AUSTRALIS IN 4 DAYS - From Ushuaia to Punta Arenas
Navigating Cape Hornos from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas, crossing the cold Waters in the Magallanes Strait and Beagle Chanel
4 days - 3 nights
This circuit is shorter than the other program offered by Australis Cruises. The float has 3 main ships: the Via Australis, the Mare Australis and the new member this season, the Stella Australis Cruises. We will start the voyage in the southern city of the World, Ushuaia, so then we can go to the south limit port in Chile and South America, Punta Arenas. We will start this trip by crossing the Beagle Chanel, a marine way ruled by the sea which divides the big island of Tierra del Fuego from some southern islands such as Stewart, O´Brien, Gordon and Nueva, among others.
We will continue our journey in the Australis Cruise on the Murray Chanel, a sea way which joins the Beagle Chanel and Nassau Bay in the middle of the ocean. We will finally arrive to the southern place in the World connected to Latin America: Cape Hornos. This point has been the main objective of the ancient ships which wanted to comercialize around the World, even when this Waters were known as extremely dangerous because of the intense winds, strong waves and impressive icebergs. After our arrival, we will disembark in Wulaia Bay, an archaelogical place which was home of one of the greatest tribes in the region a long time ago: the Yámanas.
It was in this very same bay that Fitz Roy, who discovered the Beagle Chanel, found the main anglican mission with the famous english naturalist Charles Darwin, during his second expedition.
We will take again our navigation in order to look for the Gunther Plüschow Glacier. The name of this glacier was given in honor to the german pilot Gunther Plüschow who flew over the Darwin mountain chain and he landed in Punta Arenas in his Aircraft named “Feuerlnd” (Tierra del Fuego). Later on we will go to Seno Chico so we can disembark in our Zodiac boats to appreciate the great millenial volume of ice of the Piloto and Nena glaciers.
We will start the final journey of our crossing on board the Australis cruise by disembarking in Magdalena Island. This chilean island is very famous because it is home for one of the most distinguished group of penguins known as a Natural Monument Los Pingüinos, together with the small island Marta. Another of the most important attractions in the island is the lighthouse, an old one declared as National Historical Monument, which helps to those navigators who cross the Strait of Magallanes.
We will end this journey in the city of Punta Arenas, known as “the chilean capital in Patagonia”. This city is famous because of the port in which we will disembark, the southern port in the south region of Chile and South America. Once we disembark, we will have the opportunity to tour this European stylish city, that can be noticed because of its architecture and unic design, which cannot be found in any other region in the country.
Ushuaia
During the first hours in the afternoon we will do the check in in the city of Ushuaia, so we can embark in one of the expedition ships of Australis: Mare, Via or Stella. We will set sail from the most southern city in the World, Ushuaia, crossing the famous Beagle Chanel, going through Cape Hornos, and then navigating the Strait of Magallanes to finally arrive to our final port: Punta Arenas.
The Beagle Chanel is a marine way, which was originated by different stages during the quaternary glaciations period, which was later ruled by the sea. It is defined in the north by Ushuaia and the other extremes are defined by some islands such as the Stewart, O´Brien, Gordon, Navarino e Nueva, among others. The southern region of the southamerican continent, that limits to the north with the Drake Passage, also known as the Hoces Sea, is the well-known Cape Hornos.
This sea is distinguished for separate the american continente from the Antarctic Peninsula. The pasaje which joins the two biggest mass of water in the World (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean), is the famous Strait of Magallanes. It is located in the middle of Tierra del Fuego and some other islands of the Pacific Ocean and the Chilean Patagonia, it has an strategic location in the south limit of South America.
Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay
According to our fixed route, we will continue navigating by the Beagle Chanel and Murray Chanel, so then we can try to disembark (if weather conditions allows us to) and appreciate the nature beauties in the National Park Cape Hornos.
We can realise about our arrival to this southern point, once we come accross with a 400 metres high hill. This place marks the most distant limit of the Group of the “fueguinas” islands, which is the most southern point in South America. It is also the point that defines the north extreme of the Drake Passage, it a sea which divides the American continent of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The National Park is located in the “End of the World”, has been declared as a Biosphere Reserve in the 2005 by the UNESCO. During sunset, we will disembark in Wulaia Bay, current archaelogical place which was home of one of the most greatest tribes in the region a long time ago: the Yámanas. It was in this very same bay that Fitz Roy, who discovered the Beagle Chanel, found the main anglican mission during his second expedition with the famous english naturalista Charles Darwin.
During our tour along the bay, we will have the opportunity to appreciate its magnificent flora and geography. We will do a trekking in the “magallánico” woods which will be waiting with a great quantity of floral species like lengas, coihues, ferns, among others, and then we will arrive to a viewpoint where we will have an Amazing view.
Piloto & Nena Glaciers
In our third navigation day, we will go to the desert inlets of the Brecknock, Ocasión and Cockburn chanels, so we can arrive to our first destination: Seno Chico. The Brecknock passage is a short lenght chanel, but there are waves and runnings to take into account among its many islands. We will leave this route so we can get into the Cockburn Passage and keep safe from the big waves produced in the chanel. We will finally get to Seno Chico so we can disembark in zodiac boats through the Alakaluf Fjord.
This Fjord was named in honor to the ancient groups of nomad canoeros, who could made the Alakaluf ethnic Group in the last hundred years, also known as the Kaweskars. These fishermen and sea hunters lived in the archipelagos, fjords and chanels surrounded by the Gulf of Penas and Brecknock Peninsula. We will continue through beautiful waterfalls to Piloto and Nena glaciers, where we would be able to know more about the origin of the glaciers and their repercussion on the patagonic chanels region.
