Exploration of Antarctica, Patagonia and Chilean Fjords
About Valparaíso
Exploring the Greatest Wilderness on Earth
After joining MS Fram in Ushuaia, we cross Drake Passage to the mighty frozen continent of Antarctica.
Our expert captain and expedition team will attempt landings to see penguins, seals, whales and huge flocks of sea birds. All our activities are carefully planned to not disturb the wildlife. There may also be chances to join an optional sea kayaking tour.
Nowhere on Earth compares with Antarctica. This is an expedition cruise that will live in your memory forever.
Cape Horn and Stunning Fjords
After unforgettable days in Antarctica, MS Fram sails safely back across Drake Passage. Cape Horn is a mystical place where two oceans meet, and we hope to go ashore here. Next, we sail to one of the most scenic national parks on Earth and into the stunning fjords of Chile. This wild, rugged and remote area seems almost untouched by humans. Deep valleys and snow-capped peaks are a stunning contrast with the lush coastal plains and their rich variety of wildlife.
Heading towards colorful Valparaíso, we sail along the beautiful Chilean Pacific coastline, a fitting finale for a truly unique and spectacular journey. Want more? Extend your trip with a post-cruise Land Adventure.
- Enjoy the rare chance to explore Antarctica and Patagonia in one expedition
- Get the opportunity to visit Torres del Paine National Park
- Sail into the Chilean fjords and see Cape Horn in full summer bloom
- Take part in landings, hiking and ice-cruising in Antarctica
- Hurtigruten expedition cruise in the cabin grade of your choice
- One hotel night in Buenos Aires before the voyage, including breakfast
- Transfer hotel to airport in Buenos Aires
- Coach-class flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
- Transfer in Ushuaia, incl. an orientation tour
EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR AN ADVENTURE
- A rich program of included activities on all voyages designed to immerse you in the destinations you visit, including ice-cruising and onshore exploration with the expedition team
- Professional English-speaking expedition team - an international, handpicked team of highly educated experts in various academic fields with profound knowledge of the regions we sail in
- Complimentary wind- and water-resistant jacket
- Loan of boots, trekking poles, and equipment needed for optional and included activities
ENGAGING ONBOARD ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION
- In-depth lectures on science, history, biology, geography, geology or culture that provide context to your voyage and help you understand the destinations you will experience
- Explorer Science program, with educational and Citizen Science activities that let you learn about the sights you’ll see while contributing to research
- Introductory photo lecture, including camera adjustments and tips and tricks
- Photos and film/video footage from the voyage shared in the Expedition Logbook
- Casual opportunities to engage with the expedition team and other guests, including a welcome event, daily gatherings to recap the day and prepare for the day to come
- Opportunities to dine and interact with the expedition team and officers
- Port presentations providing destination insight
- Destination-focused onboard library
- A farewell event
PREMIUM ONBOARD COMFORT
- All meals including beverages (ship beer and wine, sodas and mineral water in all restaurants)
- A la carte restaurant (only for suite guests)
- Coffee and tea included throughout the day
- Early riser and afternoon treat offered in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Gym, hot tubs and panoramic sauna
- Free Wi-fi on board for all guests. Be aware that we sail in remote areas with limited connection. Streaming is not supported.
- No gratuities expected
- International flights
- Optional shore excursions with our local partners
- Optional small-group adventures with our expedition team such as kayaking, camping, glacier walks, long hikes (availability contingent on weather conditions and safety)
- Optional small-group Explorer Photo program with our Expedition Photographer
- Travel protection plan
- Luggage handling
- All planned activities are subject to weather and ice conditions
- Medical questionnaire mandatory. Read all Entry Requirements for your travel.
Itinerary
-
Explore the “Birthplace of Tango” - Buenos Aires - Hotel
Your expedition starts with an overnight stay in Buenos Aires, the bustling capital of Argentina. We offer an optional city tour. Spend the evening at your leisure and discover the “Paris of South America” for yourself.
-
Tierra del Fuego - Buenos Aires/Ushuaia - Flight & Embarkation
The following day, you fly to Ushuaia. The flight leaves Buenos Aires early in the morning, allowing you a few hours to explore Ushuaia or to join an optional excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park, before embarking on MS Fram. In the evening, we will sail through scenic Beagle Channel.
-
Crossing the Fabled Drake Passage - Drake Passage
MS Fram takes us safely across the famous Drake Passage. The voyage from the Antarctic Peninsula to the southern tip of Argentina is roughly 600 miles or 40 hours sailing time in good weather. During the voyage south, the expedition team will prepare you for your exploration through a series of informative lectures and demonstrations.
