SHORE EXCURSIONS CREDIT

Soaring mountains, islands and a historic lighthouse are the perfect backdrop for a scenic wildlife cruise on this southernmost tip of South America. Your narrated trip takes you into the Beagle Channel, past Bird Island, where many species of birds gather, including a colony of cormorants. Cruise around Sea Wolves Island, a rocky outcrop that is home to seals and sea lions. The catamaran cruises close to the shore, offering you some great photo opportunities.

The land portion of this tour takes you through Tierra del Fuego National Park. From the rugged peaks, pristine lakes and ancient forests of the Andes to the glacier-draped shores of the famed Beagle Channel, the world's southernmost national park offers picture postcard scenes. Photo stops are made along the way, including one at the milestone marker for the End of the World (fin del mundo).

Begin with a scenic drive to Central Station for an unforgettable trip on the Tierra del Fuego Southern Railway, Train to the End of the World. This railway uses the original narrow-gauge line that was part of the small train for prisoners that ran until 1947.

Upon arrival at the Park Station, board your coach for a drive through Tierra del Fuego National Park to Lapataia Bay, marking the end of the road which is 2,010 miles from Buenos Aires. Here, a catamaran awaits you for your return to the ship via the Beagle Channel. En route, you will see the historic lighthouse, Les Eclaireurs, as well as Seal Island, Isla de los Lobos and Island of the Birds, whose names clearly express the rich wildlife you can view from the deck on your journey back to the ship.

Observe the bountiful wildlife in Tierra del Fuego while cruising the Beagle Channel in a catamaran that will take you to islands full of seabirds, sea lions and Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will soon board a catamaran and sail into Beagle Channel, the strait that separates Argentina from Chile. The waterway is named for the HMS Beagle, in which Charles Darwin explored the area in 1833-1834.

Islands dot the channel and the rocky coast is wild and wonderful with forests to the water’s edge and the southern Andes in the far distance. Few places on earth are so pristine and unaffected by what little civilization there is.

Seabirds are abundant in most every direction. You may spot black-capped albatrosses, flocks of seagulls and grayish skuas, an aggressive bird that often attacks other birds in mid-air to steal the fish they have caught.

Approaching Sea Lions’ Island, you will see dozens of the namesake mammals clustered on the rocks. The males are typically twice the size of the females and weigh nearly 800 pounds. While pausing for photos at nearby Bird Island, you will notice that the main inhabitants are Imperial Cormorants and Magellanic Cormorants.

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is another photo-worthy site, as is the colony of Magellanic penguins on Martillo Island. These highly social birds will often come up to the catamaran as they hunt for cuttlefish and squid. It’s the perfect opportunity for a close up shot, after which you will return to the pier.

Enjoy nature at its best on a combination bus and train ride in the world’s southernmost national park. You’ll travel on the Southern Fuegian Railway in train cars that were modeled after earlier prison trains. During your narrated journey on the Train at the End of the World, you’ll discover a part of Tierra del Fuego’s legendary history. Cross the Pipo River, stop at the panoramic viewpoint of the Macarena Cascade, pass reconstructed Yamana and Shelkman Indian camps, and ride through the Del Toro Glen within the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Your coach ride takes you through the national park, for you to admire some of scenic highlights, and makes a short stop at Ensenada Bay. This pristine reserve protects the southern area of the sub-Antarctic forest, offers stunning scenery carved by the massive glaciers that once covered the region offering dramatic views. Towering mountains draped in Ice Age glaciers, rivers bordered by virgin forest, and sapphire lakes circled by peat bogs and beaver-dam ponds. The park offers one breathtaking sight after another and you’ll stop for photos at some of the major attractions.

OVERVIEW

Sample regional wines paired with delicacies that beautifully complement their distinctive tastes and textures. The venue for this delightful experience will be the Quelhue Wine Shop in downtown Ushuaia, which is known for its outstanding selection of Argentine wines. A sommelier will describe the characteristics of the wines and the terroirs of the vineyards. You will be served several whites, one likely from the country’s southernmost wine region of Chubut, the other an aromatic Torrontés wine from the Salta region. The latter will be paired with a corn empanada. You may also sample a selection of reds such as a delicate Pinot Noir from North Patagonia – which goes well with a bruschetta of grilled sausage or lamb – and an emblematic Malbec from Mendoza, the country’s largest wine region. A fortified sweet Malbec crafted for dessert will probably be the fifth offering. It is typically served with a semi-bitter chocolate made in Tierra del Fuego.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a wine tasting at a gourmet shop that offers an array of regional products.
• Sample five wines paired with delicacies made with locally sourced ingredients.
• Learn about the unique terroirs of Argentine Patagonia from the sommelier.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Sample locally sourced foods and beverages that best represent the cuisine of Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. The exact offerings at each venue will be determined the day of the excursion based on what is freshest and seasonal. As you walk through downtown, you will first stop at a popular bar for a tasting of craft beer and gin, the latter made with native Argentine botanicals that add a distinctive character. The drinks will likely be paired with smoked trout and mussels tostones, appetizers that showcase the bounty of the surrounding waters. A few steps away in the restaurant Kuar, you will sample other characteristic dishes such as lamb pâté and tenderloin medallions with king crab. A mug of mulled Malbec with cinnamon and star anise may be served to complement the foods. Another wine paired with regional cheeses will headline the tasting at Crystal Wines, the city’s first gourmet wine shop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample a variety of appetizers and dishes that best reflect Ushuaia’s unique cuisine.
• Enjoy wines and cocktails that will be thoughtfully paired with the dishes.
• Gain a remarkably in-depth understanding of Ushuaia’s cuisine in a relatively short time.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for an unforgettable drive through majestic Tierra del Fuego National Park and celebrate the experience with a cocktail at a luxurious waterfront hotel. This southernmost national park in Argentina is renowned for its breathtaking landscape of jagged mountains, glacially formed valleys and pristine shores. One of the most scenic coastal spots is Ensenada Bay, where you will pause to gaze out over Beagle Channel, which is named for the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his famed voyages to this area in the 1830s. You will also stop to browse the enlightening Alakush Visitor Center and view Lake Acigami, which straddles the border of Chile and Argentina. Lapataia Bay is just as magnificent and has the distinction of being the southernmost point in the Western Hemisphere that can be reached by car. You will toast your adventure with a drink and hors d’oeuvres at Los Cauquenes Resort and Spa.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View endless stunning vistas while driving through Tierra del Fuego National Park.
• Learn about the formation of the park and its flora and fauna at the visitor center.
• Pause at viewpoints overlooking the most photogenic bays and waterways.
• Enjoy a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres at a luxurious hotel on the Beagle Channel.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Combine the history and culture of Ushuaia, with a scenic drive to the mountains and countryside. Admire the rugged beauty of the landscape, experience local cuisine and learn about the city’s first habitants.

