Argentina Cruise from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires — 19 Days

Ushuaia, Argentina

Ushuaia sits between the Beagle Channel and the snow-streaked Martial Mountains, at Argentina’s far southern edge. Its harbor has long served as a gateway to Antarctica, while the town itself rewards a slower look. Ride the End of the World Train into Tierra del Fuego National Park, or tour the former prison museum. Here, wild landscapes begin just beyond the last streets.

Drake Passage

Few sea crossings carry the weight of the Drake Passage. Here, the Atlantic and Pacific meet between Cape Horn and Antarctica, and conditions can change quickly. Some voyages pass in calm water; others encounter the swells that made this route legendary. Watch from deck for albatrosses and petrels, then settle into the ship’s routines. The passage is no mere transfer: it is the first clear measure of Antarctica’s scale and remoteness.

At Sea (At Sea)

Antarctic Peninsula

The Antarctic Peninsula brings you within reach of Antarctica’s most dramatic scenery: mountain-backed glaciers, blue icebergs and sheltered bays. Most voyages cross the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, then explore by expedition ship and Zodiac, weather permitting. Watch for gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, seals and whales. Shore visits follow strict environmental rules, and plans can change with conditions. Expect few comforts ashore; the reward is a rare encounter with a continent still governed by ice and weather.

At Sea (At Sea)

South Georgia Island

South Georgia is no conventional port of call; this remote, mountainous island is reached by expedition ship. Vast king penguin colonies gather beside beaches crowded with elephant seals. At Grytviken, a former whaling station, visit the museum, the church and Ernest Shackleton’s grave. Come for wildlife on an extraordinary scale, and for the stark history etched into this subantarctic landscape.

At Sea (At Sea)

Port Stanley

Stanley sits on East Falkland, where the South Atlantic’s wide skies frame a compact, distinctly British capital. Its painted houses, tidy gardens and sheltered harbor contrast with the islands’ open, windswept terrain. Visit Christ Church Cathedral and its whalebone arch, then explore the Falkland Islands Museum for local history. Beyond town, guided excursions reach penguin colonies and dramatic coastal landscapes.

At Sea (At Sea)

Puerto Madryn, Argentina

Puerto Madryn sits on sheltered Golfo Nuevo, where Patagonia’s coast meets the Atlantic. From here, Peninsula Valdés, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers encounters with southern right whales, elephant seals and sea lions. Between June and December, whales gather in the gulf; Magellanic penguins nest at Punta Tombo farther south. In town, Welsh heritage and a waterfront promenade offer a quieter counterpoint to Patagonia’s wild scale.

At Sea (At Sea)

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a city of broad boulevards, grand theatres and late dinners, with a distinctly Argentine pulse. From the port, explore La Boca’s vivid lanes or San Telmo’s antique market. Recoleta adds belle époque architecture; Palermo brings leafy parks, galleries and restaurants. Make time for a steakhouse and a tango performance, two traditions that give the capital its lasting character.