Celebrate the 200-anniversay of Charles Darwin birth, following his footsteps in the remote regions of southern South America. All-inclusive expedition cruise to Chilean Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn. Available from September through April; 5 days from Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days from Ushuaia, Argentina From US$ 1,064 p.p. 5 days | 4 nights; US$ 798 p.p. 4 days | 3 nights. 
The Straits of Magellan, Beagle Channel and Cape Horn are important and highly significant geographic and historical landmarks of the southern tip of the South American continent. They possess peculiar beauty and very individual features. Tall snow-capped mountains, huge glaciers and forests characterize western Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel, whilst the landscape of Cape Horn is dominated by remote islands, and sculpted by the strong westerly winds and the powerful waters of the Pacific Ocean. During this journey we will sail through a significant part of the Straits of Magellan, learning about the fascinating history of the indigenous Indians, the explorers of the Fuegian fjords and channels, and also following in the footsteps of Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle in the 1830s. We shall explore the cultural remnants of the world's southernmost tribe, the Yamana and learn how they survived and adapted to this extreme geography and climate. We will observe active breeding colonies of penguins and sea lions, and enjoy the elegant flight of the majestic albatross. Finally, we shall reach the southernmost part of our journey at the mysterious and feared Cape Horn. Sail with us in the wake of Cook, Darwin, Fitzroy and many other exploring mariners.
(1) Punta Arenas, Chile - Ushuaia, Argentina | 5 days, 4 nights (Trip Code TDF01)
(2) Ushuaia, Argentina - Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days, 3 nights (Trip Code TDF02) Trip Highlights • Sailing the most unknown and undisturbed southern archipelago. • The unique privilege of sailing around Cape Horn, the world's most feared headland. • Fascinating marine mammals including sea lions, fur seals, dolphins and whales. • The most southerly outposts of sub-Antarctic beech forest. • Spectacular local birds, which will include Andean Condor, Black-browed Albatross, Kelp Goose, Flightless Steamer Duck and Striated Caracara. • Spectacular scenery including actively calving glaciers, fjords, channels and the pristine temperate Nothofagus forests of Southern Chile. • Program suitable for the solo naturalist, birder or nature photographer. The Difference of Traveling with Fantástico Sur Expeditions:
• Great accommodation, superb dinning cuisine and memorable picnic lunches. • Spacious vehicles that ensure a window seat to each trip participant. • Each vehicle and vessel we use has been authorized by the Chilean Transportation and Maritime Authority respectively. • The service and expertise of a professional local naturalist leader, who will look after every logistical aspect of “your” holiday. • You will receive a free, signed copy of our natural history book "Tierra del Fuego - Wildlife and Landscapes". • …plus an useful pre-departure information package. Expedition Cruise to Tierra del Fuego & Cape Horn can be combined with one of the following optional extensions: • Patagonia Explorer (8 days / 7 nights) nature expedition to discover the wildlife and landscapes of the remote regions of Chilean Patagonia; • The Falkland Islands (8 days / 7 nights), penguin encounters.
