Ushuaia, the southern-most city in South America, lies open to the elements, surrounded by mountains with wide views across the sea towards Cape Horn. A haven for seafood lovers (heralded as the best place to have king crab!), the city acts as a jumping off point for numerous cruises to lands lesser travelled, including Antarctica and the Patagonian Fjords. 

Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to head to this far-flung location to board the Australis Cruise for a four night, truly once in a lifetime experience. The ship sails to Cape Horn before continuing past glaciers, icebergs and mountains whilst travelling through the Beagle Channel, the Strait of Magellan and on to Punta Arenas in Chile.

The cruises through the fjords operate from late September through to early April with each stage of the season offering something different. For those looking for a chance to see penguins on Magdelena Island, November through to March will give you the best chance. If you are looking for the best weather then December and January tend to be the best bet (however the weather this far south is incredibly changeable regardless of the time of year!). Travelling at the end of the season may make for less reliable weather and fewer penguins but will reward you with beautiful autumn colours.

The Australis cruise serves as an incredible way to link Argentina and Chile without taking extra flights and offering the opportunity to immerse yourself in a corner of the world seen by very few. When paired with a stay in or near to Torres Del Paine National Park you will have a truly unforgettable trip seeing the highlights of Patagonia on both sides of the border.

 

Ever fancied knowing what it feels like to stand at the end of the earth? Taking the Australis cruise will make you feel as far from civilisation as it is possible to feel.  I was incredibly lucky as the weather and tides played ball allowing us to disembark at Cape Horn, the southern-most tip of South America.  Here we met the lighthouse keeper and his family (along with the southern-most housecat in the world) who live in almost complete isolation on this incredibly exposed peninsula. From here we sailed through the Fjords with daily trips off the ship to visit multiple glaciers (who knew they could all be so different?!), hike to viewpoints and take in the history of the region.  

Every daytrip offered is very educational; the guides are all incredibly knowledgeable with each having their own specialist interests meaning you come away with a wide range of information. For each trip there is a briefing in which the guides explain the difficulty rating and provide options for those who would like something more or less challenging.

Back on the ship the experience is truly all inclusive. Breakfast is plentiful and three course meals are served for lunch and dinner along with wine and a selection of other drinks. The bar serves drinks throughout the afternoon and evening and you will be met after most excursions with hot chocolate and whisky to warm your cockles. 

The cabins are comfortable and spacious, and the communal areas provide multiple options for relaxing and catching up with other passengers between trips. My best advice, however, would be to spend as much of your time as you can manage on the top deck watching the world go past (don’t forget the binoculars!). The views are out of this world and constantly changing – every time you think ‘it can’t get better than this’, it does. If you’re lucky, you may even spot sea lions, dolphins, penguins and even whales in the waters alongside the ship. 

If you’re thinking: ‘this all sounds great but I’m not a cruise person’, think again! I would have said the same, but I loved every second of this trip. This cruise is suitable for anyone with a sense of adventure and a good level of mobility (able to climb stairs/climb in and out of zodiacs). By taking the plunge with this cruise you are affording yourself an amazing opportunity to experience part of the world that would otherwise be unreachable.

 

There aren’t enough superlatives in existence to express what a special experience this cruise is. Every single minute of the day is filled with something new and exciting that would undoubtedly be a highlight of any other trip. The scenery, the wildlife, the service and the crew are second to none. In this job I have been lucky enough to go on some incredible trips but this one stands out as the best I’ve ever been on; I can’t recommend it highly enough.

 

There’s no such thing as bad weather in Patagonia, just bad clothing. Go prepared with full waterproofs, waterproof boots and waterproof gloves and you’ll be able to make the most of every minute because believe me, you don’t want to miss a thing.

 

For more inspiration take a look at our Luxury Chile & Argentina tour, and our Patagonia Holidays pages.