17 nights · Chile · Departs Valparaiso-Santiago (Chile) · Visiting Ushuaia, Drake Passage, Antarctic Peninsula, Chilean Fjords, Puerto Natales · Aboard Lindblad Expeditions on the National Geographic Explorer
Image courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions ©
| Cruise line | Lindblad Expeditions |
|---|---|
| Ship | National Geographic Explorer |
| Duration | 17 nights |
| Port calls | 6 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $26,948 per person |
| Year built | 1982 |
| Guests | 162 |
| Cabins | 81 |
| Crew | 70 |
| Length | 112 m |
| Beam | 17 m |
| Cruising speed | 18.0 kn |
Valparaíso is Chile’s most characterful port, a steep-sided city rising above the Pacific in a mosaic of color. Ride a historic funicular into the hills, where murals, stairways and bright houses reward unhurried exploration. In the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, grand 19th-century architecture recalls the era when ships rounded Cape Horn. Visit La Sebastiana, poet Pablo Neruda’s house, then return to the waterfront for fresh seafood and broad Pacific views.
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.
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.
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.
South of Puerto Montt, Chile’s fjords form a maze of islands, channels and snowbound peaks. Glaciers descend from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, while temperate rainforest reaches the water’s edge. Watch for dolphins and seabirds from deck; shore landings, where offered, reveal remote coastlines at close range. These are working waterways as well as wild scenery, best appreciated slowly, with camera ready and plans flexible.
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.
South of Puerto Montt, Chile’s fjords form a maze of islands, channels and snowbound peaks. Glaciers descend from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, while temperate rainforest reaches the water’s edge. Watch for dolphins and seabirds from deck; shore landings, where offered, reveal remote coastlines at close range. These are working waterways as well as wild scenery, best appreciated slowly, with camera ready and plans flexible.
Puerto Natales sits on the shore of Última Esperanza Sound, where Patagonia’s scale comes into sharp focus. Its waterfront looks across cold, open water to the snow-lined peaks beyond. The town is the principal gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, about 110 kilometres north. It also provides a base for exploring fjords, glaciers and steppe. Come for the scenery; stay long enough to discover a working Patagonian town shaped by wind, wool and the sea.
South of Puerto Montt, Chile’s fjords form a maze of islands, channels and snowbound peaks. Glaciers descend from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, while temperate rainforest reaches the water’s edge. Watch for dolphins and seabirds from deck; shore landings, where offered, reveal remote coastlines at close range. These are working waterways as well as wild scenery, best appreciated slowly, with camera ready and plans flexible.
Puerto Natales sits on the shore of Última Esperanza Sound, where Patagonia’s scale comes into sharp focus. Its waterfront looks across cold, open water to the snow-lined peaks beyond. The town is the principal gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, about 110 kilometres north. It also provides a base for exploring fjords, glaciers and steppe. Come for the scenery; stay long enough to discover a working Patagonian town shaped by wind, wool and the sea.
Valparaíso is Chile’s most characterful port, a steep-sided city rising above the Pacific in a mosaic of color. Ride a historic funicular into the hills, where murals, stairways and bright houses reward unhurried exploration. In the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, grand 19th-century architecture recalls the era when ships rounded Cape Horn. Visit La Sebastiana, poet Pablo Neruda’s house, then return to the waterfront for fresh seafood and broad Pacific views.
Published September 25, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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