Chile : Cruises : Australis Cruises

Explore the southern most and virgin region of the world aboard the new Via Australis Expedition Cruiser. From October to May each year you can navigate through the Magellan Straits and the Beagle Canal traveling through fjords, bays, glaciers and islands between the Chilean city of Punta Arenas and the Argentine city of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. Extending your journey to the mythical Hornos Cape. The last headland before crossing the Antarctica and the place where the Atlantic and Pacific ocean unite. You will be able to participate in daily excursions to land and see Magellanic penguins, elephant seals and other species of the region up close as well as impressive glaciers.

Day 1. Punta Arenas
Check in at Magallanes 990, Punta Arenas, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Cruise ship boarding at 6:00 p.m. The Captain and crew give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterward, the ship departs for “the uttermost part of the earth”.  Our excursion will take us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world:  Southern Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego.  We have just embarked on a Great Adventure!

Day 2. Ainsworth Bay – Tucker Islet
At dawn, we continue navigating through Almirantazgo Sound until finally arriving near Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay, where we enjoy a walk to discover a beaver dam in the midst of a marvelous Magellanic forest. On the beach we observe a colony of elephant seals. Later we visit Tucker Islet, where we view colonies of Magellanic Penguins and Cormorants from the Zodiac boats. The islet’s penguins migrate in April; as a replacement we visit Brookes Bay, for a short walk to see a glacier.   

Day 3. Pia Glacier – Glacier Alley
We navigate through the main part of Beagle Channel to reach Pia Bay, where we disembark near Pia Glacier. We take a short hike to a lookout point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, we sail again along the northwest arm of Beagle Channel through majestic “Glacier Alley”: Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland glaciers. 

Day 4. Cape Horn – Wulaia Bay
We sail through Beagle and Murray channels to reach and disembark in Cape Horn National Park (weather permitting). Cape Horn, on Hornos Island, is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory at the point where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans merge. This mythical place is known as the “End of the Earth”; a visit is a singular privilege. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005.
In the afternoon, we go ashore in historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest aboriginal settlements. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coigües, Canelos, ferns and other native vegetation to reach a lookout point.

Day 5. Ushuaia
Arrival to Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city on Tierra de Fuego, and the southernmost city in the world.  We disembark at 8:00 a.m., enabling you to get an early start on visiting the city and national parks, and on continuing your trip through Patagonia.  

Included Excursions

During the trip, daily land excursions will take place, headed by the Australis Cruiseline Expedition Group. These excursions last approximately 2 hours. They consist of hikes on trails that are hidden by native forests, or visits to the glaciers, and they include presentations on the flora and fauna of the area. A delicious whiskey drink served with ice from the ancient glaciers or a cup of hot chocolate is the finishing touch to the excursion.

Pía Glacier.
Located in the northwestern branch of the Beagle Channel, this glacier is set in the Darwin Mountain Chain, slowly gliding towards the Pía Bay. You can participate in a hike towards an overlook that offers excellent conditions for viewing the mountainous land where the glacier originated and its displacement into the sea took place. Visitors can hear the impressive sounds caused by the loosening of large blocks of ice that fall into the sea.

Ushuaia.
The southernmost city in the world is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel and is surrounded by the Martial mountians. It was first a prison colony and is now the capital of the Argentinian province of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is the doorway to Tierra del Fuego National Park, where people come to marvel at the beautiful landscape of sea uniting with forests and mountains. This southern Argentinian city is the Mare Australis' final destination.

Optional Excursions

The Patagonian Circuits (Circuit 1 and 2) present us with the opportunity to visit Patagonia's best, combining Torres del Paine National Park with El Calafate and the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier, on a 3 or 4 night expedition cruise. The circuits presented here are only a suggestion since there are multiple variations of the same route, depending on the departure city (Punta Arenas or Ushuaia), arrival city, and the duration of the trip, etc.

For more information about these circuits, please consult tours@gotolatin.com.

The M/N Via Australis began construction in the shipyards of Asenav, Valdivia under the SOLAS 2001 and MARPOL 73/78 regulations for worldwide oceanic navigation, and was finished in the 2005. It has a classification certificate issued by ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), with the notation of "Passenger Vessel". In agreement with ISM (International Safety Management Code), given by IMO (International Maritime Organization), the ship possesses a SMC (Safety Management Certificate), which guarantees operation under the international standards of environmental security and protection.
In addition, it makes use of a complete navigation system (echo sounder, radar, GPS, and the modern Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, or GMDSS), emergency generator, fire stations, smoke detectors in every cabin, corridor and lounge, and a sprinkler fire suppression system installed in all areas of the ship. The machine room is also equipped with a CO2 fire extinguisher bank.

Characteristics

Via Australis Cabins

The Mare Australis has 63 cabins divided into 3 categories: AAA - AA - A - B. Cabins are equipped with low beds, private bathrooms, independent heating, a safe, closet, 110/220 v. electricity, and panoramic window to enjoy the landscape. It has a total capacity for 129 passengers.

Cabins A: Located on the ship's second deck, equipped with twin beds that are 1.2 meters (approx. 3.9 ft) wide.

Cabins AA: Located between the 2nd-3rd and 4th decks of the ship. There are some with 1.2 m wide twin beds as well as double beds.

Cabins B: Located on the first deck. They also offer twin beds 1.2 m in width.

Decks of Via Australis

The Program Includes

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals.
• Open bar.
• Daily land excursions.
• Welcome and goodbye cocktails.
• Whisky and hot chocolate on glacier excursions.
• All activities in the ship's interior.

Note

• Consult rates for children under 12 years of age.
• Australis Cruises reserves the right to modify published rates without prior notice.
• Australis Cruises reserves the right to alter, change or omit part of the itinerary without prior notification, when necessary or advisable for the well-being of the passengers.

Departures

Seasons

Low Season: September & October 2008, and 2nd half of March & April 2009.
High Season: November & December 2008 and January, February & 1st half of March 2009.

Rates

Rates per passenger.

Notes:

• The Special Rates applies only to the December 30, 2008.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be written, specifying the cause and assuming responsibility of the corresponding penalty. Once the reservation has been confirmed by Gotolatin, the following charges will apply for cancellations made by the passenger, according to the program departure date:

• Between 120 and 50 working days before the beginning of the cruise:
  US$ 200 per passenger.
• Between 50 and 35 working days before the beginning of the cruise:
  25% of total program value per passenger.
• Between 35 and 20 working days before the beginning of the cruise:
  50% of total program value per passenger.
• Between 20 and 0 working days before the beginning of the program: No refund.
• There are no refunds for portions of the program not used, hotel accommodations, etc.
• We recommend considering Travel Insurance for any reason.