Passage to Patagonia & the Chilean Fjords
Discover the wonders of Patagonia and the Chilean Fjords aboard the MS Island Sky
- 12 March 2021
Those who have a passion for the wilder places on our planet usually have Patagonia on their must do list. Shaped by fire and ice, this rugged, yet hauntingly beautiful land of windswept pampas, hanging glaciers and cloud piercing peaks, remains today as enticing and fascinating as it did to Magellan, Drake and more latterly Darwin.
Chile is made for cruising. Its shape and geographic location is just perfect; thousands of miles of coastline that you can of course explore aboard one of the many huge cruise vessels calling at the major cities of South America, or alternatively join us aboard the MS Island Sky and enjoy the wonders of this magical country, some of which only small ships have access to.
Wildlife abounds here and the skies are filled with the cries of seabirds. Albatross’ and petrels’ wheel overhead and sea lions bark from their rocky outcrops. Helping us understand all the wonders we will encounter will be our experts and expedition staff who will accompany us ashore and our small ship will allow us to enter small inlets and explore fjords and stretches of magnificent coastline.
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Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Caledonian Sky and MS Hebridean Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world.
Itinerary
Day 1 London to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 Buenos Aires.
Arrive this morning and transfer to the Alvear Art Hotel (or similar) for a two night stay. Rooms will be available on arrival and the remainder of the day and evening are free to relax and explore independently.
Day 3 Buenos Aires.
During our guided morning tour we will visit the Plaza de Mayo, the Cathedral and the Cabildo (Old City Hall) before we continue towards the most traditional neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, San Telmo which is characterised by its old colonial houses and the cobblestoned streets. We will continue to the neighbourhood of La Boca to look around the colourful zinc houses which used to be the refuge and home for the first immigrants and popular artists. We will see the woods of Palermo with 741 acres of gardens and artificial ponds surrounded by elegant buildings. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure before we meet this evening for a tango show and dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.
After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Ushuaia. On arrival, transfer to the MS Island Sky and enjoy welcome drinks and dinner. Moor overnight.
Day 5 Ushuaia.
This morning we will have the opportunity to discover the Tierra del Fuego National Park, “Land of Fire”, so called by the early explorers as they saw the smoke rising from the small fires burning on the canoes of the indigenous Yaghan Indians. Return to the ship for lunch and this afternoon will be free to explore Ushuaia at leisure.
Day 6 Cape Horn.
We will make our way around Cape Horn, one of the best known maritime landmarks in the world. Magellan was the first European visitor here in 1530 and prior to the opening of the Panama Canal it was an important staging post. Weather permitting we hope to use our Zodiacs to land and enjoy a walk to the monument. This afternoon we return to the Beagle Channel. Here the mountains, still partly unmapped, drop as sheer, densely wooded cliffs into the channel and six glaciers flow from the 8000 foot Mount Darwin into the sea. Flamingos, dolphins and the South American sea lions abound here in the channel.
Days 7 to 14 Chilean Fjords, Punta Arenas & Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.
During the next eight days we will enjoy some of the most stunning scenery imaginable. This vast area of mountains, glaciers, islands, lakes and waterfalls is untouched by man except for a few fishing villages which perch at ‘the end of the world’. We will make good use of our time exploring the beautiful protected waters, enjoying the renowned fjords of southern Chile which rival those of southeast Alaska in their raw beauty and prolific wildlife. Crystal clear reflections of vertical walls and hanging glaciers are broken only by the ripples of dolphins and whales, whilst overhead, the sky is alive with seabirds. See how quickly you run out of suitable adjectives to describe all you are witnessing. Our route will be managed by our experienced Captain and Expedition Leader alongside the local pilots. From Punta Arenas we will travel to Magdalena Island to see the Magellan penguins that return each year to mate and live in large groups on the beach. This is now a protected area and the colony numbers are up to 10,000.
