Rounding Cape Horn, Patagonia & beyond

Today you'll return to the airport in Santiago for a flight to Calama, the entryway to the Atacama Desert. A private driver will take you 90 minutes to the east to San Pedro de Atacama, where you'll spend three nights at Nayara Alto Atacama.

Enjoy daily excursions from Nayara Alto Atacama. These can include hiking through the lunar desert landscape, cycling past geysers or visiting some of the most photographic scenery in the Americas.

Continue exploring the area with a guide from the hotel. You might choose to visit the Valley of the Moons, the village of San Pedro or find flamingos at one of the nearby lagoons.

A driver will collect you from the hotel and take you back to Calama Airport, where you'll fly back to Santiago. Upon arrival, you'll be transferred two and a half hours south, into the Colchagua Valley for a two-night stay at Clos Apalta, one of the area's top winery experiences.

Spend the day relaxing poolside and taking in the fresh air and mountain views, explore the vineyard and taste a selection of the property's wines, or you might choose to hike, horse ride or bike through the countryside with a guide from the hotel. There are plenty of options to choose from during your stay.

Before boarding your ship later this afternoon, spend the morning exploring Santiago, a city that artfully blends its Spanish colonial heritage and modern charms. Taste your way around the city’s traditional Mercado Central, sampling fresh king crab and clams, or take in the latest soul-stirring exhibit at the MAC Museum of Contemporary Art. You might prefer to escape the city and visit the rainbow-painted Victorian buildings in the hilly coastal town of Valparaiso, or go wine-tasting in the verdant valleys surrounding Santiago.

You’ll spend the day cruising southward past the 'long petal of the sea', as author Isabel Allende dubbed the narrow country of Chile that has 6,437 km (4,000 miles) of coastline. A day at sea is the ideal time to stretch your sea legs by taking part in a game of pickleball or going for a run in the gym, where treadmills are positioned by windows with wide seascape views. Or take in the view in the panoramic Crow’s Nest lounge.

Today you’ll arrive in northern Patagonia and can head ashore to Puerto Montt, the capital of the Los Lagos (lake district) region of Chile. Founded in the 1800s by German settlers on the indigenous Mapuche territory, the city lays claim to having archaeological remains that stretch back 18,500 years. Puerto Montt is also the gateway for nearby adventures. Paddle through the thrilling white-water rapids of the Petrohue River, or go horseback riding through the verdant Valdivian Rainforest, weaving between ancient monkey puzzle trees.

The antithesis of hustle and bustle, the petite port of Puerto Chacabuco is an entry point to the Rio Simpson National Reserve, where you can take an easy half-hour stroll to plunging waterfalls and walk among ancient forests rich in ferns and lichen. You might wish to try your hand at fly-fishing here, whether you land a trout or not, you can enjoy the meditative lull of casting a line on the Simpson, Manihuales, or Aysén rivers surrounded by low-slung hills and untouched beauty.

Lined with steep mountains and touched by glaciers and ever-changing seas, the fjords of Chile make for dramatic cruising grounds. Starting near the Reloncaví Estuary, about halfway down Chile, and ending at the continent’s terminus in Tierra del Fuego, the fjords stretch a distance of more than 1,500 km (930 miles). As your ship meanders past a coastline only reachable by boat, you can stand out on deck, taking in the views of tree-lined cliffs that tumble into the sea.

Running north to south, this protected passage is framed by the Chilean mainland to the east and the islands of Esperanza, Vancouver, and Piazzi to the west, with views of snow-covered peaks and cerulean-toned glaciers that kiss the water. You might see Magellanic penguins on shore, southern elephant seals bobbing in the water, or dolphins cavorting in the ship’s wake. Spending the day on board, make time to visit the World Stage, where you can take in lectures from local experts.

The precursor to the Panama Canal, the Strait of Magellan was once the main route for sailing between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and is your route toward Punta Arenas. The edge-of-the-world capital of Chile’s Southern Patagonia, Punta Arenas, has long been a hub for exploration, and it’s still used as a base for those heading to the Antarctic Peninsula, or hiking the trifecta of peaks in Torres del Paine National Park.