(1) Punta Arenas, Chile - Ushuaia, Argentina | 5 days, 4 nights (Trip Code TDF01)
Option A: M/V Mare Australis (Saturday through Wednesday) | Option B: M/V Via Australis (Tuesday through Saturday)
Day 1 • Sat or Wed • Evening boarding Mare Australis After a welcome cocktail, headed by the Captain and crew, our expedition will begin as the ship leaves towards the remote Fuegian Channels and western Tierra del Fuego. O/N M/V Mare or Via Australis. (D)(G). Day 2 • Sun or Thu • Ainsworth Bay – Brookes Glacier By morning, we will be in a totally different landscape as we sail the Almirantazgo Sound, with its dramatic mountains and desolate islands, the mirrored surface of the sea barely disturbed by the ship's wake. Flocks of seabirds, including Black-browed Albatross and Southern Giant Petrel, will glide across our wake and groups of Peale's Dolphin may pursue our boat. Then we will move to Ainsworth Bay, where we will study a breeding colony of the largest pinniped in the world, the Southern Elephant Seal. Later during the day we will sail through narrow fjords and channels as we admire the summits of the Fuegian Andes to visit Brookes Glacier. With the help of our zodiacs, we will land near these beautiful glaciers to appreciate the incredible forces exerted by the ice in modifying the landscape and to witness the characteristics of retreating glaciers, listening to their grumbling and groaning and startled by the sharp reports as large "growlers" break off and crash into the water below. O/N M/V Mare or Via Australis. (B,L,D)(G). Day 3 • Mon or Fri • Pia Glacier – "Avenue of Glaciers" Early in the morning we will disembark in the sheltered bay of the Pia Glacier to admire its impressive and active front while we also study the miniature plant and lichen community growing on the recently exposed rocks. Later, we will be amazed by the incredible spectacle presented by the many glaciers along the Beagle Channel as we steam eastward. Each of these giants has a different beauty as they descend from Darwin's Mountain Range, a frozen massif rising over 6,000 feet (2,000 m) above us. O/N M/V Mare or Via Australis. (B,L,D)(G). Day 4 • Tue or Sat • Cape Horn – Puerto Williams Today is the Big Day! With due respect to the prevailing climatic conditions we shall depart to Cape Horn. Making a voyage around this large mountain that signals the extreme southern limit of the South American continent is the most uplifting moment in the life of any sailor. We will intend to make a landing here and to visit the famous monument to the Cap Horniers, that takes the form of a flying albatross. In the afternoon we will visit the southernmost town in the world, Puerto Williams. There we will explore the coasts, forests and ponds looking for new birds, and visit the local museum, which illustrate the hard life of the Fuegians that originally inhabited these latitudes and their unfortunate fate. O/N M/V Mare or Via Australis. (B,L,D)(G). Day 5 • Wed or Sun • Ushuaia Today we will land at the picturesque town of Ushuaia, Argentina, where our trip ends. (B). (2) Ushuaia, Argentina - Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days, 3 nights (Trip Code TDF02) Option A: M/V Mare Australis (Wednesday through Saturday) | Option B: M/V Via Australis (Saturday through Tuesday) Day 1 • Wed or Sun • Evening boarding Mare or Via Australis
After a welcome cocktail, headed by the Captain and crew, our expedition will begin as the ship leaves towards the remote Fuegian Channels and western Tierra del Fuego. O/N M/V Mare or Via Australis. (D)(G). Day 2 • Thu or Mon • Cape Horn – Wulaia Bay
After visiting Cape Horn, we head to Wulaia Bay, where sub-Antarctic forests and beautiful hills offer a unique landscape and good opportunity to see many land birds. This sheltered bay is an archaeological site of great interest. O/N M/V Mare or Via Australis. (B,L,D)(G). Day 3 • Fri or Tue • Günter Plushow Glacier Early in the morning we visit the the Bay of the Günter Plushow Glacier, and later we will continue navigating through the western channels of Tierra del Fuego, including O'Brien and Ballenero, Bahía Desolada, Paso Aguirre and Cockburn Channel. O/N M/V Mare or Via Australis. (B,L,D)(G). Day 4 • Sat or Wed • Magdalena Island – Punta Arenas
At dawn, we will spend our final hours sailing the Straits of Magellan and finish our expedition by visiting an impressive colony of Magellanic Penguins comprising approximately 60,000 pairs of breeding penguins. On Magdalena, a clearly defined path protects the nesting sites while allowing excellent photographic opportunities. During our visit we will learn about the natural history and population dynamics of these charismatic seabirds. We will then dock in Punta Arenas, ending our journey to the end of the world. (B). Codes: B=Breakfast; L=Lunch; D=Dinner; G=Expedition Leader and Guides
2009 | 2010 Dates: September 2009 to April 2010