-
The Great White Continent of Antarctica - Antarctica
This pure wilderness is full of overwhelming impressions. The elements rule here, so your expedition team works with the conditions to select the best possible landing sites to create unforgettable experiences on the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula. Flexibility allows us to take advantage of the unexpected, and wildlife will be at the forefront of our plans.
At every opportunity, our expedition team will take you out for landings or ice cruising to get close and truly explore Antarctic beauty, while ensuring not to disturb the wildlife.
Our activities offer you the chance to experience Antarctica with all your senses as we sail remote waters with icebergs floating by, hike up snowy pathways to spectacular views, and listen to the sounds of glaciers calving or penguins squabbling. Every day will be different, and each is carefully designed to create lasting memories.
-
Sailing North - At sea
Sailing northbound across Drake Passage is the chance to re-cap all we have seen and heard in Antarctica. The expedition team will continue their lecture program to prepare you for the delights ahead. Enjoy priming your knowledge about the history and ecosystems of the area. Make sure to spend some time on deck to enjoy the fresh sea air and watch for wildlife.
-
Cape Horn - At sea
We will attempt a landing on Cape Horn – the southernmost tip of South America. Going ashore can be very difficult because of weather in this area. This is the southernmost point of South America, marking the boundary between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Next, we will sail on to the sheltered waters of Beagle Channel.
-
A Paradise for Nature Enthusiasts - Chilean Fjords
The glacier-created Chilean fjords are a true highlight, with their deep channels, placid fjords and mountains plunging into icy waters. The snow-capped mountains and steep valleys make a striking contrast to an otherwise lush coastal plain that is rich in wildlife.
-
Torres del Paine National Park - Puerto Natales - Overnight stay - 2 full days
The impressive “Torres del Paine” (Towers of Paine) rock formation give the park its name. The peaks, Torre Central, Sur and Norte, create spectacular vistas. Explore the nature sanctuary on our optional excursion.
Torres del Paine hosts stunning variety, from the vast open steppe to rugged mountain terrain. The park is home to a wide variety of a fauna and flora - watch for llamas, pumas and foxes, in addition to more than 100 species of birds like the Andean condor.
Included activity:
Scenes of Puerto Natales (3 hrs)
Explore the small city of Puerto Natales and its scenic surroundings. Visit Plaza de Armas, a tree-lined square in the town centre, and then go to a large cave where the bones of a prehistoric ground sloth called a Milodón were found in 1896. The cave attracts many visitors and features a historical display of the tribes who inhabited the area as far back as 12,000 years ago.
-
Remote Village at the End of the Fjord - Puerto Edén - Half Day
The village of Puerto Edén in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park will enchant you. This deeply isolated community is situated at the end of a deep fjord and surrounded by mountains. Its population of 250 includes the 15 remaining members of the Kawéskar tribe.
-
Waters of Patagonia - At sea
Your expedition cruise continues south to one of the world’s most remote and beautiful places, the southern province of Ultima Esperanza, meaning Last Hope. This is an iconic Andean seascape of amazing beauty.
-
Cosmopolitan Castro - Castro - Half Day
Castro is set among windswept hills and lush vegetation. The city is known for its colorful “palafitos,” wooden houses mounted on stilts along the water's edge. While here, visit the UNESCO World Heritage site, Iglesia de San Francisco.
Included activity:
Castro Walking Tour (2 hrs)
Explore landmarks and cultural sights on a city walk through Castro, the capital of Chile’s Chiloé Island. Castro is famous for its ornate church, Iglesia de San Francisco, and the nearby districts of Rilán, Nercón and Chelín are known for their unique wooden churches, designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Castro and Chiloé are also famous for palafitos, traditional wooden stilt houses.
-
Sailing North - At sea
Heading towards Valparaíso, you have the chance to relax and enjoy the deep relaxation of a day at sea. The expedition team will entertain you with stories of the area, help you to plan your next exploration or show you an interesting creature or two under the microscope in our Science Center.
-
The “Jewel of the Pacific” - Valparaíso, Chile - Disembarkation - Docked
This remarkable expedition cruise ends in the colorful and poetic port of Valparaíso. One of the best ways to see this scenic city is to climb the hills aboard a funicular, which provides sweeping views. We recommend extending your trip by adding an optional post-cruise Land Adventure to the amazing Atacama Desert.
