Acanela Expeditions

Trip Summary: Antarctica | 22 Days

Trip Dates:  Nov - Feb

Ship Size: 500 staterooms

Price From: Starting at $7200 per person

Dates & Prices:

All inclusive package including Interior Upgraded Cabin on Ms Zaandam Ship, all meals on ship, all port charges and fees, all ship taxes, all land taxes, all booking fees and ticketing fees, transfer Santiago airport to ship, transfer Buenos Aires to airport, educational lectures on the ship, and small group guided tours at all the following ports:

• Santiago, Chile
• Valparaiso, Chile
• Puerto Montt, Chile
• Castro Isla Chiloe, Chile
• Puerto Chacabuco, Chile
• Punta Arenas, Chile
• Ushuaia, Argentina
• Puerto Madryn, Argentina
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• Buenos Aires, Argentina

*International Airfare, Passport, and Visa Fees are not included.

Room Categories

Expedition Route:

This Acanela Expedition © is the perfect fusion between comfort & adventure. Embark on this small group exploration and have hands-on encounters with local peoples and cultures, while experiencing all the historical & culinary highlights along the way.

Contact Us: 1-323-657-3496

Call to speak with one of our agents about this trip, or email us at: expeditions@acanela.com

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Trip Highlights:

• Travel aboard the legendary Ms. Zaandam Ship through the beautiful landscapes of Chile, Antarctica, Argentina, and Uruguay... and even Brazil (optional extension)
• Participate in daily shore excursions exclusive for Acanela Travellers - such as walking on glaciers...
• Visit Earth's most remote continent and learn about the history, geology, and zoology of the regions
• Photography unique wildlife observations with both marine animals and birdlife and observe Penguins, Killer Whales, and Seals in their natural habitat 
• Dine on delicious cuisine and listen to onboard lectures
• Get gorgeous snapshots of glaciers under the brilliant Arctic skies with our expert photographers

Full Itinerary:

Day 0: Santiago (Valparaiso) Chile

Today we will arrive in Chile, having flown in from all across the globe.  A day is all it takes to fall in love with Valparaíso and Santiago.  Before we board our ship you will find great places to eat, stunning architecture, fascinating museums to visit and myriad things to do in these diverse and extraordinary cities. Color dominates the seaport city as brightly painted houses cling intrepidly to steep hillsides along labyrinthine streets that rise from the blue Pacific.  After we board our ship, we will have our first evening dining experience together as we orient ourselves with each other and the antarctic continent we are about to explore. Ms. Zaandam (D)

Day 1: At Sea

During our days at sea we will have the opportunity to listen to attend hands-on classes and listen to fascinating lectures about the history, geology, and zoology of the Antarctic Region. Peering off the balcony decks we will have the opportunity to take beautiful photos of the surrounding landscapes. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 2: Puerto Montt, Chile (8:00am - 5:00pm)

Puerto Montt, the capital of the Los Lagos region of Chile, is often called the gateway to the country’s glacial lakes, volcanic landscapes and surrounding national parks (Patagonia). From a stroll around Puerto Varas overlooking Lake Llanquihue, one of Chile’s largest lakes, to a meal in the fishing village of Angelmó of the practically still-snapping catch of the day, washed down with a traditional German-style white wine, Puerto Montt is a fascinating introduction to southern Chile and the people who make their home in one of the world's most photogenic landscapes. Ms. Zaandam (B,D)

Day 3: Castro, Isla Chiloe, Chile (8:00am - 5:00pm)

Castro is Chile’s third-oldest city and home to roughly 29,000 people. It is the transportation hub and tourism center of Chiloé, a 41-island archipelago which includes Isla Grande de Chiloé, the continent’s fifth-largest island and where Castro is found. Traces of the area’s past can be found in the historic churches—16 of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites—that dot the isle. Another form of arresting architecture exists in the palafitos, the region’s unique waterfront wooden homes that sit atop stilts. Ms. Zaandam (B,D)

Day 4: Puerto Chacabuco Chile (8:00am - 5:00pm)

