After arrival in Punta Arenas, check in at the cruise departure point - 1385 O'Higgins Street - between 1:00 and 5:00pm. Board the cruise ship, the M/V Stella or Ventus Australis, by 6:00pm. After a welcome toast and introduction of the captain and crew, the ship departs on its voyage to one of earth's most remote corners. During the night, cross the Strait of Magellan and enter the labyrinth of channels that define the southern edges of Patagonia.

(Dinner & Accommodations, Australis Cruise)

By dawn the ship is sailing up Admiralty Sound, an offshoot of the Strait of Magellan that stretches nearly halfway across Tierra del Fuego. Using Zodiac boats, land at Ainsworth Bay, which is home to large colonies of birds, and a colony of elephant seals. Choose one of two guided excursions. After departing Ainsworth Bay, return to the ship, which sails west to the Tucker Islet. After lunch, board the Zodiacs again for a close-up view of the Magellan penguins that inhabit these tiny islands along with king cormorants, oystercatchers, eagles and other bird species.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Accommodations, Australis Cruise)

Overnight the ship sails around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via three narrow channels. After rounding a western peninsula the ship re-enters the Beagle Channel, heading eastward to Pia Fjord. Here board the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier, taking a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea. Back on board the ship, continue east along the Beagle Channel through Glacier Alley, so named because of the many glaciers flowing down from the Darwin Mountains and Darwin Ice Sheet on the north shore.

(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Accommodations, Australis Cruise)

During the early morning the ship navigates the narrow Murray Channel and drops anchor at historic Wulaia Bay. Originally Darwin visited the bay in the 1830s on one of his Beagle voyages. This is an area of outstanding natural beauty. Visit the old radio station, now a museum of the Yámana aboriginals and the European missionaries who came to the area. Then choose from one of three hikes through with increasing degrees of difficulty - all including a stroll through a forest to a panoramic viewpoint. In the afternoon, cruise across Nassau Bay into Cape Horn National Park. Weather permitting, go ashore on the island that includes the legendary cape know as the End of the Earth, overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific meet. The Chilean Navy maintains a permanent lighthouse here.

After sailing through Argentinian waters, the ship docks at Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, at 8:00 a.m. You have almost a full day to explore Ushuaia, which was founded in 1884 and was one of the original points of contact between the indigenous Yámana and European cultures. Among the highlights is the "Prison at the End of the World" - now a maritime museum.

Passengers are required to reboard the ship at 5:30 PM. After a welcoming toast and introduction of captain and crew to new passengers joining the cruise, the ship departs for more adventures in Tierra del Fuego. During the night we traverse the Beagle Channel, cross back into Chilean territorial waters, and turn into the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands.

At dawn the ship crosses Nassau Bay and enters the remote archipelago that comprises Cape Horn National Park. Weather permitting, go ashore on the island that includes the legendary cape - a sheer 1,400-foot promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific meet.

Sailing back across Nassau Bay, the ship drops anchor at Wulaia Bay. On your second landing here, strike out on a longer walk, or take a relaxing stroll along the shore to spot various birds. This second approach also increases your chances of landing on Cape Horn Island.

Overnight the ship sails around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via three narrow channels. After rounding a western peninsula the ship re-enters the Beagle Channel, heading eastward to Pia Fjord. Here board the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier, taking a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea. Back on board the ship, continue west along the Beagle Channel and drops anchor near Garibaldi Glacier for another shore excursion. Garibaldi Glacier is one of only three glaciers in Patagonia gaining mass rather than shrinking. Hike through a virgin forest to a glacial waterfall, and on to spectacular viewpoints looking down on the fjord. This is a strenuous hike; for those who choose to stay onboard, the captain will point the bow towards the beautiful sky blue Garibaldi Glacier so that everyone can enjoy the view.

Early a.m. sail through Cockburn Channel and enter Agostini Sound, where there is a view of several glaciers. In the morning, disembark and go for an easy walk around a lagoon formed by the melting of the Aguila Glacier. The hike leads to a spot right in front of the glacier. In the afternoon, approach Cóndor Glacier via Zodiacs, with possible sightings of the Andean Cóndors in the area.

After an overnight cruise through Magdalena Channel and into the Strait of Magellan, the ship anchors off Magdalena Island, which lies halfway between Tierra del Fuego and the Chilean mainland. At break of dawn - weather permitting - go ashore and hike a path leading to thousands of Magellanic penguins. Visit a small museum lodged inside the 1902 lighthouse. In September and April - when the penguins dwell elsewhere - this excursion is replaced by a Zodiac ride to Marta Island to observe South American sea lions. After a short cruise along the strait, the ship reaches Punta Arenas. Disembarking is scheduled for 11:30am. Spend time in Punta Arenas, or head to the airport and your next Avanti Destination.