Drive through one of Ushuaia’s neighborhoods to get acquainted with the city and travel along the Pan American Highway toward the north of the island. Admire the dramatic scenery of river valleys, majestic mountains, forests and peat bogs as you make your way across the Fuegian Andes up to Garibaldi Pass. If the day is clear, you’ll stop at a lookout point to take in the magnificent views of Escondido and Fagnano Lakes.

Enjoy a typical meal of Patagonian lamb, slowly roasted in the wood fire, in a cozy local restaurant. Visit the Maritime Museum, housed in what was the first prison in Tierra del Fuego. Learn about the prison and life of the inmates. Dangerous convicts and well-known political prisoners made this prison famous until 1947 when it was closed. View the maritime and native people’s exhibits.

Immerse yourself in Ushuaia’s history. In the early 19th century the Argentine government set up the Prison of Ushuaia where escape was practically impossible and for the first half of the 20th century, the city was centered around the prison. The prisoners became forced colonists and spent much of their time cutting wood in the forest and building the town. They also built a railway known as the prisoners train and the southernmost railway in the world. Dangerous convicts and well-known political prisoners made this prison famous until it closed in 1947.

Today you’ll learn about the life of the prisoners during those days when they were the inhabitants of the End of the World. You’ll begin with a visit to the old prison which today is home to a museum and take a train ride. During the narrated journey you’ll discover a part of Tierra del Fuego’s legendary history. At the railway’s turnaround point, you’ll board a motorcoach and continue a tour through the national park to Ensenada Bay, one of the area’s scenic highlights before heading back to the pier.

Discover nature at its best on this unforgettable ride though Tierra del Fuego National Park. Feast your eyes on towering snow-capped mountains, impressive forests, meadows full with wildflower and pristine lakes framed by the Beagle Channel. You’ll travel west of Ushuaia’s suburbs and across the valley from the River Pipo to Tierra del Fuego National Park. This 150,000-acre park extends from the Beagle Channel in the south along the Chilean border to beyond Lago Fagnano in the north.

This pristine reserve protects the southern area of the sub-Antarctic forest, offers stunning scenery carved by the massive glaciers that once covered the region offering dramatic views. Towering mountains draped in Ice Age glaciers, rivers bordered by virgin forest, and sapphire lakes perfect photo opportunities. The park reveals one breathtaking sight after another and you’ll stop for photos at some of the major attractions.

Join this action packed 4x4 off-road adventure and discover the wild and untamed beauty of this southernmost region - a pristine habitat for unique fauna and flora. Enjoy a half-day four-wheeling experience and some relaxation at Ushuaia's heights during this scenic off-road expedition in the Fuegian wilderness. Depart the pier aboard a Toyota Hilux and begin your approximate one-hour drive north along National Route 3 to the glacial valleys area. As you make your way to Carbajal Valley, feast your eyes with the view of Mount Olivia guarding a valley surrounded by snowy peaks, dense forest and marshes, where the off-road will take you for some 45 minutes up to an hour of thrilling tracks. After this you will enjoy an approximately 50-minute walk along the sub Antarctic forest and peat bogs that ends at a lookout over the Alvear mountain range with panoramic views of the White Dome and Bonete mountains. After the off-road adventure, we return to the Nunatak Refuge where we enjoy a snack with stunning views of the mountain range. We then head back to Ushuaia.

A short ride will take you to Ushuaia’s Horseback Riding Club, where you’ll be directed to your designated horse and begin your journey across Tierra del Fuego, the End of the World. You’ll ride alongside the slope of Mount Susana towards the Beagle Channel coast, by the sea and through the forest, enjoying the pure air and a close encounter with Fuegian nature at its best. You’ll return to the club for a snack and a chance to sample the traditional beverage named mate before your return to the pier.