As we continue our journey we hope to navigate the Kirke Narrows, a remarkable channel leading between lush, forested shores, so narrow it can only be sailed at low tide. Dropping anchor at Puerto Natales, we enjoy a full day in South America’s largest national park, the Torres del Paine. This is one of the most spectacular places on earth, a vast uninhabited wilderness of glacierdraped mountains, windswept pampas, turquoise glacial lakes and verdant valleys. Look out for herds of guanacos (a smaller version of the llama), rheas, Patagonian hares, foxes and rich birdlife and see the stunning rock formations of the Horns of Paine. We will have days where we will enjoy stunning scenic cruising, as we make our way through the fjords, and we also hope to operate Zodiac excursions ashore in some of the remote fjords we pass on our journey.
Day 15 Chiloe Island.
Chile’s second largest island, Chiloe Island was one of the first Spanish strongholds in the Pacific Southern South America. Once the island had been conquered, it was hard for indigenous uprisings to reconquer and as a result it became a major link in the Spanish trade route around Cape Horn. The island was also visited by Darwin aboard the HMS Beagle in 1831. Our visit ashore on this mainly forested island will include Castro, one of the oldest towns in the Americas, known for its unique wooden architecture and stilted houses, see the wooden cathedral of St Francis and the historic old quarter.
Day 16 Puerto Montt.
Just when you thought you had seen the best Chile has to offer, we land at picturesque Puerto Montt, a resort town in the Lake District. Settled by German colonists in the mid-19th century, much of its early Middle- European styled architecture remains, rendering a slightly bizarre feel in such an obviously un- European setting. Leaving the ship we will head to the Vincente Perez Rosales National Park which is the oldest in Chile and contains three commanding volcanoes in Osorno, Calbuco and Puntiagudo. We will see the mighty Petrohue River and the rapids that crash through lava channels creating a series of magnificent waterfalls. We will return to the ship via Puerto Varas Torres del Paine National Park Petrohue River Buenos Aires situated in a stunning location on Lago Llanquihue with a backdrop of the Osorno volcano.
Day 17 Puerto Montt to Santiago.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Santiago. Upon arrival transfer to the Singular Hotel (or similar) for your overnight stay and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore independently.
Day 18 Santiago to London.
After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London.
Day 19 London.
Arrive this morning.
SHIP TO SHORE
This voyage is a combination of both expedition style cruising and small ship destination cruising. Whilst we will be alongside in some ports, on many days we will be at anchor and the vessel’s Zodiacs will be utilised to transport passengers ashore and, if time permits, for Zodiac cruising to explore the more remote regions we will be visiting. The use of the Zodiacs will be key to the operation of the itinerary as shown. If you have any queries pertaining to the use of Zodiacs or the level of fitness required for this voyage please do not hesitate to ask one of our experienced travel consultants.
Dates and Prices
12 to 30 March 2021 | ||
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Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Magellan Deck Standard Suites | £8995 | £8695 |
Columbus Deck Superior Suites | £9295 | £8995 |
Marco Polo Deck Premium Suites | £9695 | £9395 |
Marco Polo Deck Corner Suites | £9995 | £9695 |
Erikson Deck Deluxe Balcony Suites | £11295 | £10995 |
Explorer Deck Owner's Balcony Suite | £11695 | £11395 |
Explorer Deck Island Suite | £12995 | £12695 |
Magellan Deck Standard for sole occupancy | £11995 | £11695 |
Columbus Deck Superior for sole occupancy | £12395 | £12095 |
Tour Reference Code: SCISK120321
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • Two nights hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires and overnight accommodation in Santiago with breakfast • Half day Buenos Aires tour • Tango show & dinner in Buenos Aires • 13 nights aboard the MS Island Sky on a full board basis • Wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Shore excursions • Noble Caledonia onboard team • Transfers • Gratuities • Port taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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Deckplan
Island Sky
The MS Island Sky is one of our three flag ships and sister vessel to the MS Caledonian Sky and MS Hebridean Sky. All three vessels were built in the same ship yard in Italy at similar times and share the same excellent attributes that make them three of the finest small ships in the world.
