Australis Cruise
Chile & Argentina by land & sea
Luxury by Land & Sea
Arrive to Temuco and make your way to Pucon, where your journey commences at Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira on an all-inclusive basis for a three-night stay. The Hotel is both a hacienda and a hotel, hence the name. It operates as a fully-fledged farm and its principal aim is to provide fresh, healthy and delicious food to guests in between excursions and activities on site such as horse trekking in the Cordilleras, hiking in the surrounding natural parks, kayaking and river-rafting, or perhaps fly-fishing. Enjoy the beautiful river setting and tranquil, luxurious escape in Chile’s heart of adventure.
Road transfer back to Temuco and fly to Punta Arenas for a one night’s stay where you can rest and relax at the end of a busy day travelling. In the morning, while the drive is long, pass by spectacular scenery and mountainous crags until you arrive at Awasi Patagonia Lodge, bordering the Torres del Paine National Park.
At Awasi you have four nights to not only enjoy the views of the Torres del Paine peaks and Lake Sarmiento right from the lodge, or not only to appreciate the stunning architecture, but you can plan with your private guide to head out on foot or in your vehicle to perhaps explore the many hiking or walking trails, the unique flora and fauna, or perhaps in search for wildlife such as the guanacos.
A highlight of your journey awaits – sailing out to Antarctica! Return to Punta Arenas and board the Australis cruise ship where you head out on a four-night expedition to explore the southern channels on Patagonia cruise – Tierra del Fuego, the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn. Explore the last frontiers on land-based excursions and in zodiacs, admire the glaciers, and be on the lookout for Southern Elephant Seals!
You will love
- Exploring the Lakes Disctrict
- Farm-to-table cuisine
- Antarctic landscapes
- Breakfast at Alvear Palace
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
17 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS
DAY 1 | PUCON
Arrive to Temuco and road transfer approx. 1.5 hours to Pucon. Check into Hacienda Hotel Vira Vira and enjoy the property known as “The Elegance of Adventure” with a large range of exclusive activities and excursions all as part of your stay.
DAY 2 | PUCON
Choose from activities included at the lodge such as trekking, horse riding, fishing, river rafting, kayaking, helicopter flights, a mapuche cultural experience, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and dog sledding (note that some of these activities are seasonal and not all are included in the “all-inclusive” rate).
DAY 3 | PUCON
Enjoy further activities at the lodge today, already included in your all-inclusive stay, or elect to pay a supplement for those which are not.
DAY 4 | PUNTA ARENAS
Road transfer to Temuco and fly to Punta Arenas. Check into your accommodation and the remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
DAY 5 | TORRES DEL PAINE
After breakfast, road transfer to Awasi Patagonia Lodge in a private reserve neighbouring the Torres del Paine National Park. While the drive is five hours approximately, the views along the way are stunning. Check into the lodge and the remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
DAY 6 | TORRES DEL PAINE
At Awasi, a private guide and vehicle are assigned to each villa and activities are planned according to your pace and preferences, special interests and wishes for your stay. Activities on offer include biking, horse riding, trail walking, hiking, and archaeological visits to a nearby paleontological site. You are also welcome to tour the private reserve from your villa and explore the different paths, observing the native flora and fauna.
DAY 7 | TORRES DEL PAINE
Choose from the range of activities included in your stay.
DAY 8 | TORRES DEL PAINE
A further full day is free for you to choose to participate in the activities included in your stay.
DAY 9 | ANTARCTICA
After breakfast, road transfer back to Punta Arenas, checking in at the port between 1-5 p.m. for your Australis cruise departure. Board the vessel at 6pm and after a welcoming toast and introduction of captain and crew, the ship departs for one of the remotest corners of Planet Earth. During the night, cross the Strait of Magellan and enter the labyrinth of channels that define the southern extreme of Patagonia. The twinkling lights of Punta Arenas gradually fade into the distance and you enter the Whiteside Canal between Darwin Island and Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.
