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AUSTRALIS
Cruise along Patagonia -sailing the Beagle Channel, crossing the Strait of Magellan and visiting Cape Horn- joins Punta Arenas and Ushuaia.

We will sail along the Strait of Magellan on board one of the Australis expedition cruises: the traditional MV VIA AUSTRALIS, MV MARE AUSTRALIS, or the new member of this fleet: STELLA AUSTRALIS. This new cruise sets sail to commemorate the 20 years of these wonderful trips around the most natural and virgin places of the world. During our journey, we will be dazzled by the views of big glaciers, virgin bays, natural forests and a variety of penguin rookeries and sea lions, among others.

During our great trip, we will visit very famous places such as the Strait of Magellan, Cape Horn, Magdalene Island and the northwestern branch of the Beagle Channel. The Strait of Magellan is considered the most important natural passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans.

This waterway is located in the southern limit of South America, surrounded by Tierra del Fuego, Southern Chile and some islands situated along the Pacific Ocean. Cape Horn, declared Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO, is considered the southernmost spot in South America. This place delimits the northern tip of the Drake Passage, which separates the Antarctic Peninsula and the American continent. This area has become a legend due to the strong winds, waves and giant icebergs that endangered the old sailing ships which had to cross the area for trading. Magdalene Island is famous for making up, together with Marta Island, one of the most important rookeries and natural shelters located in the South of Chile: "Penguin Natural Monument."

We will also have the opportunity of visiting the cities of Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, before or after our journey. Ushuaia, also known as the City of the End of the World, has the second most important port in Argentina (preceded by Buenos Aires Port), being also considered the Incoming Port to the Antarctic Peninsula. Punta Arenas is the southernmost harbor city in Chile and South America, apart from being the city with the biggest population in the Patagonian region of that country. This cosmopolitan city is also famous for having a duty-free zone that allows inhabitants to enjoy important benefits.

The duration of Australis programs varies according to the Departure Port chosen for this trip. If we set sail in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, we will have a 5-day and 4-night trip; and if we set sail in the Argentinean city of Ushuaia, we will enjoy a trip having one day less -being 4 days and 3 nights. The journeys on the 3 ships (Mare, Via and Stella) cover the same places leaving from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, the only difference is the places of interest depending on the program we choose (5-day or 4-day trips).

Despite visiting the famous Cape Horn and Magdalene Island, we will have the opportunity to visit very important places which include:

Wulaia Bay. It is an archaeological site; in the past it was the birthplace of the most important tribes of the region: the Yamanas. Here also the Fitz Roy himself, along with the English naturalist Charles Darwin during his second expedition, settled the first Anglican mission of the area. Ainsworth Bay is famous for giving shelter to the biggest glacier among those coming from the Ice Field and Darwin Mountains: Marinelli Glacier. We will be dazzled by its large 40-meter ice walls and the flora and fauna of the surrounding Magellan forest.

In Tucker Islet, thanks to the high concentration of nutrients in the area, we will be astonished to see a great variety of sea fauna. This place is one of the many turns in the world that has been minimally explored; thanks to this, we can appreciate all the splendor of the flora and fauna in the most natural environment. Glacier Avenue, this narrow passage located on the Beagle Channel coasts, will surprise us because we will see plenty of ice tongues descending from Darwin Mountain Range. This scenery is regarded as one of the most fascinating and memorable landscape in the whole trip.

If we want to learn more about this southernmost region, we can extend this sea crossing with the addition of a land program along the Southern Patagonia, the city of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, the National Park, and El Calafate city: a means of access to Los Glaciares National Park and one of the most important glaciers of the world: Perito Moreno Glacier. You can choose among one of these full programs of 7, 10 or 14 days.

Australis Cruise in 5 days from Punta Arenas
We will depart in the Australis Expedition Cruises on crossing the Strait of Magallanes, disembarking in zodiacs in the Ainsworth Bay and Tucker Small Island, navigating the principal artery of the Beagle Chanel to the Glaciers Avenue and visiting Wulaia Bay and the Biosphere Reserve declared by the UNESCO: Cape Hornos. Finally, we will get to our destination port, Ushuaia in the big island of Tierra del Fuego.
Australis Cruise in 4 days from Ushuaia
Opposite to the last route, this program is made by departing from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas city with one day less on the voyage. We will start navigating by the Beagle Chanel, visiting the most southern spot of South America: Cape Hornos with Wulaia Bay, we will be able to watch the Gunther Plüschow Glacier and then we will disembark in Magdalena Island to visit one of the most important groups of penguins in the southern Patagonia. Finally, we will arrive to the old city of Punta Arenas, in the southern extreme of Chile.
Australis Cruise & Southern Patagonia
This is the best option for those who wish to know the southern Patagonia, apart from the sea journey. These programs are full by visiting Ushuaia with its natural charm and El Calafate, the first place to visit the National Park Los Glaciares and the city of El Chaltén. The 7 days program only visits Ushuaia, that one of 10 days is completed with El Calafate and El Chaltén.
Australis Cruise and Full Southern Patagonia (including Paine)
This is the perfect choice to know a big part of the southern Patagonia. Before embarking in the Australis expedition cruise, we will visit the old city of Punta Arenas and the natural charm of Puerto Natales, with the National Park Torres del Paine. After disembarking we will complete our memorable journey by visiting Ushuaia and El Calafate in the southern Patagonia Argentina.