With the exceptional presence of François de Closets, French novelist and columnist.
Tortuous channels, snow-capped mountains, majestic glaciers and narrow passages: welcome to the magic of the Chilean fjords. PONANT invites you aboard L'Austral for an 11-day expedition cruise through the enchanting landscapes of South America.
After boarding in Talcahuano, you will first discover Quemchi, a thoroughly authentic village on the lush island of Chiloé, also the birthplace of the celebrated writer Francisco Coloane.
You will then enter the Chilean fjords and channels for exceptional moments of navigation amid unrivalled landscapes.
You will call at the isolated village of Tortel, suspended above the water, with its emblematic wooden walkways serving as streets.
Your ship will sail into the waters of the famous Strait of Magellan and approach superb glaciers such as Pio XI, El Brujo, Agostini and Garibaldi. You will finally admire the snow-capped peaks of the Darwin Range before sailing around the legendary Cape Horn, surrounded by the sublime landscapes of Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Itinerary
From 18 to 28 November 2020 aboard L'Austral
18 November
Boarding between 4:00pm and 5:00pm
Departure at 6:00pm
Talcahuano, Chile's leading fishing port, sits alongside the energetic city of Concepción, where music resonates on every street corner. Renowned for its cultural and artistic life, it is nicknamed “the gateway to the south”. With 215,000 inhabitants, Concepción is a relatively prosperous Chilean city and the largest in the country south of Santiago. The charming traditional fishing villages scattered along the coast add to the appeal of this stretch of the Chilean coastline.
19 November: at sea
During your day at sea, take advantage of the many services and activities on board. Enjoy a moment of relaxation at the spa or keep fit at the gym. Depending on the season, you may be tempted by the swimming pool or some time sunbathing. This day without a port call is also an opportunity to attend the lectures and shows offered on board, to browse the boutique, or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. Those who love the open sea will head to the ship's upper deck to watch the waves and perhaps catch sight of marine species. A genuine interlude of comfort, rest and entertainment.
20 November: Chiloé Island
In southern Chile's Lake District, discover the small fishing port of Quemchi on the east coast of Chiloé Island. With its authentic charm, pretty wooden houses, narrow lanes lined with small shops and its fish market, this village at the end of the world is sure to win you over. Be sure to visit the museum dedicated to the celebrated Chilean writer and adventurer Francisco Coloane, born in this southern land. Not far away, the small island known as “Isla Aucar”, accessible via a wooden walkway, lets you observe a highly varied birdlife and discover a magnificent botanical garden home to numerous plant species endemic to the region.
21 November: Sailing through the Pulluche Channel
Near the Peñón de Lobos (the “wolves' rock”) in Chile, the Pulluche Channel lies northwest of Monte Prieto and Isla Sin Nombre, literally “the island with no name”. This maritime channel in the General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo region of Aysén, in southern Chile, lies 1,400 km south of the capital. You will sail through a highly distinctive landscape of islands, channels and fjords. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1979, the Laguna San Rafael area is home mainly to temperate rainforests and abundant wildlife: seabirds (black-browed albatross, cormorants...) and marine mammals (pinnipeds).
22 November: Tortel
A picturesque, colourful fishing village, the port of call at Tortel enjoys a privileged setting at the heart of southern Patagonia, halfway between Puerto Montt and Cape Horn. You will appreciate the sweeping panorama visible from its few streets, which take the form of wooden walkways: rounded mountains, dense forests, clear Pacific waters... A walk along the many wooden jetties lets you take in this scenery, suspended just a few metres above the water. The village is dotted with sculptures by local artists, an excellent introduction to this close-knit and endearing community.
23 November: English Passage and Pio XI Glacier
Between green hills rising from the water and snow-capped peaks, the English Passage is one of the main channels in Patagonia. Located off the southwestern coast of Chile, at the far end of the Messier Channel, this narrow waterway, just 180 metres wide, offers a unique sailing experience due to its exceptional scale and grandiose natural setting.
A coastal glacier located in southern Chile, Pio XI is startling in its almost unreal dimensions. Covering more than 1,200 km2, it is the largest glacier in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This gigantic ice cap - the third largest in the world by size - sits on the southern Andes and offers a breathtaking natural setting, one that invites wonder.
24 November: El Brujo Glacier
At the heart of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, Chile's largest protected area, discover the El Brujo Glacier. Located at the far end of the Asia Fjord, this immense wall of ice, shaped by the wind, is both fascinating and impressive. Constantly transformed by shifting light, this enchanting, grandiose natural scenery offers an unforgettable sight.
25 November: Agostini Glacier
In the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the Agostini Glacier takes shape at the end of the fjord of the same name, framed by the mountains of the Darwin Range. Named in honour of the Italian missionary and explorer Alberto Maria De Agostini, this imposing glacier with its bluish hues offers a magnificent view over the fjord.
26 November: Garibaldi Glacier and Pia Fjord
Sail along the narrow arm of the Garibaldi Fjord and take in the superb landscapes before you. Here, the deep green of the dense vegetation covering the steep mountainsides vies in charm with the white of the ice and snow. At the end of the sail, the Garibaldi Glacier finally reveals itself, an impressive colossus of ice hidden at the far end of the fjord bearing its name. Sea lions and numerous birds may accompany you on this enchanting incursion into one of the finest glaciers in Chile.
Along the Chilean coast of Patagonia, in the Darwin Range between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas, lies Pia Fjord, one of the celebrated fjords of this southernmost stretch of the Andes. Until very recently, this ice field was unknown territory to humankind. You will be struck by the majesty and sheer scale of its glacier, descending from the mountains to the sea. Trees grow alongside ice tinged with blue and turquoise, forming a striking contrast. During a Zodiac® outing, you will have the chance to take in the atmosphere of this remarkable, wild and remote place.
27 November: Sailing around Cape Horn
It is at the meeting point of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans that you will enter Chilean Patagonia to approach the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and its famous Cape Horn. From atop its imposing 425-metre cliff, the southernmost point of South America has long watched cargo ships from around the world pass by. Due to its legendary storms and rough seas, rounding it remains one of the most mythical challenges for any navigator.
28 November: Ushuaia
Arrival in the early morning.
Disembarkation at 7:00am
Capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” (the end of the world) by Argentinians, this town at the edge of the world nestles among mountains and fertile plains that wildlife seems to have chosen as its final sanctuary. With its exceptional setting, where the Andes plunge into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on Earth, its evocative name suggesting a journey toward the improbable, the inaccessible...
Subject to weather and ice conditions, the itineraries and highlights described represent possible experiences and cannot be guaranteed.