DAY 10 | ANTARCTICA
Cape Horn – Wulaia Bay: By dawn the ship is sailing up Admiralty Sound, a spectacular offshoot of the Strait of Magellan that stretches nearly halfway across Tierra del Fuego. Go ashore at Ainsworth Bay which harbours copious bird life and a colony of elephant seals which can sometimes be spotted from the zodiacs. Enjoy one of two excursions in the area before sailing towards the Tucker Islets. After lunch, board the zodiacs once more for a close-up view of the Magellan penguins that inhabit the tiny islands.
DAY 11 | ANTARCTICA
Pia Glacier – Glacier Alley: Overnight you sail around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the very narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, you enter the Beagle Channel again. By morning you are entering the Pia Fjord and set out for a glacier tour by zodiac and with a short hike. Back onboard the ship, continue through an area called Glacier Alley, featuring a number of impressive tidewater glaciers flowing down from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice Sheet on the north shore.
DAY 12 | ANTARCTICA
Cape Horn – Wulaia Bay: During the morning you cruise across Nassau Bay into the remote archipelago that includes Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, go ashore on the windswept island that harbours legendary Cape Horn – a sheer, high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. For many years it was often referred to as the “End of the Earth” and the park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. In the afternoon navigate the Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands and drop anchor at historic Wulaia Bay. The area is remowned for its mesmerizing beauty and dramatic geography. After a visit to the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station, you have a choice of three hikes (of increasing difficulty) that ascend the heavily wooden mountain behind the bay. Before leaving Wulaia Bay, drop something into the wooden mail barrel inside the museum – letters or postcards meant to be hand delivered by future travellers.
DAY 13 | BUENOS AIRES
Ushuaia: In the morning, sail into Argentine waters and dock in Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. At the end of your Antarctic experience, fly to Buenos Aires, check into your accommodation, and the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
DAY 14 | BUENOS AIRES
Enjoy a half-day private city tour of Buenos Aires with your guide visiting the Main Square, Plaza de Mayo with its neo-classical Cathedral, colonial town-hall and the Presidential Palace and the “Casa Rosada” (The Pink House). Then visit the old neighbourhood of San Telmo with its narrow, cobblestone streets, La Boca with its multicolour tin houses and soccer stadium, the elegant Barrio Norte neighbourhood, Palermo with its wonderful parks and gardens, monuments and magnificent mansions. Some free time is then at leisure late this afternoon before heading out to Gala Tango for dinner and a tango show admiring the elegant, warm, refined form.
DAY 15 | BUENOS AIRES
Head out with your guide and drive along the north area to reach the elegant northern riverside suburbs in the outskirts of Buenos Aires which is San Isidro. The area is a delta and named ‘Tigre’, a generic name to the region, a watery wonderland of amazing beauty where the locals move around by boat, whether their own, a taxi launch or a public wooden boat. On the inlets (like a rural Venice) there are some restaurants and vendors offer all kinds of products. Once in Tigre, let your guide take you off the beaten track along the Delta in an authentic wood strip Canadian canoe. Return to Buenos Aires late this afternoon.
DAY 16 | BUENOS AIRES
Today visit the traditional gaucho town of San Antonio de Areco, 123 kilometres from Buenos Aires, learning about the Gaucho’s history and traditions. First stop to visit a famous silversmith workshop, whose work to this day is sought after by kings and collectors worldwide. Then continue to Estancia La Bamba and savour a typical Argentine barbecue of fine beef and wines, and relax in the soothing views of endless plains. A wonderful way to enjoy the countryside immersed in an ambience of nature, history and tradition.
Note: this is not a “tourist show: but a wonderful day from the city, to experience Estancia life at its best.
DAY 17 | INFLIGHT
After breakfast, check out of your accommodation, and inflight homebound/end of arrangements.
WHERE YOU’LL STAY
A selection of the finest lodges and hotels
Expeditionary Cruising | Tip of South America - Chile to Argentina
An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.
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Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!
The McGowan Tribe
It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.
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The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.
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Milford family
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