Video Library
Tour Extensions
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Before joining your fellow travellers in Buenos Aires prior to the cruise, we are offering the opportunity to visit the Iguazu Falls, considered by many to be one of the most dramatic waterfalls in the world.
Iguazu Falls
The Itinerary
Day 1 London to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 Buenos Aires.
Arrive this morning and transfer to the Alvear Art Hotel (or similar) for an overnight stay. Rooms will be available on arrival and the remainder of the day and evening are free to relax and explore independently.
Day 3 Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls.
After breakfast in the hotel transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Iguazu Falls. On arrival transfer to our hotel the Loi Suites (or similar) for our two night stay and this afternoon enjoy a guided tour of the Brazilian side of the falls.
Day 4 Iguazu Falls.
Enjoy a full day at the Iguazu Falls on a series of guided walks seeing the upper and lower circuits and also the Triple frontier, the meeting point of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
Day 5 Iguazu Falls to Buenos Aires.
Return to the airport this morning for our scheduled flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival transfer to the Alvear Art Hotel (or similar) and join our fellow travellers (follow main itinerary from day 2).
Prices per person based on double occupancy
9 to 13 March 2021 Category Price Twin £1645 Single £2095 Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel between Buenos Aires & Iguazu Falls, overnight hotel accommodation in Buenos Aires and two nights hotel accommodation in Iguazu Falls at the Loi Suites with breakfast daily, lunch and dinner on days 3 & 4, guided tours at the Iguazu Falls, Noble Caledonia Tour Manager, transfers, gratuities, airport taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
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After disembarking the MS Island Sky travel across the Andes from Chile to Argentina through the majestic Three Lakes Crossing and explore Bariloche, beautifully situated on the steep, wooden shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi in the Argentinian Lake District.
Lake, Bariloche
The Itinerary
Day 1 Puerto Montt to Peulla, Chile.
After breakfast we disembark the MS Island Sky and travel by coach to Petrohue at the foot of the Osorno Volcano in the Perez Rosales National Park. Discover the impressive waterfalls before embarking a local boat to cross the emerald waters of Todos Los Santos Lake. On arrival at Peulla, later in the afternoon, we transfer to our Eco Lodge, Hotel Natura (or similar) for an overnight stay.
Day 2 Peulla to Bariloche.
Enjoy a full day, spectacular drive across the Andes including crossing two lakes by local boat, Lake Frias and Lake Nahuel Huapi, before reaching Bariloche in the Argentinian Lake District. Here we check in for our two night stay and dinner at Llao Hotel (or similar).
Day 3 Bariloche, Argentina.
After breakfast enjoy a scenic sightseeing tour or alternatively a hike with a typical outdoor lunch before spending an afternoon at leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Day 4 Bariloche to Buenos Aires.
Transfer to the airport for our internal scheduled flight to Buenos Aires. Overnight at the Sheraton Hotel (or similar). Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 5 Buenos Aires to London.
After breakfast transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.
Day 6 London.
Arrive today.
Prices per person based on double occupancy
28 March to 2 April 2021 Category Price Twin £1895 Single £2395 Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel between Bariloche and Buenos Aires, four nights accommodation with breakfast, dinner on days 1, 2 & 3, guided excursions, Noble Caledonia Tour Manager, transfers, gratuities, taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance.
NB. This extension involves considerable overland travel with a mixture of private and public buses as well as public ferries. Changeable mountain weather can be expected.
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Also of Interest
Guyana - Land of Many Waters
An exploration of Guyana’s incredible natural wonders, history & culture
Guyana Accommodation
Guyana Accommodation
Itinerary at a glance
- Georgetown / Surama / Iwokrama / Pakaraima Mountains / Aranaputa / Rupununi River / Karanambu / Kaieteur Falls / Baganara Island / Bartica / Georgetown
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