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).

Perfect for those with late flights, this tour allows you to see the absolute highlights of Buenos Aires before spending the afternoon watching gauchos at a working ranch and then transferring to the airport to fly home. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely drive through Buenos Aires, taking in landmarks such as the oldest neighborhood San Talmo. You will also see Plaza de Mayo, arguably the country’s most famous square. Its name refers to the revolution that began nearby in May 1810 and led to Argentina’s independence from Spain. Some of the surrounding buildings are just as celebrated, including the salmon-colored executive mansion known as Casa Rosado and the glorious Metropolitan Cathedral. Then, it’s on to the neighborhood La Boca, where you will meander along El Caminito, a street full of expressive brightly colored buildings. Some claim the tango originated here around 1870, and tango dancers are often seen performing impromptu in the streets. Continuing on into the countryside, you will spend nearly four hours at an estancia that evokes the spirit of traditional ranching. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with traditional empanadas and a glass of wine or juice before enjoying a hearty barbeque of grass-fed Argentine beef that has been grilled to perfection. To enhance the experience, there will be a folkloric performance and gauchos will show off their prodigious skills as horsemen by riding at breakneck speed during a ring race. Following your gaucho experience, you will transfer to the Ezeiza International Airport for the flight home. Arrival time at the airport will be approximately 5:00 p.m.

Observe the abundant wildlife in the naturally beautiful Patagonian steppe, highlighted by a leisurely walk among a large colony of Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for an immensely scenic drive along the New Gulf and on to rugged Punta Ninfas on the Patagonian steppe. The vegetation here is shrubby, wind-blown and an ideal wildlife habitat. Gray fox, llama-like guanacas and various species of seabirds, including oystercatchers and albatrosses, are found in this dry landscape.

Even so, penguins are the star attractions in this part of Patagonian, as you will discover from your base at El Pedral Lodge. Perched on a cliff, the lodge was built in 1904 and some of the period furnishing still remain, including the mahogany dining table.

From here, you will head to a nearby Magellanic penguin rookery for an extended walk among these highly social birds. If you hear the penguins braying like donkeys, it is simply the way they seek mates.

You can expect to see the penguins tottering about, tending to their young, interacting with each other, and perhaps hunting small fish just offshore. A group of penguins floating in the ocean is called a raft; a group on land is sometimes called a waddle because of their awkward walk.

Lunch at the lodge follows, after which you will return to the pier.

Discover Punta Tombo, home to the world’s largest nesting colony of Magellanic penguins and a place that attracts wildlife researchers and conservationists from around the world.

This is the largest penguin nesting ground in continental South America and from September through April this vast rookery and breeding area hosts hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins. With two nurturing parents foraging at sea and taking turns with their care, chicks thrive and start fledging in January.

Magellanic penguins mate with the same partner year after year and live approximately 25 years. Males reclaim the burrow from the previous year and wait to reconnect with their mates. You’ll have time to walk among the thousands of nests and marvel at this wonder of nature and these unforgettable birds. A boxed lunch is provided.

