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Exploring the Chilean Fjords

Exploring the Chilean Fjords

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Description

Winding channels, snow-covered mountains, majestic glaciers and narrow passages: welcome to the magic of the Chilean fjords. PONANT is inviting you aboard Le Lyrial for an 14-day expedition cruise to the heart of South America’s extraordinary landscapes.

You will set sail from the fascinating city of Ushuaia, which the Argentinians call El fin del mundo (the end of the world).

Your ship will then head North to Tortel and its charming stilt houses interconnected by a labyrinth of wooden footbridges.

You will also discover several glaciers (for example Pie XI and El Brujo) before the unforgettable experience of sailing along the Strait of Magellan and in the Ainsworth Bay. Pursue your journey through the fjords and glaciers of Patagonia in a unique atmosphere that will delight photography enthusiasts.

You will glimpse the majestic Aguila, Agostini and Garibaldi glaciers and then sail around the mythical Cape Horn, south of the Big Island of Tierra del Fuego.

You will be captivated at Puerto Montt by the incomparable beauty of the landscapes in this capital of the Lake District, before heading back to Ushuaia, the final destination on your trip.

Trip Name
Exploring the Chilean Fjords
Days
15
Overview
Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 224 Launched: 2015 A sleek silhouette, a welcoming intimate atmosphere, discover aboard this new ship the philosophy that has made our sisterships such a success: the spirit of Yacht Cruises. Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 122 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, will join our fleet in April 2015. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the our destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation. The result is a subtle variation around a palette of blues, ranging from the  luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in  Mediterranean coves A refined ambiance is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat’s hull, while the central sculpture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonymous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 USHUAIA
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
Day 2 - Day 2 AT SEA
During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.
Day 3 - Day 3 TORTEL
A picturesque, colourful fishing village, Tortel boasts a splendid location in the heart of southern Patagonia, halfway between Puerto Montt and Cape Horn. From the little streets made up of small walkways, you’ll love the grand panorama of rounded mountains, dense forest, the clear waters of the Pacific. If you walk out onto one the many wooden pontoons, you can admire the views as you stand suspended a few metres above the water. The village is scattered with sculptures made by local artists, an excellent introduction to this friendly community
Day 4 - Day 4 ENGLISH PASSAGE & PIE XI GLACIER
Between green hills rising from the water and snow-capped peaks, the English Passage is one of the main Patagonian channels. Situated off the south-western coast of Chile, at the end of the Messier Channel, this narrow waterway with a width of just 180 metres offers a unique sailing experience due to its exceptional dimensions and its magnificent natural setting.The Brüggen Glacier, a coastal glacier in southern Chile also known as Pio XI, is astonishing for its almost surreal dimensions. With a surface area exceeding 1,200 km2, it is the largest of the glaciers making up the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This gigantic ice field is the third largest ice mass in the world. Straddling the southern Andes Mountains, its breathtaking natural setting inspires sheer wonder and awe.
Day 5 - Day 5 EL BRUJO GLACIER & SKUA GLACIER (SAILING)
At the heart of Bernardo O’Higgings National Park, the largest protected area in Chile, discover El Brujo Glacier. Located at the end of the Asia Fjord, this huge wall of ice sculpted by the wind is fascinating and impressive. This magical, natural and grandiose décor that changes as the light plays upon it will be an unforgettable sight.In the heart of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, where the National Parks of Bernardo O’Higgins, Torres del Paine and Las Glaciares meet, discover the Skua Glacier, also known as the Amalia Glacier. Nested on the Andes, this three-kilometre-wide tidewater glacier will offer you sumptuous landscapes in infinite shades of blue: a magical show during which the impressive cracking of the ice can be heard at times.
Day 6 - Day 6 ESTERO LAS MONTANAS