One of the most memorable experiences will be the sound produced when we go through fragments of ice from the glaciers. We will continue our crossing to the Glacier Águila Bay, where we can do a light trekking along its marvelous Beach and then we can surround its lagoon to arrive to the glacier.
Navigation to the Magdalena Island´s “Pingüinera”
Breakfast at the hotel. We will set sail to the Magdalena Island, to 35 km from Punta Arenas, very well known as the Natural Monument to the Penguins to which we will get on zodiac boats sailing from Black Cape to 25 km from Punta Arenas. It is an ideal navigation to watch native birds, specially penguins, cormoranes, antarctic seagulls and seals. This navigations is subject to weather conditions. It is the natural habitat of more than 120.000 “magallánicos” penguins and one of the biggest colonies of penguins in the chilean Patagonia.
We will cross the cold waters of the Strait of Magallanes to get to the island from where we will have panoramic views of Punta Arenas, Tierra del Fuego prairies and the oilfields of Black Cape or Laredo Bay. There is very few vegetation in the Magdalena Island, even we can find “gramíneas” in the penguins and the seagulls area. Every year, between September and March, a migration takes place in the region for many important bird species like the southern or the jumper seagull.
While we do the trekking we will watch penguins and their broods through the paths that go from the coast until the highest area of the island where the lighthouse is and where the Environmental Center of Interpretation is located and we can read the history about the strait and the local fauna. We will go to Puerto Natales.
Note: this tour can be made from October 15th to March 31st.
Services
SERVICES INCLUDED
Accommodation on the ship
All activities inside the ship
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Open Bar
Welcome and good-bye drinks
Whisky and hot chocolate during the excursions to the glaciers
Daily land excursions
Route Map
Seasons, Departures & Rates
Seasons, Departures & Rates
Sept / Apr 2010-2011
Clothes
Conditions
PASSAGE CONTRACT: Buying a ticket implies entering into an agreement under the terms and
conditions of Transportes Marítimos Terra Australis S.A. & Transportes Marítimos
Via Australis S.A. (here and after "the companies") for passenger transportation.
RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS: A deposit of US$ 200 per passenger is required to guarantee a tentative reservation.
The final payment must be received by "the companies" 45 days before the
departure of the cruise.
CANCELLATION POLICY: The following penalities will apply in case of cancellation as soon as "the
companies" receives written notice:
Notice
Fine
Up to 120 days before the departure
US$ 0
From 119 to 45 days before the departure
US$ 200
From 44 to 30 days before the departure
25% of sales value
From 29 to 15 days before the departure
50% of sales value
From 14 to 0 days before the departure
100% of sales value
CHILDREN POLICY:
Infants between 0 and 3 years old have a 100% discount, sharing the bed
with their parents.
Children between 4 and 12 years old have a 50% discount, sharing a cabin
with an adult.
RATES & DEPARTURES: "The companies" reserve the right to modify the cruise rates and departure
dates published in this brochure, without prior notice.
CRUISE CONDITIONS: Rates include accommodation, sea transportation, all meals, open bar when on duty
(without additional cost for wines, beverages, and liquors), shore excursions, and
on-board entertainment. Optional tours and transportation are not included in the
cruise rate.
FORMS OF PAYMENT: Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Diners credit cards, travelers checks,
US Dollars, Euros, Chilean Pesos, and wire transfer are accepted.
REQUIRED CLOTHING: Trekking or hiking boots are required for all passengers.
M/N VIA AUSTRALIS
TECHNICAL DATA
Via Australis is one of Australis Cruisesexpedition cruises that sails accross the Patagonian Channels.
Gross tonnage: 2716 (GT).
Built: 2005.
Cabins: 64 cabins, with private facilities, low beds and panoramic windows.
Decks: 4 decks.
Lounges: 2 lounges and one dining room.
Lenght: 72.30 m, 236 ft.
Draft: 3.30 m, 10.83 ft.
Breadth: 13,4 m, 44 ft.
DECKS
Yamana Lounge
Equiped with bar, a small library, video and audio equipment.
Panoramic view and cozy decoration will allow passenger to enjoy the beautiful.
Scenary at all times.
In this room lectures and other board activities will take place.
Sky Lounge
Has a full bar and panoramic view.
In this room night activities will take place and some lectures and other activities During the day.
In addition to the Game Room, it will be the only place where smoking is allowed. Patagonia dining room, passengers will enjoy:
Panoramic view.
Exquisite regional cuisine.
Refined international cuisine.
Chilean and argentinean wines.
Game Room
Located on the third deck.
Special tables for card and other games.
Outside decks
Wide open promenade deck.
Exceptional panoramic view.
Bridge Open to passengers.
Shop
Sale of outdoor clothing and souvenirs of the Via Australis. First Aid Care We have, on board of the vessel, personnel prepared to provide first aid attention and care to passengers, should it be required.
CABINS DISTRIBUTION
10 AAA
Low beds, (double base).
Private facilities.
Independently controlled Heater.
Safety box.
Closet.
Large window to enjoy views.
220/110 Volts power U.S. type electricity connectors (adapters available).
18 AA
Low beds, (double base).
Private facilities.
Independently controlled Heater.
Safety box.
Closet.
Large window to enjoy views.
220/110 Volts power U.S. type electricity connectors (adapters available).
29 A
Located on the second deck.
Low beds, (double base).
Private facilities.
Independently controlled Heater.
Safety box.
Closet.
220/110 Volts power U.S. type electricity connectors (adapters available).
Large window to enjoy views.
7 B
Located on the first deck.
GLow beds, (double base).
Private facilities.
Independently controlled Heater.
Safety box.
Closet.
220/110 Volts power U.S. type electricity connectors (adapters available).
