Antarctica & Chilean Fjords Cruise: Buenos Aires, Ushuaia & Santiago

Welcome to elegant, cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, with its European colonial architecture and colorful mix of cultures. Each district has its own style: enjoy Palermo with its mansions and parks; shop in the chic boutiques of Soho and Hollywood; and soak up the Italian flavor of La Boca where tango dancers and artists display their talents for passersby. Then top it all off with an Argentine steak, perfectly grilled over a fire of glowing coals, and washed down with an excellent glass of Malbec.

Welcome to elegant, cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, with its European colonial architecture and colorful mix of cultures. Each district has its own style: enjoy Palermo with its mansions and parks; shop in the chic boutiques of Soho and Hollywood; and soak up the Italian flavor of La Boca where tango dancers and artists display their talents for passersby. Then top it all off with an Argentine steak, perfectly grilled over a fire of glowing coals, and washed down with an excellent glass of Malbec.

Montevideo exudes European charm and elegance, with broad boulevards, fountains, stately squares, and irresistible sidewalk cafes. The city maintains a low-key atmosphere despite its position as Uruguay’s commercial and political hub, and there are few skyscrapers on the horizon, though there are some surprising contrasts – an Art Nouveau pedestrian mall, Art Deco Centenary Stadium, and an American Embassy designed by I.M. Pei. Most of the nation’s countryside is farm or ranchland, and the life of the cowboy, or gaucho, is part of the local lore. Take a peak at the Gaucho Museum, or visit an estancia, and see them in action.

Known as the Saint-Tropez of Latin America Punta del Este is a favorite summer playground of the rich and famous of southernmost South America, with a pristine 20-mile shoreline offering two distinctly different types of beaches. Big waves beckon surfers at la Brava, while calmer waters create ideal conditions for sailing or just plain relaxing at La Mansa.

These remote, windswept islands with a human population of about 3000, support half a million sheep, and as many as a million penguins during the summer nesting season, making it one of the world’s great penguin capitals. Five of the 17 species are represented – Rockhoppers, Magellenic, King, Gentoo, and Macaroni – and observing their antics is a most pleasurable pursuit. Get a glimpse of the lives of the Falklands’ human residents as well, and learn what it means to inhabit this far off corner of the earth.

Surrounded on three sides by towering peaks, this former penal colony on banks of the Beagle Channel is spectacularly sited amidst waterfalls, glaciers, and beech forests, and marine life abounds offshore. This is the southern extreme of Tierra del Fuego, a national park with hiking trails and walking paths through thick forests, inhabited by native birds and beavers, where seals, sea lions, and sea birds can be found in abundance. The channel is named for HMS Beagle, which sailed these waters with a young Charles Darwin aboard. It was during that voyage that he began to formulate his theories of evolution.

Surrounded on three sides by towering peaks, this former penal colony on banks of the Beagle Channel is spectacularly sited amidst waterfalls, glaciers, and beech forests, and marine life abounds offshore. This is the southern extreme of Tierra del Fuego, a national park with hiking trails and walking paths through thick forests, inhabited by native birds and beavers, where seals, sea lions, and sea birds can be found in abundance. The channel is named for HMS Beagle, which sailed these waters with a young Charles Darwin aboard. It was during that voyage that he began to formulate his theories of evolution.

Perched on the western side of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas has long been a European trading point and is now the most commercially crucial city in Patagonian Chile. A relaxed, diverse city rich with vibrant pioneering history, this welcoming port is equally popular as a gateway for adventures to Antarctica.

South of Puerto Montt, surrounded by majestic fjords, Puerto Chacabuco looks more like Norway than Northwest Patagonia. The town’s history as an important fishing village still holds true today. And with a population of just 1,200, Azamara® guests can expect a truly immersive experience on shore. Plunging waterfalls. Fathomless gorges. Dramatic coastlines. Puerto Chacabuco is your gateway to some of Chile’s most stunning natural wonders. Don’t miss the Río Simpson National Preserve: a protected park that boasts all three; plus, some of the best fly fishing in the world. A visit to Aiken del Sur Private Park promises the same, with an enchanting opportunity to get back to nature at serene Lake Riesco.

Puerto Montt is an urban oasis surrounded by the breathtaking volcanoes, glacial lakes, and parks for which the Chilean Lake District is known. As the region’s commercial hub, Puerto Montt offers the perfect blend of shopping, sightseeing, and history that elevates any South American cruise itinerary. Start with a trip to the Angelmo Harbor Market to enjoy the ocean breeze and peruse stalls selling everything from freshly caught fish to rainbow-hued alpaca wool goods sure to keep you warm during those chilly days at sea. For a taste of local flavor, try cancato—a famous Chilean favorite dish made of fish, chorizo, tomato, and cheese. After your meal, take a boat across the Tenglo Channel to Tenglo Island, where you’ll be treated to fantastic views of Osorno—a snow-capped volcano known as one of the most active in all of the southern Chilean Andes.

One of the busiest ports on the western coast of South America, the port of San Antonio is the gateway to Chile’s energetic capital city of Santiago. Famous for its ski resorts and cobblestoned plazas, Santiago is Chile’s cultural and political center nestled at the foot of the Andes in the Maipo River Valley. With a temperate Mediterranean climate and rich volcanic earth, the area is also emerging as a leading wine-growing region.