Also called Fjord of the Mountains or Channel of the Mountains, the Estero Las Montañas fjord offers enchanting landscapes. Situated in large part in the Alacalufes National Reserve, this former glacial valley now flooded with water seems to stretch on for ever inland. Surrounded by tall mountains with lush slopes and edged with numerous glaciers tinged in various shades of blue, it will be a highlight of your cruise.
Day 7 - Day 7 SAILING IN THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN
This mythical strait situated in the south of Chile and separating South America from Tierra del Fuego, awakens our imagination, stirring up a longing for adventure. For the first time, follow in the footsteps of the famous Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, known for having organised the first circumnavigation of the globe in the 16th century. Aboard your ship, cruise along the 600 km separating the Atlantic Ocean from the Pacific and, before arriving in Ushuaia, discover the sea route which was long nicknamed “Strait of All Saints” because Magellan’s ships first entered it on All Saints’ Day. A fascinating adventure.
Day 8 - Day 8 AINSWORTH BAY
In Ainsworth Bay, in Alberto de Agostini National Park, you will be able to admire one of the most impressive panoramas in Patagonia. Dominated by the Cordillera Darwin Icefield, and notably the Marinelli Glacier, whose walls of ice reach 40 metres in height, this particularly wild and remote place is one of the longest fjords in the region. The subpolar old-growth forests that run along the water are home to numerous natural wonders such as magnificent peat bogs, vertiginous waterfalls and small brooks. This place is also home to exceptional wildlife including elephant seals, Magellanic penguins and numerous bird species.
Day 9 - Day 9 AGUILA GLACIER & AGOSTINI GLACIER
Deep inside the Agostini fjord looms the Aguila glacier. This immense expanse of ice is to be found in the heart of the Cordillera Darwin, a Chilean mountain range, within the Tierra del Fuego region. To reach it, admire the dazzling setting of the snow-capped mountains, separated by the canals of the Patagonia rainforest.In the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the Agostini Glacier sits at the back of the eponymous fjord, framed by the Cordillera Darwin. Named after the Italian missionary and explorer Alberto Maria De Agostini, this imposing blue-tinged glacier offers a stunning view over the fjord.
Day 10 - Day 10 GARIBALDI GLACIER
Cruise along the narrow arm of Garibaldi Fjord and marvel at its stunning landscapes: thick green vegetation adorns steep mountains, rivalling the beauty of surrounding ice and snow. Further on, Garibaldi Glacier unveils itself: a towering ice titan looming at the end of the fjord that shares its name. Don't be surprised if sea lions and numerous birds accompany you on your enchanting journey into the heart of one of Chile's most beautiful glaciers.
Day 11 - Day 11 SAILING AROUND CAPE HORN
It’s at the meeting point between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that you enter Chilean Patagonia where you head for the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and its famous Cape Horn. From the top of its impressive 425-metre high cliff, South America’s southernmost tip has, for many centuries, seen merchant ships from the world over passing by. Because of its legendary storms and rough seas, getting round this cape has gone down in history as a challenge for all seafarers.
Day 12 - Day 12 PUERTO WILLIAMS
Located on Navarino Island a few kilometres from the Argentinian border, the city of Puerto Williams is, according to Chileans, the southernmost city in the world. It is first and foremost, a charming fishing port whose calm and isolation will delight you. You can stroll around a few little streets and admire the dark silhouette of the Patagonian Andes, surmounted by eternally white peaks. The Martin Gusinde museum of anthropology gives an aperçu of the living conditions of the ancient indigenous people, the Yámanas, while the surrounding areas propose hiking paths across wild, unspoiled nature.
Day 13 - Day 13 USHUAIA
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…
Day 14 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
    • Observing glaciers, channels and fjords, and navigating along narrow passages.
    • If weather conditions allow it, disembarking at Cape Horn and discovering its albatross sculpture created by the Chilean artist José Balcells Eyquem.
    • The stop in Tortel, a picturesque village with wooden pontoons and footbridges, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    • Sailing along the Strait of Magellan.
    • Depending on opportunities, observing Magellanic penguins, guanacos, caracaras, dolphins, humpback whales, fur seals, sea lions, alpacas, condors and cormorants.
    • Landscapes: fjords dominated by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, iridescent glaciers, and mountain lakes with crystal-clear water.

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