Here in the heart of the Chilean archipelago, discover stunning scenery: dense rain forests, bright-blue lakes and snow-covered mountain peaks. Ms. Zaandam (B,D)

Day 5: Chilean Fjords

Fjords more spectacular than those in Norway or Alaska? See them here along the southern coastline of Chile . . .a 1,000-mile maze of virgin-forested islands, glistening glaciers and more fjords than in all of Scandinavia. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 6: Scenic cruising Amalia, Brujo Glacier, and Canal Sarmiento 

Be among the lucky few to spend a glorious day scenic cruising through Tierra del Fuego and the snow-capped peaks and ethereal blue glaciers of Canal Sarmiento. Cutting through Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, this majestic waterway is surrounded by other-worldly beauty. Enjoy breakfast or lunch on your private verandah and watch as Amalia Glacier comes into view and witness countless seabirds that make their home in this dramatic landscape. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 7: Punta Arenas, Chile (6:00am - 6:00pm); Strait of Magellan, Cockburn Channel, Beagle Channel

One of the stops along the Panama Canal Zone route, Puntarenas on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast is nicely positioned within easy day-trip distance of a number of that country's national parks. Activities include swimming in gushing waterfalls, sightseeing near active volcanoes, bird-watching in nature reserves, and horseback riding on Pacific beaches. Visitors to this extraordinary region also enjoy shopping for the handicrafts that local artists sell at their cooperatives, as well as sampling traditional Tico cuisine, especially gallo pinto—a combination of rice and beans eaten at any time of the day or night. A trip here serves as the perfect reminder that adventure often awaits just around the bend. Ms. Zaandam (B,D)

Day 8: Ushuaia, Argentina (2:00pm - 8:00pm)

Dramatic, fantastical, otherworldly—this is the end of the world, for real. Positioned at the southernmost tip of Argentina, this memorable port town is cradled between the pristine—and towering—Martial Mountains and accessed by the picturesque Beagle Channel (which was named for Darwin’s famed vessel). Ushuaia is the capital of the Tierra del Fuego region, which is best described as a spectacular collection of superlative natural wonders. It’s a veritable kaleidoscope of glittering glaciers, snowcapped mountains, dense forests, sparkling lakes and windswept plains spread across an archipelago of rugged islands. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 9: Glacier Alley, Cape Horn, and Drake Passage

Sail through some of the most magical seascapes on the planet as  tidewater glaciers unfold at the tip of South America. Cross off another top ten item from your wish list and journey through the rugged fjords to take in all nature has to offer up for all your senses. You may come across imposing sheer granite cliffs, cascading waterfalls, ancient floating ice, calving glaciers, whales, and more southern hemisphere surprises galore. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 10: At Sea

During our days at sea we will have the opportunity to listen to attend hands-on classes and listen to fascinating lectures about the history, geology, and zoology of the Antarctic Region. Peering off the balcony decks we will have the opportunity to take beautiful photos of the surrounding landscapes. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 11: The Palmer Archipelago (8:00am - 8:00am)

Also known as Antarctic Archipelago, Archipiélago Palmer, Antarktiske Arkipel or Palmer Inseln, is a group of islands off the northwestern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It extends from Tower Island in the north to Anvers Island in the south. It is separated by the Gerlache and Bismarck straits from the Antarctic Peninsula and Wilhelm Archipelago respectively. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 12: The Danco Coast

The Danco Coast is the finger of land that extends from the mainland of Antarctica towards South America.  Cruising along the western coast all day long the ship will navigate in and out of bays and channels and past scenic shores. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 13-14: The Antarctic Sound (8:00pm - 8:00pm); Hope Bay (Esperanza Station), Paulet & Elephant Islands (Scenic Cruising)

At Hope Bay the scarlet chalets of Esperanza, an Argentine military and scientific station, stand in stark contrast to the white ice. On Paulet Island as several million Adélie penguins nest on every available beach. And at Elephant Island, hear the riveting account of Shackelton s ill-fated expedition and the crew s heroic daily struggle to survive. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 15: At Sea