LOW SEASON
| HIGH SEASON
| | 2nd half of October and Dec 15-16-19, 2009 | November & December 2009
| 2nd half of March 2010
| January, February & 1st half of March 2010
| | PROMOTION | SPECIAL
| September 2009, 1st half ofOctober 2009 & April 2010
| Christmas & New Year's
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(1) Punta Arenas, Chile - Ushuaia, Argentina | 5 days, 4 nights (Trip Code TDF01)
| M/V Mare Australis | Sat through Wed | | September | 2009
| | | | 19 | 26
| | October | 2009 | 3 | 10 | 17
| 24
| 31
| | November | 2009 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | | | December | 2009 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 | | | January | 2010 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | | February | 2010 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | | | March | 2010 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | | | April | 2010
| 3 | 10 | 17
| | |
| M/V Via Australis | Tue through Sat | | September | 2009
| | | | 22 | 29
| | October | 2009 | 6 | 13 | 20
| 27
|
| | November | 2009 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | | | December | 2009 | 1 | 8 | 15 | 22 | 29 | | January | 2010 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 | | | February | 2010 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | | | March | 2010 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | | April | 2010 | 6 | 13 | | | |
(2) Ushuaia, Argentina - Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days, 3 nights (Trip Code TDF02) | M/V Mare Australis | Wed through Sat | | September | 2009
| | | | 23 | 30
| | October | 2009 | 7 | 14 | 21
| 28
|
| | November | 2009 | 4 | 11 | 18 | 25 | | | December | 2009 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | | January | 2010 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | | | February | 2010 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | | | March | 2010 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 24 | 31 | | April | 2010
| 7 | 14 | 21
| | |
| M/V Via Australis | Sat through Tue | | September | 2009 | 26 | | | | | | October | 2009 | 3 | 10 | 17
| 24
| 31
| | November | 2009 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | | | December | 2009 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 |
| | January | 2010 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30 | | February | 2010 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | | | March | 2010 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | | | April | 2010 | 3
| 10 | 17 | | |
Rates for scheduled departures: (1) Punta Arenas, Chile - Ushuaia, Argentina | 5 days, 4 nights (Trip Code TDF01)
5% special discount (in already discounted cabin rates) if you book before December 31, 2009! | Cabin | PROMOTION | LOW | HIGH | SPECIAL
| | B | 1,120 1,064
| 1,400 1,330
| 1,770 1,682
| 2,590 2,460
| | A | 1,638 1,556
| 2,043 1,941
| 2,484 2,360
| 3,040 2,888
| | AA | 1,719 1,633
| 2,142 2,035
| 2,601 2,471
| 3,180 3,021
| | AAA | 1,800 1,710
| 2,241 2,129
| 2,727 2,590
| 3,340 3,173
| | Single* | 2,010 1,910
| 2,510 2,385
| 3,110 2,955
| 4,390 4,171
|
(2) Ushuaia, Argentina - Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days, 3 nights (Trip Code TDF02) 5% special discount (in already discounted cabin rates) if you book before December 31, 2009! | Cabin | PROMOTION | LOW | HIGH | SPECIAL
| | B | 840 798
| 1,050 998
| 1,330 1,264
| 1,930 1,834
| | A | 1,224 1,163
| 1,521 1,444 | 1,854 1,761
| 2,270 2,157
| | AA | 1,287 1,223
| 1,602 1,597
| 1,962 1,864
| 2,400 2,280
| | AAA | 1,359 1,291
| 1,692 1,607
| 2,043 1,941
| 2,500 2,375
| | Single* | 1,510 1,435
| 1,890 1,796
| 2,330 2,214
| 3,290 3,126
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What the trip includes/excludes The above price is per person in US$, based on double occupancy. Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested or forced. The trip price includes: Welcome cocktail, expedition cruise accommodations and activities on full-board basis, drinks, shore excursions in zodiac boats, lectures, shipboard entertainment and expedition guide services. The trip price excludes: Tipping, visa and/or passport expenses, arrival and departure taxes, lodging and meals other than those offered in the program, personal insurance, extra baggage charges, additional expenses, such as: laundry service, telephone calls, use of Internet or other means of communication, etc. Tour Registration: To register for this tour, complete the Fantástico Sur Expeditions registration form and return it with a deposit of US$ 350 per person. Full payment of the tour fee (in US Dollars) is due 90 days prior to tour departure. Cancellation Policy: Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us. Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 250 is refundable. If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.
