Cruises in SouthAmerica: 14 Days from Chile
around Cape Horn toArgentina
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There are two great capital cities in the Southern Cone of South America: Santiago, Chile
and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Both are located at approximately latitude 35 degrees
South, only 700 miles apart but separated by the towering Andes mountain range. Air
travel between them is an ‘up and down hop’ of only two hours duration, so spending
time exploring both cities and their surroundings is a viable vacation in its own right.
But instead of a quick hop over the snow-laden Andes, why not take a luxury cruise? You
can depart from Valparaíso (the port for Santiago) and arrive in Buenos Aires an
invigorating and memorable 14 days later. By adding a few days extra at each end, this is
a wonderful alternative to the standard South American trip. In between, your floating
resort will navigate the pristine mountainous channels of the Chilean Pacific coastline,
following the sea lanes of the early navigators such as Magellan and Drake as they
discovered the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific at the southernmost tip of the
continent. You will ‘Round Cape Horn’ within almost touching distance of Antarctica,
before making stops in Uruguay’s playground of Punta del Este and its capital,
Montevideo, and finally Buenos Aires.
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What You Will See
This cruise will introduce you to the natural beauty of Patagonia. It is a land of snowtipped volcanoes reflected in glorious lakes, raging rivers and lush vegetation such as
Volcano Osorno and Lago Todos los Santos near Puerto Montt. It is the National Park of
Torres del Paine near Puerto Natales in Southern Chile where the craggy peaks of the
Andes mountain chain loom large over this natural wonderland. It is Tierra del Fuego, an
unspoilt wilderness and nature-lovers’ paradise. It is Cape Horn, (Cabo del Hornos), a
mystical place of sea legends where two great oceans collide. Your cruise will immerse
you in a part of the world that is truly unique.
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Cruising Chilean Fjords.
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Expect to be surprised at the vastness and untouched beauty of the rugged and
mountainous Chilean Pacific coastline from Puerto Montt to the southernmost town of the
continent at Ushuaia. Expect to marvel during the ship’s approach to the town of Ushuaia
with its picture-perfect snow-peaked backdrop. Here you can feed your spirit of
adventure as you witness the small crafts preparing for their 400 mile crossing of the
treacherous Drake Passage to Antartica.
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Approach to Ushuaia Harbour
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But you came for Cape Horn. If you are like me who grew up with stories of the great
navigators and sailing around the Cape, then you will succumb to a sense of awe and
drama as you finally witness the part of the world where two oceans seem to collide; !
Cape Horn with Albatross Monument
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This is the tip of the South American continent where Patagonia is only separated from
Antartica by waters of the Drake Passage.
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Tip of the Continent
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After the dramatic scenery and build-up to your arrival at Cape Horn, the second half of
your 14 day cruise takes on a more ‘wind-down’ mood as the Atlantic coastline is flat and
temperatures rise again, tempting bathers onto the ship’s pool deck. Before arriving in
Buenos Aires there are stops in Punta del Este, the South American jet-setter’s
playground and Uruguay’s capital city, Montevideo, to look forward to.
Excursions
Excursions are plentiful at each of the ports of call and with careful planning you can
experience many elements of Patagonia’s magic. At Puerto Montt, a good option is a trip
to the aforementioned natural beauty of the Chilean lakes region. Your next stop at Punta
Arenas is the gateway to many tours to the Torres del Paine National Park, a dramatic
scenic wonderland of nature which warrants a much longer visit by itself. At Punta
Arenas, a favourite excursion is to Isla Magdalena, which is an island in the Straits of
Magellan totally dedicated to a colony of Magellanic Penguins. It is estimated that there
are over 60,000 pairs that make the island their breeding ground.
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Isla Magdalena-Penguin Colony
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Penguins are only found in the Southern Hemisphere and on the island we were able to
walk among them following roped off paths to prevent disturbing their procreative habits.
Isla Magdalena
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There are many other excursions which provide additional insight into the flora, fauna
and cultural life of Patagonia. For example, on the Atlantic coast of Argentina, the final
stop in Patagonia is at Puerto Madryn, a small town founded by Welsh colonists in 1865.
From here, a popular excursion is to the Valdez Peninsula, which is the only known
continental breeding place for elephant seals. The excursions from Punta del Este and
Montevideo provide unique opportunities to sample the history, culture and life of
Uruguay.
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Plaza Zabala in Montevideo
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Of course the cruise ends in Buenos Aires which is a vacation city in its own right.
Several excursions are available to sample what this cosmopolitan city has to offer.
Certainly this is another location that warrants some days at least to experience the
history and culture of this important South American capital.
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Tango in the San Telmo district of Buenos Aires
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In summary, the cruise provides a ‘sampler’ for the feast of nature that is Patagonia and in
addition an opportunity to experience the life in three important South American capital
cities. As always with cruises, the variety and breadth of your experience is dictated by
the available budget. Passengers can choose between starting the journey in Valparíso,
sailing from the Pacific ocean to the Atlantic and disembarking in Buenos Aires, or
starting in Buenos Aires and disembarking in Valparaíso. I chose to depart from
Valparaíso and on reflection I think it was a good choice, as the coast of Chile is
dramatically mountainous and the wonderful sunrises and sunsets as we passed through
the many fjords seemed to heighten the anticipation of arriving at Cape Horn. By
contrast, the Atlantic coast of Argentina is flat so the second week was more of a relaxing
time with excellent visits to Punta del Este and Montevideo in Uruguay, before arriving
in Buenos Aires. In the entire two week cruise, there are 6 or 7 full days at sea which is a
chance to relax, exercise to burn off the calories from the lunch buffet and recuperate a
little from the excursions. The abundance of pure fresh air and chilly temperatures calls
out for some relaxation too.
What You Should Bring
Bear in mind that you will be departing and arriving in warm temperatures but the Cape
region is cold, windy and maybe wet so you need to bring clothes appropriate to both
climatic conditions. A good idea is to bring layers for the windy and cold conditions that
you are likely to experience. Other ideas include:
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lots of sunscreen and sunglasses
camera with plenty of storage, if digital
electrical adapters if you have other than American standard
if you are addicted to the computer there is a computer room on-board but the internet
service was expensive and not very reliable. There was no free Wi-Fi on board.
suggested option is to access internet at Wi-Fi locations in the ports, such as an hotel
lobby, cafe etc.
good walking shoes/boots
weatherproof outer garments in case of showers etc during excursions.
ATM cards for withdrawing local currency in ports for miscellaneous purchases, and/or
credit cards for larger purchases. If you haven’t prepaid for tips you will be able to obtain
dollars on board.
small bag/knapsack/backpack for carrying miscellaneous items during excursions
your preferred seasickness pills just in case Cape Horn is too rough or you feel queasy on
small craft
light clothes for the early and later stages when temperatures are back to summer levels
swimming costumes for the hot jacuzzis and if you spoil yourself with spa treatments
workout clothes for the on-board gym which you will need to use to burn off the calories
from the perpetual buffet
a good appetite.
if you enjoy dressing formally then bring appropriate attire but there is no obligation to
do so
Things to See Nearby
If you leave from Valparaíso and have a few days available beforehand, there are several
options to consider. Think about taking time to explore the city of Valparaíso or visit
nearby Viña del Mar and take the coastal road to Con-Con for a delicious meal at one of
the many seafood restaurants along this rugged stretch of coast. There are also several
wineries within one hour of Valparaíso in the Casablanca Valley where lunch and a
winery visit can be arranged. Of course there is Santiago, with many places to visit;
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For some of the cruises, the price includes the night of arrival on-board the ship in
Buenos Aires. This is a great convenience as the ship will arrive very early in port so
there is one entire day to arrange a sightseeing trip around the city or any other excursion
available or just to walk the city at your own pace. !
You can chose to disembark and arrange your own short city tour, leaving time to revisit
areas of interest and enjoy a meal at your own leisure. You may then return to the ship for
the evening entertainment and enjoy a good night’s rest before disembarking the
following morning. If you are flying out of one of the two airports in Buenos Aires
transport can be arranged prior to disembarking. Otherwise, many taxis and tour
operators are located at the arrivals lounge should you wish to extend your stay.