During our days at sea we will have the opportunity to listen to attend hands-on classes and listen to fascinating lectures about the history, geology, and zoology of the Antarctic Region. Peering off the balcony decks we will have the opportunity to take beautiful photos of the surrounding landscapes. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 16: Stanley Islands, Falkland Islands, Islas Malvinas (8:00am - 4:00pm)

Scotland under the Southern Cross: moorlands, pubs, red phone booths, sheep ranches, a "cuppa tea." Plus penguins of every type: gentoo, Magellanic, king. Ms. Zaandam (B,D)

Day 17: At Sea

During our days at sea we will have the opportunity to listen to attend hands-on classes and listen to fascinating lectures about the history, geology, and zoology of the Antarctic Region. Peering off the balcony decks we will have the opportunity to take beautiful photos of the surrounding landscapes. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 18: Puerto Madryn, Argentina (7:00am - 3:00pm)

Situated in rugged Argentine Patagonia, Puerto Madryn was founded by Welsh immigrants in 1865. Enjoy a famous Welsh "tea" in the village of Gaiman; journey back in time 300 million years at the Paleontology Museum of Egidio Feruglio in Trelew; and see colonies of sea elephants, sea lions and seals in their natural habitat at Punta Norte. Ms. Zaandam (B,D)

Day 19: At Sea

During our days at sea we will have the opportunity to listen to attend hands-on classes and listen to fascinating lectures about the history, geology, and zoology of the Antarctic Region. Peering off the balcony decks we will have the opportunity to take beautiful photos of the surrounding landscapes. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 20: Montevideo, Uruguay (9:00am - 6:00pm)

Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo has a surprising mix of neighborhoods. The Ciudad Vieja, with its grid of streets on a peninsula separating the Río de la Plata from the harbor, is the colonial heart. Long neglected, it has recently undergone a renaissance—restaurants, bars and clubs are opening in historic buildings that have been meticulously restored. Montevideo’s downtown is a treasure trove of Art Deco buildings, while the newer eastern suburbs may evoke Miami for visitors. Gleaming skyscrapers and open-air cafés overlook beaches that run for miles.Of all the cities of Latin America, perhaps none are as approachable as Montevideo. Ms. Zaandam (B,D)

Day 21: Buenos Aires Argentina (8:00am)

In the early 20th century, Buenos Aires, Argentina, gained immense wealth when it began shipping its pampas-raised beef around the world. Any list of things to do in Buenos Aires would begin with its many walkable neighborhoods; Palermo especially stands out, thanks to creative residents who have pushed the restaurant scene well beyond beef.Porteños—as the locals are called—may be of Spanish, Italian, Jewish or Middle Eastern descent; that mix of cultures is reflected in the city's dialect, foods and pastimes. Looking beyond the city's sights, Buenos Aires is known as the birthplace of tango, and while the music and dance never quite went away, today tango is making a resurgence. Fans come here from around the world to take part in or watch the milongas (dance events). Argentines are world leaders in polo as well, and as the sport captures the interest of more and more travelers, hunky players like Nacho are gaining global celebrity. Ms. Zaandam (B,L,D)

Day 22: Buenos Aires Argentina (6:00am)

Disembark Ship.

Extension Packages:

3-day Pre-Extension in Santiago, Chile: + $1400

Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes and the Chilean Coast Range. Plaza de Armas, the grand heart of the city’s old colonial core, is home to 2 neoclassical landmarks: the 1808 Palacio de la Real Audiencia, housing the National History Museum, and the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral. La Chascona is the home-turned-museum of poet Pablo Neruda. Plazas, parks, and fountains share space with street performers, urban photographers, and historical buildings in downtown Santiago. Underneath it all, an ultramodern metro system whisks residents to and from work and play. 

3-day Post-Extension to Iguassu Falls, Brazil: +$2200

Visiting the countries of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil will give you the opportunity to see the falls from all sides & will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in incredible sights such as Devil's Throat, the areas largest waterfall.  Visit Puerto Iguzu to experience Igucu National Park and Iguazu National Park - two of the most famous parks at the base of the falls, as well as many other locations within the surrounding areas (be prepared for amazing speedboat rides, jungle safaris, and delicious cuisine).