Located at the southernmost tip of Argentina, Ushuaia is often dubbed 'the end of the world'. This is where the Pan-American Highway, which snakes its way from Alaska to Argentina, reaches its terminus. Here, you can board a vintage railcar to ride the world’s southernmost railway through the Tierra del Fuego National Park, or take a scenic alpine drive among the mountains, stopping off for views of the tree-lined Lake Escondido or to sample a traditional lamb empanada.

The southernmost tip of the South American continent, Cape Horn juts out into the confluence of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Rounding Cape Horn is a travel wish list item for sailors, akin to a mountain climber summiting Mount Everest, but it’s something you can achieve during this trip from the comfort of your cruise ship, following in the wake of explorers like Magellan, Drake, and Darwin. Take in views of the infamous passage from the upper deck of your ship or the balcony of your suite.

With red telephone boxes and pubs, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve landed in England. The southernmost capital of Stanley in the Falkland Islands shows off its British Heritage. Colonised by England in 1765, the islands became the subject of an un-declared 10-week war between the UK and Argentina in 1982. During a tour of Stanley’s highlights, you can visit a memorial to this war, visit the green-roofed governor’s house, and learn about the history of whaling at the Falkland Island Museum.

After all the adventure, you have a chance to unwind on board the ship while you motor northward along the Atlantic coast of South America. You’ll have time to enjoy its ample facilities, including the variety of lounges. Now that you’ve earned your explorer stripes by rounding Cape Horn, it’s the perfect time to stop by the elegant Explorer’s Lounge, or visit the art-themed Gallery Bar, where you can sample a signature cocktail while admiring the artworks adorning its walls.

Today at sea you may want to try your luck in the onboard casino or simply relax at the alfresco Sea View Bar, breathing in the fresh, salty air and changeable vistas, cocktail in hand. As the sun sets, it could be time to toast your travels with a celebratory evening of music, dancing the night away at the Rolling Stone Lounge or immersing yourself in the classic soul at the onboard BB King’s Blues Club.

Often overlooked by visitors who make a beeline to Buenos Aires just across the river, Montevideo is the bustling, small cosmopolitan capital of Uruguay. Colonial-era, Art Deco, and modern buildings create a landscape of diverse architecture here, which you can further enjoy on a trip to the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site of Colonia del Sacramento. Wine lovers can visit wineries that lie just beyond the city’s edges, and pair the wines with Uruguay’s culinary tradition of grilled meats.

Dock in your final port of Buenos Aires this morning, where the city can feel like a hotchpotch of different places. From Recoleta’s European-style boulevards and the gentrified docklands of Puerto Madero to immigrant areas like La Boca, it has many quarters shaped by their past. The city began as a smuggling port for the Portuguese, English and French, who took advantage of the lack of a strong Spanish presence in the area around the Rio de la Plata in the 17th century. You may wish to take advantage of your ship's facilities ahead of disembarkation tomorrow, or begin your exploration of Argentina's charming capital.

Today, your time on board reaches its end in the vibrant Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires. After disembarking, head to your hotel. This afternoon you may choose to join a guided walking tour that leads through the upmarket area of Recoleta, including visiting the tomb of Evita Peron in the Recoleta Cemetary.

Spend the day exploring the city's numerous unique districts: from the impressive architecture of embassies and consulates in Recoleta, the shops and cafés of Palermo or the gardens between them. In the evening take in a tango performance and dinner at a local theatre.

You'll be transferred to the airport in downtown Buenos Aires for a flight to the northern town of Iguazu. Here you'll take a private car across the border to Brazil and a two-night stay inside the Iguaçu National Park at Belmond Das Cataratas.

You'll have a private tour of the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls, taking in the various walkways and viewpoints with an option to cruise into the mist on an inflatable speedboat. At sunset, enjoy a cocktail with exclusive falls views from your hotel.

Today the trip comes to an end as you check out of your hotel and begin the journey home. A driver will take you to the airport for a domestic flight connecting with your international return flight.

Arrive home today to complete your journey.