Fjords & Glaciers of Southern Chile & Patagonia

Twice-founded and once the wealthiest city in Latin America, Buenos Aires seduces with the world-class acoustics of the Teatro Colón, the ritual theatre of a wood-fire asado at a San Telmo parrilla, and the cobblestoned milongas where tango was born and where it burns still. Cross the estuary to UNESCO-listed Colonia del Sacramento or head south toward the glaciers of Patagonia. As South America's premier cruise hub for Antarctic expeditions and round-the-continent voyages, the city is most inviting from November through March.

Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is a captivating blend of history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty, making it a unique port of call in Argentina. Must-do experiences include savoring local delicacies like centolla and exploring the breathtaking landscapes of nearby Los Glaciares National Park. The best time to visit is during the summer months of December to March, when the weather is mild, and the scenery is at its most stunning.

Cape Horn is South America's southernmost headland, where the Atlantic meets the Pacific in waters that claimed over ten thousand lives during the age of sail, and a solitary Chilean lighthouse keeper endures some of Earth's most extreme conditions. Attempt a landing November through March via Seabourn or Viking — weather permitting — for the albatross memorial walk and the visceral triumph of standing at the end of the Americas in howling Antarctic wind.

Pia Glacier is the crown jewel of Glacier Alley in southern Tierra del Fuego, where a succession of tidewater glaciers descend from the Darwin Ice Field into the Beagle Channel in one of the world's most concentrated displays of glacial power. Must-dos include Zodiac cruising beneath the 1.5-kilometre-wide glacier face, watching for calving ice and Andean condors, and sailing past the named glaciers of Glacier Alley. Expedition ships visit from October through April.

The Chilean Fjords are a 1,600-kilometer wilderness of glaciers, temperate rainforest, and channels along Patagonia's coast, where tidewater glaciers calve into jade-green waters and Magellanic penguins, condors, and dolphins thrive in one of Earth's last great frontiers. Must-dos include glacier viewing, wildlife observation from the deck, and transiting the Beagle Channel. December through February offers the longest days and mildest conditions in this notoriously unpredictable climate.

The Chilean Fjords are a 1,600-kilometer wilderness of glaciers, temperate rainforest, and channels along Patagonia's coast, where tidewater glaciers calve into jade-green waters and Magellanic penguins, condors, and dolphins thrive in one of Earth's last great frontiers. Must-dos include glacier viewing, wildlife observation from the deck, and transiting the Beagle Channel. December through February offers the longest days and mildest conditions in this notoriously unpredictable climate.

Aguila Glacier, Chile, delivers South America's irresistible combination of dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and extraordinary biodiversity. Essential experiences include exploring local markets, tasting the distinctive regional cuisine, and venturing into the surrounding natural environments. Best visited November through February, when the austral summer brings the longest days and mildest conditions. Cruise lines including Quark Expeditions feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Condor Glacier, Chile is a spectacular maritime passage celebrated for its dramatic natural scenery and wildlife encounters, featured on expedition itineraries by Scenic Ocean Cruises. Travelers should position themselves on open decks with quality binoculars for the best viewing experience, and take advantage of Zodiac excursions when conditions permit. The optimal season is December through February, when summer months bring the warmest temperatures and longest days.

The Tucker Islets are a wildlife-rich group of islands in Chile's Beagle Channel, home to thousands of breeding Magellanic penguins, imperial cormorant colonies, and South American sea lions against a backdrop of the snow-capped Darwin Range. Must-do experiences include Zodiac wildlife cruising, photographing penguin colonies at close range, and absorbing the severe beauty of the sub-Antarctic landscape. December through February offers peak wildlife activity and the longest daylight hours.

Punta Arenas is Chile's southernmost continental city and the historic gateway to the Strait of Magellan, Antarctica, and Tierra del Fuego. Visitors should not miss savouring fresh centolla king crab at a waterfront restaurant and taking a boat excursion to the Magellanic penguin colonies at Tucker Islets. The best time to visit is during the austral summer from November through March, when temperatures are mild, daylight stretches past ten in the evening, and expedition cruise schedules are at their peak.

Isla Pingüino, Argentina, delivers South America's irresistible combination of dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and extraordinary biodiversity. Essential experiences include exploring local markets, tasting the distinctive regional cuisine, and venturing into the surrounding natural environments. Best visited November through February, when the austral summer brings the longest days and mildest conditions. Cruise lines including Scenic Ocean Cruises feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Punta Pirámides Nature Reserve is the gateway to Argentina's Valdés Peninsula, where up to 2,000 southern right whales breed in the sheltered Golfo Nuevo alongside elephant seal colonies, Magellanic penguins, and beach-hunting orca. Must-dos include a whale-watching boat excursion from Puerto Pirámides, observing elephant seal colonies, and tasting slow-roasted Patagonian lamb. Visit September to October for peak whale activity.

Montevideo, Uruguay's gracious capital on the Río de la Plata, enchants with its Art Deco–lined Ciudad Vieja, the legendary Mercado del Puerto where asado and Tannat wine elevate lunch to ceremony, and a twenty-kilometer Rambla promenade perfect for unhurried afternoon strolls. Day trips to glamorous Punta del Este or UNESCO-listed Colonia del Sacramento round out the experience. The Southern Hemisphere summer — November through March — brings warm days and vibrant outdoor culture, making it the ideal season for a cruise port call.

Twice-founded and once the wealthiest city in Latin America, Buenos Aires seduces with the world-class acoustics of the Teatro Colón, the ritual theatre of a wood-fire asado at a San Telmo parrilla, and the cobblestoned milongas where tango was born and where it burns still. Cross the estuary to UNESCO-listed Colonia del Sacramento or head south toward the glaciers of Patagonia. As South America's premier cruise hub for Antarctic expeditions and round-the-continent voyages, the city is most inviting from November through March.