(A) Punta Arenas, Chile - Ushuaia, Argentina | 5 days, 4 nights (Trip Code TDF01)
(B) Ushuaia, Argentina - Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days, 3 nights (Trip Code TDF02) M/V Mare Australis Gross tonnage: 2,664 GRT (Gross registered tonnage) Built: 2002 Cabins: 64 cabins, with private facilities, low beds and panoramic windows. Decks: 5 Decks. Lounges: 2 lounges and one dining room. Length: 236 ft. • 71,83 m Draft: 10,3 ft. • 3,15 m Breadth: 44 ft. • 13,4 m | M/V Via Australis Gross tonnage: 2,716 GRT Built: 2005 Cabins: 64 cabins, with private facilities, low beds and panoramic windows. Decks: 5 Decks. Lounges: 2 lounges and one dining room. Length: 237 ft. • 72,30 m Draft: 10,8 ft. • 3,30 m Breadth: 44 ft. • 13,4 m |
1st Deck "Patagonia" 
M/V Mare Australis: 7 "B" Cabins (3 triple + 4 twin beds) M/V Via Australis: 7 "B" Cabins (7 twin beds) 2nd Deck "Magallanes" 
M/V Mare Australis: 29 "A" Cabins (4 double beds + 25 twin beds) M/V Via Australis: 29 "A" Cabins (7 double beds + 2 triple + 20 twin beds) 3rd Deck "Tierra del Fuego" 
M/V Mare Australis: 18 "AA" Cabins (4 double beds + 14 twin beds) M/V Via Australis: 18 "AA" Cabins (5 double beds + 6 triple + 7 twin beds) 4th Deck "Cabo de Hornos" 
M/V Mare Australis: 10 "AAA" Cabins (2 double beds + 8 twin beds) M/V Via Australis: 10 "AAA" Cabins (3 double beds + 7 twin beds)
| Cabin A, AA and AAA - double bed Private facilities Independently controlled heater Safety box Closet Large windows to enjoy scenery 220/110 V - US sockets |  | Cabin A, AA and AAA - twin beds Private facilities Independently controlled heater Safety box Closet Large windows to enjoy scenery 220/110 V - US sockets |  | Cabin B - twin beds Located on the first deck Private facilities Independently controlled heater Safety box Closet Large windows to enjoy scenery 220/110 V - US sockets |  | Cabin plan for all decks
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(A) Punta Arenas, Chile - Ushuaia, Argentina | 5 days, 4 nights (Trip Code TDF01)
(B) Ushuaia, Argentina - Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days, 3 nights (Trip Code TDF02) Check out our set of images from recent trips to Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn.
