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Australis Itineraries

Itinerary September 2008 - April 2009

Punta Arenas - Ushuaia (4 nights)

M/V MARE AUSTRALIS
Departure from Punta Arenas: Saturday/ Arrival at Ushuaia: Wednesday

M/V VIA AUSTRALIS
Departure from Punta Arenas: Tuesday / Arrival at Ushuaia: Saturday

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. 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 at Ushuaia, Argentina's most important city on Tierra del 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.

Ushuaia - Punta Arenas (3 nights)

M/V MARE AUSTRALIS
Departure from Ushuaia: Wednesday / Arrival at Punta Arenas: Saturday

M/V VIA AUSTRALIS
Departure from Ushuaia: Saturday / Arrival at Punta Arenas: Tuesday

DAY 1: Ushuaia
Check in at San Martín 245, Ushuaia, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cruise-ship boarding from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 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 Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan to explore one of the most captivating wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. We have just embarked on a Great Adventure!

DAY 2: 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. 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 3: Gunther Plüschow Glacier
In the afternoon, we view awe-inspiring Gunther Plüschow Glacier, named after the region's pioneering German aviator. Then we sail to Chico Sound, where we disembark in Zodiacs to observe majestic Piloto and Nena glaciers from the sea.

DAY 4: Magdalena Island - Punta Arenas
Early in the morning, we go ashore on Magdalena Island, the home of an immense colony of more than 120,000 Magellanic Penguins that we can watch during our walk to a lighthouse, which guides ships on their way through the Strait of Magellan.
The island's penguins migrate in April; as a replacement we visit Marta Island, to observe a sea lion colony.
After our visit, we sail to Punta Arenas, disembarking at 11:30 a.m.

NOTE: The excursions/day trips described in the itineraries can normally be, and are frequently, carried out. Without prejudice to the aforesaid, Transportes Marítimos Terra Australis S.A. y Transportes Marítimos Via Australis S.A. reserve the right to reschedule shorten or alter all or part of itineraries and/or excursions without previous notice, in order to safeguard the well being and safety of passengers, preserve the environment or due to the extraordinary circumstances, acts of god or force majeure. In view of the same reasons, the hours of departure or arrival of the vessels may be subject to change.

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