Patagonian & Cape Horn Cruises

Australis operates between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas in either direction, covering Cape Horn, the Beagle Channel, Glacier Alley, and the Strait of Magellan in 4 to 5 days — the most accessible and time-efficient Patagonian fjords cruise for travelers combining it with a broader Argentina or Chile itinerary. Skorpios operates longer routes (5 to 8 days) from Puerto Montt into the more remote northern fjords, including the Chonos Archipelago, the Kawéskar channels, and San Rafael Glacier — a deeper, more remote experience with a different geographic focus. We help you choose based on your available days, departure port preferences, and which landscapes matter most to you.

Yes — and this is where our value as a local Patagonia agency is most tangible. The Australis cruise between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas connects naturally to Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas and to El Calafate via domestic flight from Ushuaia, making it the most popular cruise-and-land combination in the region. We coordinate the full sequence — cruise dates, private land transfers, boutique lodge availability on both sides — from a single point of contact so the transition between ship and land is seamless rather than two separate bookings that don't talk to each other.

Both Australis and Skorpios cruises are largely all-inclusive aboard: cabin accommodation, all meals, daily guided excursions (Zodiac landings, glacier approaches, wildlife observation stops), and onboard lectures and naturalist programming. The main additional costs are international flights to Argentina or Chile, domestic flights to the embarkation port, and pre-cruise hotel accommodation — all of which we coordinate as part of the broader itinerary around the sailing dates.

Australis cruises (4 to 5 days, Ushuaia-Punta Arenas or reverse) start from approximately USD 1,955 per person for twin-share cabins. Skorpios routes (5 to 8 days into the northern fjords) start from approximately USD 2,395, rising with cabin category and season. These prices cover the onboard experience — the surrounding logistics of getting to and from the embarkation ports, plus any Patagonia land extension, are arranged separately as part of your full itinerary.

Both Australis and Skorpios operate September through April, with December through February offering the most stable weather and longest daylight hours. October and November deliver excellent conditions with fewer passengers — most cruises run at lower capacity before the peak season fully opens. March and April offer autumn atmosphere and softer light in the fjords, which many photographers and experienced Patagonia travelers actively prefer. We sequence the cruise dates within your broader itinerary around whichever seasonal conditions best match your priorities.

The direction matters primarily for how it connects to your land itinerary rather than for the onboard experience, which covers the same route in reverse. Ushuaia to Punta Arenas works well for travelers who start in Argentina (El Calafate, Buenos Aires) and continue into Chile (Torres del Paine) after the cruise. Punta Arenas to Ushuaia fits travelers who arrive from Torres del Paine and want to end the southern circuit in Argentina before flying north. We design the direction based on your full routing rather than as a standalone cruise booking.

Yes — the Skorpios cruise from Puerto Montt into the Chonos Archipelago and northern fjords connects naturally with the Carretera Austral as a pre or post extension, since Puerto Montt is the northern gateway to that route. This combination is one of the most complete explorations of Chilean Patagonia available: the Carretera Austral overland through the central fjord region followed by a Skorpios navigation into the remote northern channels, or the reverse. We coordinate both legs as a single itinerary, managing the connection between land and sea at Puerto Montt.

Peak season Australis and Skorpios departures (December through February) fill 6 to 9 months in advance, particularly for preferred cabin categories and specific departure dates. The land extensions surrounding the cruise — boutique lodges in Torres del Paine, El Calafate, or Ushuaia — also require advance booking during this period. We recommend confirming the cruise dates first and then building the land itinerary around them, rather than the reverse, since cruise availability is the most constrained element of the full package.