(A) Punta Arenas, Chile - Ushuaia, Argentina | 5 days, 4 nights (Trip Code TDF01)
(B) Ushuaia, Argentina - Punta Arenas, Chile | 4 days, 3 nights (Trip Code TDF02) Birds and mammals possible to be seen during this expedition Compiled by Roberto Donoso & Claudio F. Vidal, Fantastico Sur Expeditions (2009) Penguins | Spheniscidae Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus
Grebes | Podicipedidae
White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland Great Grebe Podiceps major Albatrosses | Diomedeidae Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma Shearwaters & Petrels | Procellariidae Antarctic Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides Cape Petrel Daption capense White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Storm-Petrels | Hydrobatidae Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Diving-Petrels | Pelecanoididae
Magellanic Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides magellani
Cormorants | Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus Rock Shag Phalacrocorax magellanicus Imperial Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps Herons, Egrets & Bitterns | Ardeidae Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Ibises & Spoonbills | Threskiornithidae Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis Flamingos | Phoenicopteridae Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis Ducks, Geese & Swans | Anatidae Black-necked Swan Cygnus melanocorypha Upland Goose Chloephaga picta Kelp Goose Chloephaga hybrida Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala Flightless Steamerduck Tachyeres pteneres Flying Steamerduck Tachyeres patachonicus Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris Spectacled Duck Anas specularis Crested Duck Anas specularioides Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica Red Shoveler Anas platalea New World Vultures | Cathartidae Andean Condor Vultur gryphus Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Hawks, Eagles & Kites | Accipitridae Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus Chilean Hawk Accipiter chilensis Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus Rufous-tailed Hawk Buteo ventralis Falcons & Caracaras | Falconidae Southern Crested Caracara Caracara plancus Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis American Kestrel Falco sparverius Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Rails, Gallinules & Coots | Rallidae Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata Oystercatchers | Haematopodidae Magellanic Oystercatcher Haematopus leucopodus Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater Plovers & Lapwings | Charadriidae Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis Two-banded Plover Charadrius falklandicus Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus Sandpipers & Allies | Scolopacidae South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Seedsnipes | Thinocoridae White-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis malouinus Least Seedsnipe Thinocorus rumicivorus Sheathbills | Chionidae Snowy Sheathbill Chionis alba Skuas & Jaegers | Stercoraridae Chilean Skua Stercorarius chilensis Gulls | Laridae Dolphin Gull Larus scoresbii Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus Brown-hooded Gull Larus maculipennis South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea Doves & Pigeons | Columbidae Rock Dove Columba livia Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata Parrots, Macaws & Allies | Psittacidae Austral Parakeet Enicognathus ferrugineus Typical Owls | Strigidae Magellanic Horned Owl Bubo magellanicus Austral Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium nanum Hummingbirds | Trochilidae Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes Kingfishers | Alcedinidae Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata Woodpeckers & Allies | Picidae Magellanic Woodpecker Campephilus magellanicus Ovenbirds | Furnariidae Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus Gray-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus Blackish Cinclodes Cinclodes antarcticus Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis Tapaculos | Rhinocryptidae Magellanic Tapaculo Scytalopus magellanicus Tyrant Flycatchers | Tyrannidae White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus Patagonian Tyrant Colorhamphus parvirostris Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola macloviana Austral Negrito Lessonia rufa Swallows | Hirundinidae Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni Wagtails & Pipits | Motacillidae Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera Wrens | Troglodytidae House Wren Troglodytes aedon Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis Thrushes & Allies | Turdidae Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii
Old World Sparrows | Passeridae House Sparrow ( I ) Passer domesticus Siskins, Crossbills & Allies | Fringillidae Black-chinned Siskin Carduelis barbata Buntings, Sparrows & Allies | Emberizidae Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch Phrygilus gayi Patagonian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus patagonicus Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis
Troupials & Allies | Icteridae Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca Austral Blackbird Curaeus curaeus MAMMALS
Otters
Marine otter Lontra felina Foxes Culpeo Fox Pseudalopex culpaeus Eared Seals South American Sea Lion Otaria flavescens South American Fur Seal Arctocephalus australis True Seals Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Dolphins Commerson's Dolphin Cephalorhynchus commersonii Chilean Dolphin Cephalorhynchus eutropia Peale's Dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis Dusky Dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus Orca or Killer Whale Orcinus orca Whales Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Lagomorphs European Hare Lepus europaeus European Rabbitt Oryctolagus cuniculus Rodents Beaver Castor canadensis
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