CHILEAN FJORDS AND ANTARCTICA

SHIP OFFERING THIS ITINERARY

Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn Pursuit is designed and built for diverse environments to PC6 Polar Class standards and includes modern hardware and technology that will extend the ships’ global deployment and capabilities. It carries two custom-built submarines, 24 Zodiacs, kayaks, and a 24-person expert Expedition Team enabling guests to engage in up-close wildlife encounters, off-the-beaten path excursions, and enriching cultural experiences. A fully-inclusive “yacht” like experience, Seabourn Pursuit blends state-of-the art capability with world-class service and luxury. Seabourn Pursuit proudly entered service on August 12, 2023.

Day 1 Santiago, Chile

Day 2 At Sea

Use this time as you please. Relax by making the most of the on board facilities, or keep an eye out for birds and marine life as you sail.

Day 3 Reloncavi Sound and Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt sits beneath a skyline of snow-capped volcanoes. Volcan Osorno towering 2,652-meter above the town, erupted in 1835 and was described by naturalist Charles Darwin. A walk around town allows for an encounter into the South American way of life. A vibrant fish market, selling everything from seaweed to salmon to spiny crabs sits astride a street lined with craft stalls packed to the brim with brightly coloured woollen ponchos. South American fur seals lounge along the seawall promenade as colourful fishing boats lay at anchor offshore.

Reloncaví Sound is a panoramic vista of high volcanoes. To the south, is scenic Moraleda Channel and the entrance to the picturesque Chilean Fjords. To the east looms Mt. Yate, a snowcapped, glaciated stratovolcano, and beyond that the cordillera of the Andes.

Day 4 Moraleda Channel and Darwin Channel

The Moraleda Channel is a protected waterway running along the coast of Chile from the Gulf of Corcovado in the north to the Laguna San Rafael in the south. It separates the myriad mountainous islands of the Chonos Archipelago from the Chilean mainland.

The Darwin Channel cuts through the elongated, mountainous islands of the Chonos Archipelago in Southern Chile, connecting the Pacific Ocean on the west with the Moraleda Channel running along the Chilean mainland. These forested islands, mostly uninhabited, are actually the peaks of the submerged Chilean Coastal Range.

Days 5 Baker Channel, Caleta Tortel, English Narrows

The Baker Channel is a large, multi-armed fjord that cuts from Tarn Bay in the Gulf of Penas some 75 miles into the Chilean mainland. It lies roughly halfway between the Northern and Southern Patagonian Ice Fields, and its southern arm culminates at the face of the Jorge Montt Glacier, which flows from the Southern ice field and frequently calves icebergs into the channel.

The English Narrows is a natural, eight-mile obstacle consisting of a scattering of islands constricting the passage to a width of as little as 200 yards. The narrows transit is a good time to be on deck, to keep an eye out for birds such as diving petrels or steamer ducks, and possibly the small, rare dolphins that are sometimes seen in remote areas like this.

Day 6 Eyre Fjord, Pio XI Glacier, Wide Channel

Eyre Fjord penetrates the mainland of southern Chile from the Icy Channel about 20 miles to the broad face of the massive Pio XI glacier, also known as the Brüggen Glacier. It is the longest glacier in the Southern Hemisphere outside Antarctica, flowing some 40 miles from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field to the fjord. It is also one of the very few advancing glaciers on earth.

The Wide Channel is an inside passage along the coast of southern Chile. Surrounded by precipitous mountains, its shoreline on the mainland side is interrupted by two large fjords, the Europa and Penguin fjords. Join your expedition team members on deck or in an observation lounge for expert insights into the area.

Day 7 Peel Fjord, Brujo Glacier, Smyth Channel

Peel fjord divides into three separate fjords, called Amalia, Asia and Calvo Fjords. Amalia leads to Amalia Glacier, the El Brujo Glacier is in Asia Fjord, and Calvo boasts several small glaciers of its own. The Smyth Channel is another of the spectacular waterways threading the maze of islands off the coast of extreme southern Chile. At its northern end, it briefly parallels the Sarmiento Channel, then veers southward opening into the Strait of Magellan.

Days 8 – 9 Strait of Magellan and Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas is the most important port and commercial center for the immense Patagonian agricultural area of Chile. The economy revolves around the sheep raised on the expansive pampas. Located on the Strait of Magellan separating the mainland from the island of Tierra del Fuego, the city proclaims itself the southernmost city in the world. Its colonial history may be explored in the splendid Plaza de Armas, in the magnificent tombs of the Pioneer Cemetery and the opulent Braun-Menendez Mansion. The heritage of Ferdinand Magellan’s exploration can be recaptured at the Nao Victoria ship museum. Fort Bulnes national monument memorializes the earliest colonial period, while the offshore Los Pinguinos Natural Monument preserves the thriving seabird and sea lion colonies around Magdalena Island. This is also the port from which a full-day flight excursion takes visitors to the majestic peaks and picturesque lakes and wildlife of the Torres del Paine National Park.

Days 10 – 11 At Sea

As you approach Antarctica, spend your days at sea watching for wildlife from the observation decks aboard.

Days 12 – 16 Antarctic Peninsula

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

You will generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You’ll want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of the best spots along the peninsula.

Days 17 – 18 At Sea

As you sail towards Ushuaia, you may choose precious time editing photos, enjoying the onboard facilities, or attend final lectures. Celebrate the end of an unforgettable voyage with newfound friends.

Day 19 Disembark Ushuaia

During the early morning, you will cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia – which holds the distinctive title of being the southernmost city on Earth, often referred to as ‘the end of the world’ – where you will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers.