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Chile/Argentina

Glaciers, Fjords & Channels: A Voyage Around Cape Horn

Program No. 24891RJ
Voyage to “the end of the earth” and back on this journey around the southern tip of South America, with stops to explore Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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  • An aerial view of the Santiago, Chile skyline, with modern buildings and highways set against the Andes mountains at sunset.
  • Map of a cruise route around the southern tip of South America, showing stops in Chile and Argentina.
  • The snow-capped Osorno Volcano rises above the rushing Petrohué Falls over dark rocks in Chile.
  • A calm fjord in Chile/Argentina with green mountains and clouds reflected in the still water.
  • The red and white Skorpios II cruise ship floats near the massive San Rafael Glacier and a large iceberg in the waters of Chile.
  • An aerial view of the colorful rooftops of Punta Arenas, Chile, with a large ship in the harbor under an overcast sky.
  • A small coastal town in Argentina sits on the Beagle Channel, with jagged, snow-capped mountains rising in the distance under a cloudy sky.
  • A colony of Gentoo penguins walk along a white sand beach next to turquoise water in Chile/Argentina under a cloudy sky.
  • Two smiling women wave in front of the pink Casa Rosada presidential palace during a sunny walking tour in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • The pink Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is seen from a park with an Argentinian flag waving under a clear blue sky.
Ocean VoyagesAdventures Afloat Study CruiseNew
Length
19 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
5,399
Flights start at
1,200
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
19 days
18 nights
What's Included
47 meals ( 16B, 16L, 15D )
7 expert-led lectures
12 expert-led field trips
2 hands-on experiences
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
16 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Afternoon:
Depart the US for your flight to Santiago, Chile.
Activity Note
Hotel check in from 2 PM.
Afternoon:
5:30 PM We will gather in our private meeting room for Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All field trips and lectures will have a local expert but the group leader will be with the group all the time, unless otherwise informed. Transportation will be provided primarily by motor-coach, unless otherwise noted. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
Dinner at the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles on uneven terrain; standing up to 2 hours. Boarding the ship
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
Check out followed by an field trip to Chile's wine country. Start at the famed Santa Rita Winery in the Maipo Valley. A visit to the Santa Rita installations in Alto Jahuel constitutes a fascinating trip through Chilean history and viticulture. Santa Rita was founded in 1880, and was owned for many years by one of the country’s most famous poets. They pioneered the planting of Bordeaux varietals and now are considered one of the best wineries of the country. In the May 2007 issue of Wine Spectator their 2002 flagship Cabernet was rated 92 points.
Lunch:
Lunch at La Casa de Dona Paula Restaurant, currently a National Monument named after Ms. Paula Jaraquemada, the former manor owner of Santa Rita estate over 200 years ago.
Afternoon:
After lunch explore the Museum of the Andes (Museum Andino), which houses a stunning private collection of indigenous art and culture of Chile. We will continue to San Antonio Pier to embark ms Oosterdam
Dinner:
Aboard ship
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship
Morning:
We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture.
Lunch:
Aboard ship
Afternoon:
Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Tender port. For this excursion, participants are taken ashore on smaller boats Zodiaks. Participants with limited mobility may find it difficult to embark or disembark due to steep gangways and steps.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Head through lush countryside dotted with weathered clapboard barns and churches to charming Puerto Varas to arrive to Frutillar, a charming German-style village on Lake Llanquihue, America's third-largest natural lake. Visit the local museum for insight into the life of the German settlers who colonized the area.
Lunch:
Lunch at local home family style typical meal.
Afternoon:
Coach back to Puerto Montt on time to get back on board .
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off the ship's tenders,Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; Standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Join your study leader for a presentation on board the ship.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
The tiny town of Puerto Chacabuco, with just over 1,000 residents, sits at the head of the Aisén Fjord. Even residents will acknowledge that there isn’t much to see in the town itself, which only recently bothered to put up street signs; the largest building is a fish-processing plant. It won’t take much more than a quick stroll to explore the entire municipality. Though this modest port may be lacking in compelling attractions, it is the gateway to some of the most beautiful sights in this part of Chilean Patagonia. Departure from pier to Coyhaique. On the way, brief photo stop at the Cascade of the Virgin. Continue to Coyhaique by paved road, crossing the Andes Mountains from the coast to the East arriving in Coyhaique, located at about 450 m. high (1,476 feet). The road goes along the Simpson river during all the way by a narrow mountainous valley with varied and abundant birds. Short stop for about 10 minutes at the Alto Baguales viewpoint, where we will have a superb sight of Coyhaique city. Upon arrival in Coyhaique, explore the center of the city, and the Regional Museum of Patagonia. Although small, this museum features interesting exhibits with photos of early settlers. Afterwards, return to the pier.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Scenery Cruising. Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Spend the day at sea sailing the Chilean Fjords;Today we will be cruising the Chilean Fjords. Much like the Norwegian coastline, the west coast of Chile is sliced by dramatic inlets, or fjords, lined with rugged mountains and glacier-covered valleys. This spectacular stretch of coastline starts near the Reloncaví Estuary (roughly halfway down the long spine of Chile) and extends south to the very end of the continent, at Tierra del Fuego. It's a distance of some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) and is known for its beauty. We will gather with our lecturer for a Road Scholar exclusive lecture. Educational program of lectures or discussions by accompanying lecturer offered.
Lunch:
Aboard Ship
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Activity Note
Scenery Cruising. Full day at sea.Itinerary is subject to change due to wind, sea, & ice conditions.
Breakfast:
Aboard Ship
Morning:
One of the main channels in Patagonia, the Sarmiento Channel runs in a north-south direction, starting at the Guía Narrows and finishing at the southern edge of Victoria Pass, where it joins the Smyth Channel. The Kawesqar people have inhabited this region for more than 6,000 years, but the channel was named for a more recent arrival: the Spanish explorer Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, who first navigated it between 1579 and 1580. The Chilean mainland lies to the east, and the islands of Esperanza, Vancouver and Piazzi flank the channel to the west. As elsewhere in the Chilean fjord region, the ragged coastline is cut with inlets set among snow-covered mountain ranges. In many places, massive glaciers run down to the sea. Educational program of lectures or discussions by accompanying lecturer offered.
Lunch:
Aboard Ship
Dinner:
Aboard Ship
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Full day at sea
Breakfast:
Aboard ship
Lunch:
Aboard ship
Dinner:
Aboard ship
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles on uneven terrain; standing up to 2 hours. 100 mile total ride.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
The Estancia Olga Teresa was founded by French-Irish immigrants in the early 20th century -- sheep farmers in the middle of the vast Patagonian pampas. Today, the estancia (farm), situated only 50 miles north of Punta Arenas, opens its doors to a limited number of visitors to demonstrate the lifestyle of staunch farmers in this vast land. A panoramic drive brings you to the estancia on the slopes of the Palomares Mountain. Keep an eye out for the condors that make their home in caves on the upper part of the mountain. On arrival at the farm, a family or staff member will welcome you and be your host for the day. Your tour reveals the various activities that take place on the farm. The ovejeros, or Patagonian shepherds, demonstrate their skill by rounding up a group of sheep with their well-trained dogs, presenting excellent photo opportunities as they bring the flock to a stop in front of you. Step into the barn for a sheep-shearing demonstration. The experts make it look easy! Enjoy a barbecue lunch of tasty Patagonian lamb, which is grilled slowly for hours on poles around the fire and served with baked empanadas. Take a seat in the semi-covered shed and enjoy a glass of Chilean wine, or a soft drink. Please note: Travel time is two hours each way. It is essential that you wear warm, layered clothing in order to fully enjoy and participate in this shore excursion.
Lunch:
In the Farm
Afternoon:
Return to the ship
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; Standing up to 2 hours. The National Park will have uneven terrain.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
This morning, the ship will cruise Glacier Alley. Glacier Alley—or, as it’s more elegantly known, Avenue of the Glaciers—stretches along a good portion of the celebrated 240-kilometer-long (150-mile-long) Beagle Channel in the vast territory of Tierra del Fuego. We will follow the route that the famous HMS Beagle took with a young and then-unknown geologist and naturalist on board, Charles Darwin.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
We will board our motorcoach with our group leader to explore the town. Positioned at the southernmost tip of Argentina, this memorable port town is cradled between the pristine—and towering—Martial Mountains and accessed by the picturesque Beagle Channel (which was named for Darwin’s famed vessel). Ushuaia is the capital of the Tierra del Fuego region, which is best described as a spectacular collection of superlative natural wonders. It’s a veritable kaleidoscope of glittering glaciers, snowcapped mountains, dense forests, sparkling lakes and windswept plains spread across an archipelago of rugged islands. The town itself is a maze of streets lined with low-slung buildings that all seem to meet at its heart, the port. Founded in 1884, the far-flung spot welcomed missionaries, gold prospectors and naval officers before becoming known primarily as a penal colony
Dinner:
Late dinner on the Lido Deck.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Scenery Cruising. Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
It may be the most notorious ocean passage in the world, and for centuries it evoked dread in the hearts of sailors. But those who survived a trip around Cape Horn, where the Atlantic and Pacific slosh violently into each other, had bragging rights for life. Along this passage, the Tierra del Fuego, or "land of fire," where Chile and Argentina converge at the bottom of the world, got its name from early sailors who saw the fires of the people who lived here burning on shore. For some 8,000 years, until as recently as the end of the 19th century, this was the home of the Yaghan and other indigenous groups.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Gather with your travel companions and your Study leader for a lecture about "Falkland-Malvinas" Islands.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off the ship's tenders,Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; Standing up to 2 hours.
Breakfast:
Breakfast onboard.
Morning:
The world's southernmost capital, Stanley is located in the Falklands archipelago, which consists of two main islands, East and West Falkland, along with smaller islands nearby. Stanley is proud of its British heritage, evidenced everywhere from its red telephone boxes to its pubs. The Falklands were first claimed by the English in 1765; over the centuries the Crown has had to abandon, reclaim and defend these far-flung islands from invading nations—including an Argentine foray in 1982. During the early years of their colonization, the Falklands were used as a base for ships hunting sperm whales for oil, followed by those hunting seals for fur. Today in this remote British territory, fishing and tourism are what drive the economy. Walk the town with our Study Leader to learn how this unique town became so British and how is the daily life in this remote Archipelago.
Lunch:
Aboard ship
Afternoon:
Enjoy a free afternoon in Stanley or enjoy the activities and amenities onboard. The ship is scheduled to leave Stanley at 5:00 p.m.
Dinner:
Aboard ship
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Free time to enjoy the amenities and activities of your choice aboard ship.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Full day at sea.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship
Morning:
Continue sailing towards Montevideo; Educational program of lectures or discussions by accompanying lecturer offered.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Dinner:
Aboard Ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Participants with limited mobility may find it difficult to embark or disembark due to steep gangways and steps.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
Get an overview of Montevideo's monuments, parks and gardens. See the Old City, Constitution Square, Colonial Town Hall, Solis Theatre, and Independence Square at the center of which stands a monument dedicated to the national hero, Joservasio Artigas and his Mausoleum. Drive along the main commercial street, 18 de Julio Avenue, lined with shops, cafes and office buildings. Stop in front of the Congress Building: This immense building is the pride of Uruguay. It was constructed between 1908 and 1925 with local marble of 52 colors and 12 types of wood. Visit one of the oldest parks in the city which hosts the famous sculpture La Diligencia (The Stage Coach), Monument to the last Charridians. Then stop at Plaza Virgilio, with a monument dedicated to the Fallen Soldiers of the Navy.
Lunch:
Aboard ship.
Afternoon:
Afternoon at leisure to explore Montevideo at your own pace.
Dinner:
Aboard ship.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Disembarking the ship will involve walking down steep gangways and steps.Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles; Standing up to 1 hour. Motorchoach ride - 60 miles 1.5 hour ( one way) - Do not forget to refill your resusable water bottle.
Breakfast:
Aboard ship.
Morning:
After checking out and retrieving our luggage, we will disembark the ship. This morning discover life on an Estancia. Upon leaving the city start to experience the famous Pampas, land of the Gauchos, on the way to a traditional Estancia (Ranch). Join a Gaucho Party, which is a typical argentine BBQ and a show, with music, dances, carriage rides and a horseback riding demonstration. The Gaucho was the original inhabitant of the Argentine pampas (flatlands). His life was closely connected with the country traditions: feeding the cattle, taking care of the horses and playing melancholic songs on his guitar and his drinking his Yerba Mate.
Lunch:
Lunch at the Estancia featuring traditional Argentine BBQ.
Afternoon:
Depart the Estancia, Transfer to the Hotel where we will spend the last night in Buenos Aires. Check in at Hotel Intersur.
Dinner:
Dinner at your own to explore the local cuisine. your Group Leader will be happy to suggest some places.
Activity Note
Check out the hotel with luggage, Getting on/off a motorcoach with 4-5 steps up/down. Walking of about 2 miles on cobblestone streets; Standing up to 2 hours. A stair with rail at Tango Hall.
Breakfast:
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning:
Get acquainted with Buenos Aires via the city's major neighborhoods and attractions. Points of interest include the Main Square, Plaza de Mayo, surrounded by the Casa Rosada (Presidential Headquarters Office), the Cabildo (Colonial Town Hall) and the Cathedral. Drive through the charming streets of San Telmo and down the colorful roads of La Boca, famous for its multicolor tin houses. Later, go through elegant Barrio Norte on the way to the Recoleta Cemetery, an amazing aboveground cemetery lined with mausoleums and statues. Finally, visit Palermo and its magnificent mansions and parks.
Lunch:
At a tango hall.
Afternoon:
Learn to tango at a local tango hall. Born around 1880, the tango was the vulgar dance and music of the capital’s “arrabales” or lower class neighborhoods, blending gaucho verse with Spanish and Italian music. Carlos Gardel, the best representative of Tango music and singers, took it out from the brothels and tenements and into the salons of Buenos Aires. In the late 19th century the “Great Village of Buenos Aires” was becoming an immigrant city, where frustrated and melancholic Europeans displaced gaucho rustics, who retreated gradually to the ever more distant countryside. The children of those immigrants became the first generation of “porteños”, and the tango-song summarized the new urban style. Permeated with nostalgia over a disappearing way of life, the tango-show expressed the apprehensions and anxieties of individuals, ranging from mundane pastimes like horse racing and other popular diversions to more profound feelings towards the changing landscape of neighborhood and community, the figure of the mother, betrayal by women, and friendship or other important personal concerns.
Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Feb 20, 2026 - Mar 09, 2026
Mar 06, 2026 - Mar 23, 2026
Dec 02, 2026 - Dec 20, 2026
Feb 21, 2027 - Mar 11, 2027
Mar 07, 2027 - Mar 25, 2027
Feb 21 - Mar 11, 2027 Itinerary Differences: This date begins in Santiago and ends in Buenos Aires. Please see itinerary for details.