landscape.
Wulaia was discovered in 1830 by the English explorer Robert Fitz Roy, and then came the naturalist Charles Darwin, who contacted with the yamanas Indians which lived in the Bay.
Gunther Plüschow Glacier
We will continue with our trip onboard the Australis Cruise and, in the afternoon, we will get to stunningly beautiful Gunther Plüschow Glacier. They name this Glacier in honor of a Magellan aviation pioneer, born in Germany, who landed at Punta Arenas in 1928 on his plane “Feuerland.”
In those times, he flew over Tierra del Fuego and the archipelago of Cape Horn; he had residences in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, which he knew very well since he flew over it in his hydroplane.
At the end of the day, we will sail the waters of Chico Sound, where we will go on board Zodiac ships and so appreciate the stunning Piloto and Nena glaciers.
Magdalene Island & Punta Arenas
Magdalene Island will be waiting for us to disembark after dawn. In this beautiful place, there is a big rookery of Magellan penguins, which we will have the opportunity of watching, and enjoying while walking towards the lighthouse. It serves as a guide for different vessels that sail the Strait of Magellan.
The Island is located 25 miles to the north of the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, surrounded by the Strait of Magellan; it is a natural place for Magellan penguins, cormorants and other birds that live peacefully together with sea lions.
We will take into account the fact that penguins migrate in April, so instead of disembarking at Marta Island, we will visit a sea lions rookery.
At about midday, we will get back to Punta Arenas.
Services
SERVICES INCLUDED
Accommodation on the ship
All activities inside the ship
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Open Bar
Welcome and good-bye drinks
Whisky and hot chocolate during the excursions to the glaciers
Daily land excursions
Route Map
Seasons, Departures & Rates
Seasons, Departures & Rates
2009-2010 Promotion
Seasons, Departures & Rates
2009-2010
Seasons, Departures & Rates
2010-2011
Clothes
Conditions
PASSAGE CONTRACT: Buying a ticket implies entering into an agreement under the terms and
conditions of Transportes Marítimos Terra Australis S.A. & Transportes Marítimos
Via Australis S.A. (here and after “the companies”) for passenger transportation.
RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS: A deposit of US$ 200 per passenger is required to guarantee a tentative reservation.
The final payment must be received by “the companies” 45 days before the
departure of the cruise.
CANCELLATION POLICY: The following penalities will apply in case of cancellation as soon as “the
companies” receives written notice:
Notice
Fine
Up to 120 days before the departure
US$ 0
From 119 to 45 days before the departure
US$ 200
From 44 to 30 days before the departure
25% of sales value
From 29 to 15 days before the departure
50% of sales value
From 14 to 0 days before the departure
100% of sales value
CHILDREN POLICY:
Infants between 0 and 3 years old have a 100% discount, sharing the bed
with their parents.
Children between 4 and 12 years old have a 50% discount, sharing a cabin
with an adult.
RATES & DEPARTURES: “The companies” reserve the right to modify the cruise rates and departure
dates published in this brochure, without prior notice.
CRUISE CONDITIONS: Rates include accommodation, sea transportation, all meals, open bar when on duty
(without additional cost for wines, beverages, and liquors), shore excursions, and
on-board entertainment. Optional tours and transportation are not included in the
cruise rate.
FORMS OF PAYMENT: Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Diners credit cards, travelers checks,
US Dollars, Euros, Chilean Pesos, and wire transfer are accepted.
REQUIRED CLOTHING: Trekking or hiking boots are required for all passengers.
