Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Santiago
Begin your journey with an overnight flight to Santiago, the charming capital of Chile.
Day 2 - Santiago
After you clear customs, a representative greets you at the airport and escorts you to your hotel. Included meals: breakfast (in flight)
Day 3 - Santiago
Enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Chilean capital this morning. You’ll see the Plaza de Armas, home to the colonial Cathedral and the neoclassical Palacio de La Moneda, formerly the royal mint and now the residence of Chilean presidents. (B)
Day 4 - South Atlantic Cruise
Transfer to Valparaiso, Chile to board your luxury cruise ship, the MV Discovery, where you’ll enjoy the very best in cruise elegance. Pamper yourself with a spa visit or a dip in one of its jacuzzis. Then indulge in a round of blackjack in the Monte Carlo Casino. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - South Atlantic Cruise
Enjoy dramatic views of the Chilean coast from the deck of the Discovery. Or head indoors to relax at the Explorer Bar or pamper yourself with a visit to the Beauty Salon. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - South Atlantic Cruise
Welcome to Chile’s Lake District, a magical region of lush, rolling hills dotted with the lakes and lagoons that give the region its name. Puerto Montt’s German heritage is evident in its high-pitched roofs and ornate balconies reminiscent of Bavaria. (B, L, D)
Day 7 - South Atlantic Cruise
We’ll sail past the breathtaking landscape of Chile’s Aisen region. This area has an untamed beauty with its rocky terrain and dramatic fjords. (B, L, D)
Day 8 - South Atlantic Cruise
Continue along the icy blue waters of the Magellan Strait, where glaciers have edged their way down mountainsides to break off into fjords. Look for giant condors soaring above. (B, L, D)
Day 9 - South Atlantic Cruise
Pass countless islands throughout the breathtaking landscape of the Chilean fjords, where the snowcapped peaks rise over lush green forests sloping down to the water’s edge. (B, L, D)
Day 10 - South Atlantic Cruise
Set on the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas was once a regular port of call for clippers. Visit the Plaza de Armas and rub the foot of Magellan’s statue for luck, or set off for an air excursion over the Torres del Paine National Park. (B, L, D)
Day 11 - South Atlantic Cruise
Glaciers of unimaginable magnitude surround the ship as you spend a day cruising through Beagle Channel (named after Charles Darwin’s research vessel, the HMS Beagle) into the wonderland of Garibaldi Bay and the Glacier Region. (B, L, D)
Day 12 - South Atlantic Cruise
Head north through the waters of famous Cape Horn, the southernmost point in South America and part of the archipelago known as Tierra del Fuego. Enjoy amazing views and entertaining stories of Old World ships that used to “round the Horn” from the Atlantic to the Pacific. (B, L, D)
Day 13 - South Atlantic Cruise
Cruise to Half Moon Island, named for its distinct crescent shape. The rocky landscape teems with chinstrap penguins as Antarctic terns, giant petrels and skuas soar overhead. Other treasures abound here—from an old whaling shipwreck to colonies of fur and elephant seals. (B, L, D)
Day 14 - South Atlantic Cruise
Enter the Lemaire Channel, a hidden inlet located between Booth Island and the mainland. Sheer ice cliffs and glaciers stand on either side of the channel. You may spot humpback or minke whales, as well as leopard and crabeater seals! Then enter Paradise Harbor, a bay christened by
whalers at the beginning of the 20th century that offers views of jagged mountains, glaciers and drifting icebergs. It’s also home to a Chilean outpost with a fully functioning weather station. (B, L, D)
Day 15 - South Atlantic Cruise
Get ready for a full day today, as you discover more of Antarctica’s natural wonders. Cruise the Antarctic Sound the Gerlache Strait, cruising past tall, rugged mountains and glaciers. Many birds call this area home—you may spot fulmars, shearwaters, cape pigeons and perhaps even an albatross. Then continue north to to Hope Bay, an area often referred to as Iceberg Alley because of its awe-inspiring icebergs. Look out for Adelie penguins and snowy sheathbills. (B, L, D)
Day 16 - South Atlantic Cruise
This morning, reach the White Continent, Antarctica. Subject to ice and weather conditions, plans include a visit to Deception Island. Sailing the narrow channel known as Neptune’s Bellows, we reach the dormant crater of this volcanic island, known for its tremendous multicolored rock formations and sheer cliffs. Next, cruise to King George Island (weather dependent), a small isle located just south of Deception. Cuverville provides a microcosm of Antarctic marine life, holding the ecosystems of many bird and animal colonies. Among them are gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags (a
species of bird that inhabits the South Atlantic). (B, L, D)
Day 17 - South Atlantic Cruise
Today’s journey through the Drake Passage—located between Cape Horn, South America, and Antarctica—is paired with discussions Discovery’s guest lecturers. The famous passage was named for the British explorer and military hero Sir Francis Drake, who actually sailed the nearby Magellan Strait on his trip around the world (1577-1579) aboard the Golden Hind. (B, L, D)
Day 18 - Buenos Aires
Disembark in Ushaia, Argentina, this morning, and board your flight to Buenos Aires. (B)
Day 19 - Buenos Aires
After this morning’s sightseeing tour of the Argentine capital, the rest of the afternoon is free to discover the town on your own. With its grand avenues, old-world cafés and large public squares, it has the feel of a European capital, but its charm is distinctly Latin. You might explore Buenos Aires’ historic neighborhoods, such as San Telmo, the birthplace of tango. (B)
Day 20 - Buenos Aires
A representative helps you transfer to the airport for your flight home. (B)
(In the case of early morning departures, breakfast may not be provided.)
Day 21 - Buenos Aires
Arrive home in the United States. (B, in flight)
Extend Your Stay
Add 3 nights,
$1,495 (Single room: add $300)
Dwarfing North America's Niagara Falls, and with lush vegetation and numerous cascades, Iguassu Falls are a stunning sigt to behold. They are accessible both from Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil, and Puerto Iguazú in Argentina, and have been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Discovered by a Spanish conquistador in the 1500s and again at the end of the 19th century, but have been a part of local lore for centuries. As legend has it, a god planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a fit of rage, the god sliced the river, creating the waterfalls, condemning the lovers to eternal separation.