Expedition Chilean fjords

Valparaíso is Chile's UNESCO-listed port city of 42 painted hills, Victorian funicular railways, and one of the world's most spectacular street art scenes, where Pablo Neruda built his hill-top home La Sebastiana. Must-dos include riding the historic ascensores, touring Neruda's house, and feasting on Humboldt Current seafood. October through March offers the warmest, driest weather.

Puerto Montt is the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, where the Pan-American Highway ends and a landscape of volcanoes, fjords, and the UNESCO-listed wooden churches of Chiloé island begins. Visit October through March via Seabourn or Viking for Osorno Volcano reflections, king crab at the Angelmó market, and the Lake District's Germanic towns that serve classical concerts with volcano-and-lake views.

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 Norwegian fjords are glacier-carved waterways of staggering vertical drama, where waterfalls plunge from snow-capped peaks into mirror-still waters of extraordinary depth. Must-dos include cruising the narrow, UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjorden, riding the Flåm Railway down to Sognefjorden, and hiking to Trolltunga or Preikestolen for vertiginous cliff-edge views. Visit June to July for midnight sun and the warmest weather.

Caleta Tortel is a unique Patagonian village built entirely on wooden boardwalks winding through cypress forest at the confluence of Chile's Baker and Pascua rivers, with no streets or roads within the settlement. Must-dos include walking the eight-kilometre boardwalk network, boat excursions to the Jorge Montt Glacier, and sampling fresh king crab pulled from the fjord. Visit November through March for the driest conditions and longest days along the Carretera Austral.

Puerto Eden is an extraordinarily isolated Chilean fishing village of 200 residents on Wellington Island in the Patagonian channels, home to the last survivors of the ancient Kawesqar canoe-nomad culture. Must-dos include walking the village boardwalk, learning about Kawesqar heritage, and absorbing the dramatic fjord landscape of glaciers, rainforest, and channels. Visit December through March for the mildest conditions and longest daylight, though waterproof gear is essential year-round.

Pio XI Glacier, Chile is a spectacular maritime passage celebrated for its dramatic natural scenery and wildlife encounters, featured on expedition itineraries by Seabourn. 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 November through March, when mild temperatures and long days favor unhurried exploration.

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.

Puerto Natales, 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 Lindblad 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.

Kirke Narrows is a dramatic tidal passage in Southeast Alaska's Alexander Archipelago, where powerful currents funnel through a cliff-lined channel barely 100 meters wide amid the Tongass temperate rainforest. Must-dos include positioning yourself on deck for the narrow transit, watching for bald eagles and brown bears along the forested shoreline, and scanning for humpback whales at the channel's approaches. Best viewed May through September during longer daylight hours, with transit timing determined by tidal conditions.

Ella is a serene hill-country village in Sri Lanka's tea-covered central highlands, famous for the spectacular Colombo-to-Badulla railway, the iconic Nine Arch Bridge, and panoramic hiking trails. Must-dos include riding the highland train, touring a tea factory, and hiking Little Adam's Peak for 360-degree mountain views. January through March and July through September offer the clearest weather between monsoon seasons.

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.

Garibaldi Glacier in Chile's Tierra del Fuego descends into a pristine fjord of subantarctic beech forest, calving icebergs, and Andean condors — one of Patagonia's most spectacular and remote glacial landscapes within the vast Alberto de Agostini National Park. Must-dos include Zodiac cruising to the glacier face, watching calving events, and spotting Magellanic woodpeckers in the ancient beech forest. November through March provides the mildest temperatures and longest days for this wilderness experience.

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.