Ushuaia to Punta Arenas glacier cruise: small-ship expedition

Five days navigating the channels and fjords where glaciers meet the sea

This 5-day glacier cruise departs Ushuaia and sails through the Beagle Channel, Strait of Magellan and remote fjords to Punta Arenas, with a maximum of 15 passengers aboard the Stella Australis. You board at Ushuaia Tourist Port at 6 pm, spend four nights in a cabin on the ship, and disembark at Punta Arenas around 11:30 am on day five. Shore excursions include hikes to Pia Glacier and Garibaldi Glacier, a walk through Wulaia Bay where Darwin landed, a visit to Cape Horn National Park, and a stop at Magdalena Island to see Magellan penguins or, in April, a Zodiac ride to Marta Island for sea lions. The itinerary depends on weather; some landings may not be possible, and the arrival time is estimated.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Boarding and Departure from Ushuaia

• Board Stella Australis at Ushuaia Port
• Enjoy welcome cocktail with Captain
• Depart sailing through Strait of Magellan
• Navigate Beagle Channel

Day 2 — Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay Visit

• Breakfast on board
• Sail through Murray and Nassau Channels
• Disembark at Cape Horn National Park (weather permitting)
• Afternoon walk at Wulaia Bay
• Explore Magellan forest and viewpoint

Day 3 — Pia and Garibaldi Glaciers Exploration

• Sail through Gabriel, Magdalena, and Cockburn Channels
• Board Zodiacs to Pia Glacier shore excursion
• Hike to Pia Glacier panoramic view
• Anchor near Garibaldi Glacier
• Hike through Magellanic forest to glacial waterfall
• Enjoy glacier views from ship deck (optional)

Day 4 — Condor and Aguila Glaciers Visit

• Breakfast on board
• Sail through Brecknock, Ocasión, Cockburn, and Magdalena Channels
• Observe glaciers in De Agostini Sound
• Board Zodiacs to Aguila Glacier
• Easy walk to base of Aguila Glacier
• Return to Stella Australis

Day 5 — Magdalena Island and Disembarkation

• Breakfast on board
• Shore visit to Magdalena Island (weather permitting)
• Observe Magellan Penguins and lighthouse
• In April, Zodiac ride to Marta Island for sea lions
• Disembark at Punta Arenas around 11:30 am

The Experience

The Stella Australis boards at Ushuaia Tourist Port at 6 pm, and after a welcome cocktail from the Captain, the ship departs into the Beagle Channel and Strait of Magellan. Over the next four days you navigate some of the world's narrowest channels—Gabriel, Magdalena, Cockburn—rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula and sailing past mountains that drop straight into the sea. The ship carries a maximum of 15 travelers, which means the cabins are small but the experience is intimate; you're not one of hundreds on a floating resort.

The landings depend on weather, but the itinerary is built around five major stops. Cape Horn, a 425-meter rocky promontory designated a World Biosphere Reserve, is the first major objective—a place that held navigational significance for centuries as the passage between the Pacific and Atlantic. From there you move into Pia Fjord to hike to Pia Glacier, which descends from the mountaintops to the sea; the walk is short and accessible, or you can take a longer, steeper route up the lateral moraine if you want more distance. Garibaldi Glacier comes next, one of only three in Patagonia that is gaining mass rather than shrinking. The hike here is demanding—very steep, rough footing, negligible trail—and leads through virgin Magellanic forest to a glacial waterfall and viewpoints over the fjord; if the walk is too much, you stay aboard and watch the glacier from the upper decks. Condor and Aguila glaciers follow, with an easy walk to Aguila's base through the cold rainforest. On the final morning, weather permitting, you go ashore on Magdalena Island in the Strait of Magellan to see a colony of Magellan penguins and walk to the lighthouse; in April this shifts to a Zodiac ride to Marta Island for sea lions instead.

The ship includes four nights' accommodation in your choice of Standard or Superior cabin, an open bar, all meals, a professional guide in English or Spanish, snacks, and shore excursions. Trekking or hiking shoes are required for all passengers. Landing fees and national park fees are not included and apply on top of the ticket price. The vessel may be delayed due to weather, and this tour is not suitable for cruise passengers arriving by ship—it is a separate expedition. A minimum of two people per booking is required, and children between 4 and 12 get a 50% discount if sharing a cabin with an adult; infants under 3 travel free.

What’s included

• Four nights' accommodation in your choice of Standard or Superior cabin.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• all meals and snacks.
• unlimited drinks at the open bar.
• shore excursions to Cape Horn, Wulaia Bay, Pia Glacier, Garibaldi Glacier, Condor Glacier, Aguila Glacier, and Magdalena Island or Marta Island.
• and onboard entertainment.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Tangol

Is this one for you?Navigate remote fjords and reach glacier landings that larger ships cannot access, with just 15 travelers sharing the Zodiacs and hiking trails.

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Top questions

What is the Beagle Channel and why does this cruise sail through it?

The Beagle Channel is a narrow waterway separating Tierra del Fuego from smaller islands to the south, running east to west through some of Patagonia's most remote fjords and glacier-fed valleys. The Stella Australis navigates it as the main route to reach Cape Horn and the western glaciers—Pia, Garibaldi, Condor and Aguila—which are accessible only by water and are the centerpiece of the expedition.

How difficult are the glacier hikes, and what if I don't want to hike?

The walks vary. Pia Glacier has a short, easy hike to a panoramic viewpoint, or a longer steep option up the moraine. Garibaldi's hike is demanding—very steep with rough footing and negligible trail—but if you choose not to go, the ship positions itself so you can watch the glacier from the upper decks. Aguila Glacier has an easy walk to the base. Trekking or hiking shoes are required for all passengers, even those staying aboard.

When does the ship arrive in Punta Arenas, and how long is the journey?

The Stella Australis disembarks around 11:30 am on day five at Punta Arenas. The full journey from Ushuaia takes five days and four nights, with boarding at 6 pm on day one and departure around 11:30 am on day five, so plan your onward travel accordingly.

Will I definitely see Cape Horn and the glaciers?

Cape Horn and the glacier landings depend on weather conditions. The vessel may be delayed or unable to land due to climate, and the company accepts no responsibility for these delays. The itinerary is designed to visit all five major stops, but weather is the deciding factor in Patagonia.

What is included in the cruise price, and what costs extra?

The cruise includes four nights' accommodation, all meals, an open bar, a professional guide, shore excursions, and onboard entertainment. Landing fees, national park fees, gratuities, and any optional activities are not included and are paid separately. Port tax and migration fees also apply on top of the ticket price.

Can I bring my children, and is there a minimum age?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Infants between 0 and 3 years old travel free (100% discount) and share a bed with their parents. Children between 4 and 12 get a 50% discount and must share a cabin with an adult. A minimum of two people per booking is required, so a single adult cannot book alone.