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.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an introductory look at two towns that are vastly different in size yet share a common history. Although Puerto Madryn boasts a population 10 times that of Gaiman, Welsh immigrants founded both towns to escape cultural and religious persecution in the latter half of the 19th century. That Welsh influence is still highly evident in Puerto Madryn through attractions such as the Welsh Settlers monument and the street names, many of which honor prominent Welsh immigrants. Chances are, you will spot the Welsh flag flying on many of the buildings or perhaps just the flag’s iconic red dragon on the signage. The Welsh heritage may be even more noticeable in Gaiman as the red-brick town is more compact. Patagonian Welsh is widely spoken as you will likely discover while pausing for cakes and pastries at a Welsh tea house. To enhance the experience, a Welsh choir will perform traditional songs. A walking city tour is done over the city of Gaiman. Once back to Puerto Madryn, there is a short drive through the city to see the Municipality, Main Square and the Welsh Women's Monument and then return directly to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the surprisingly strong Welsh heritage of Puerto Madryn and Gaiman.
• See Welsh-influenced attractions and perhaps hear Patagonian Welsh being spoken.
• Enjoy tea and tasty pastries at a Welsh tea house in the town of Gaiman.
• Hear a Welsh choir perform traditional, heartfelt songs about the Welsh heritage.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Travel by 4x4 to a remote beachside nature preserve to observe and walk among a colony of King penguins, Gentoo penguins and Magellanic penguins. After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a scenic two and one-half hour’s drive north to Johnson’s Harbour and then on to Volunteer Point via a 4x4 vehicle. Along the way, you may spot remnants of the 1982 Falklands War, the result of the Argentine invasion of the British-owned islands. Still, it is the natural beauty and abundant wildlife of this rugged landscape that are most impressive. Birds in particular are the attraction at Volunteer Point, a nature preserve that supports the largest concentration of King penguins in the islands. Volunteer Point is also home to a multitude of Gentoo penguins, Magellanic penguins and dozens of other avian species. As you walk along the beach, you will observe these birds interacting in their native habitat. At up to three feet tall, king penguins look regal even waddling about. Their size and bright orange coloring on their heads and beaks make them easy to distinguish from the other penguins. Gentoo penguins are smaller and sport white feather caps, while Magellanic penguins feature two distinct black stripes across their chests and often bray like donkeys. You may also see ruddy-headed geese, black-throated finches and peregrine falcons, which can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per mile. Before rejoining your vehicle and traveling back to Stanley, you will be provided a boxed lunch.

Discover Punta Loma Natural Reserve where you will have the opportunity to see a sea lion sanctuary. Young sea lions, which are not sexually mature, may be seen during the entire year, and, from April onwards, you can view the sea lions that migrate from Puerto Piramides. Before returning to the ship, we visit the Puerto Madryn Ecocentro Museum, the first center of its kind in Argentina, dedicated to the study of marine ecosystems.

This tour is a great option for those with flights after 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. who wish to gain a greater understanding of Argentina’s wonderfully cultured capital by visiting a range of neighborhoods and landmarks before being dropped at the airport.

After departing from the pier, you will head to Recoleta & Palermo to drive around these unique residential neighborhoods while learning about the Porteño's lifestyle from your local guide.

Next, you will visit Plaza de Mayo, arguably the country’s most famous square. Its name refers to the revolution that began nearby in May 1810 and led to Argentina’s independence from Spain. Some of the surrounding buildings are just as celebrated, including the salmon-colored executive mansion known as Casa Rosado. You will also see the glorious Metropolitan Cathedral, which is adorned with frescoes and elaborate artwork.

Then, it’s on to the neighborhood La Boca where you can stroll along El Caminito, a cobblestone street full of expressive brightly colored buildings. La Boca, meaning “the mouth,” was the site of city’s first harbor at the mouth of the Riachuelo River. Some claim the tango originated here around 1870, and tango dancers are often seen performing impromptu in the streets.

Finally, a traditional Argentine lunch at the Puerto Madero waterfront awaits you, after which you will transfer to the Ezeiza International Airport for your flight home. Arrival at the airport is approximately 2:00 p.m.

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

See Montevideo’s most meaningful landmarks in Old Town and then visit the workshop of Candombe music legend Fernando Lobo Nuñez. While walking through the historical downtown, you will sense the reverence that Uruguayans have for their heritage monuments, especially Independence and Constitution squares, where you will pause to snap photos. The country’s Afro-Uruguayan music – known as Candombe – is also beloved, so much so that UNESCO has recognized it as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. While visiting the workshop of Nuñez, you will learn about his deep connection to Candombe and his master skills as a luthier that handcrafts musical instruments. It will be an eye-opening experience as Nuñez has dedicated his life to preserving and promoting Candombe, a music form that originated in Uruguay among the descendants of liberated African slaves. He lives in a family home built in 1837 in the Barrio Sur neighborhood, where his enslaved ancestors once lived.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through Old Town at a leisurely pace with stops at the most historical landmarks.
• Visit the workshop of a world-renowned Candombe music legend and luthier.
• Learn how Candombe music originated in Uruguay and how it has remained relevant.
• Gain an appreciation for the musical instruments that are so essential to Candombe.

HELPFUL HINTS

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