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.

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.

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.

OVERVIEW

Explore the historical capital of the Falkland Islands and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty, an experience that will leave you with a remarkably complete understanding of the area. While driving through the British-influenced city of Stanley, you will hear enlightening commentary about landmarks such as Christ Church Cathedral – the world’s southernmost Anglican cathedral – the Government House and the massive arch made from the jawbones of two blue whales, a monument erected in 1933 to mark the centennial of the British administration of the Falklands. At the tip of Cape Pembroke, you will see the lighthouse on the islands’ easternmost point. To reach nearby Gypsy Cove, you will walk the nature trail that leads to a breeding ground for Magellanic penguins, a species named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. These birds are easy to identify by the two distinct black stripes across their chests and the fact that they often bray like donkeys.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for an enlightening drive through Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands.
• See the city’s main landmarks and gain an understanding of the British influence.
• Take in the gorgeous views from the lighthouse at the tip of Cape Pembroke.
• Walk a nature trail to observe a colony of Magellanic penguins.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Montevideo, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you travel through Montevideo, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:

Selfie Spots:
• Salvo Palace
• Independence Square
• The Montevideo sign on the beach promenade
• Centenario Stadium
• La Carreta ox-cart monument
• Montevideo Bay viewpoint

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Montevideo.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

This tour is a photographer’s dream. Start with a drive to the tiny port of Petrohue in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, and board a catamaran for a cruise on Lake Todos los Santos, known as Lake Esmeralda because of its vivid, blue-green color. Enjoy lunch in the Puerto Varas surroundings before your drive to Petrohue Falls. You’ll stop along the way for a short walk through the woods to the Petrohue River, where the waters plunge over hard volcanic rocks to form wild, gushing cascades.

The path is well-marked and has railings, but some parts are uneven and crooked and can be muddy after a rainfall. On the return to the port, you’ll drive through the beautiful, lush countryside dotted with weathered clapboard barns and churches. You’ll stop at the handicraft market in Puerto Varas. Here, you’ll have magnificent views of Lake Llanquihue, the largest lake in Chile, and snow-capped Osorno Volcano. You’ll see the highlights of Puerto Montt on a short orientation drive.

OVERVIEW

Meander through several bustling markets full of ingredients essential to Uruguayan cuisine and enjoy tastings along the way. At the Montevideo Agricultural Market – which is housed in a majestic, century-old cast-iron building – you will see an array of garden-fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a traditional Uruguayan butcher shop. You may be offered samples such as bizcochos pastries or other local snacks. While exploring a popular fish market, you will behold an array of seafood ranging from salt cod to squid. You will also browse a feria, a typically open-air street market that will present a candid glimpse into daily life. Founded in 1868, the Mercado del Puerto is no longer a working market as this historical cast-iron building has transitioned into a prime location for restaurants. Guests will be offered a sample of mate, a traditional caffeinated infusion.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample traditional Uruguayan foods and beverages while browsing popular markets.
• Walk through markets that focus on fresh produce and one that offers mostly seafood.
• Enjoy tastings of pastries, ice cream and mate, the national drink of Uruguay.
• Remain in the Mercado del Puerto after the tour and dine on your own if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Travel in small groups on this 4x4 off road adventure and spend some time with breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins. Join your mini-bus and driver guide at the Jetty Visitor Centre for a 15 minute ride to nearby Newans Farm. Here you’ll meet your 4x4 drivers, who will take you to the nearby Gentoo penguins. Experience an off road adventure and admire the scenery while learning more about the Falklands way of life.

There are approximately 200 breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins at this scenic site. Enjoy approximately 45 minutes with the penguins, before your returning off road journey.

Enjoy an introduction to the Falklands small capital. As your coach drives along Stanley’s main street which runs along the sea front, your expert guide will point out everything that may be of interest. Some of the highlights you’ll see include the cathedral with its whale bone arch, the 1982 Battle Memorial, the Government House, wrecks of the old sailing ships, minefields, and some of the original houses.

You’ll get a good idea of the islanders’ daily life in this rugged, remote but beautiful location. Your guide’s commentary will provide you with additional insight about the Falklands. Drive out of town to see a stunning view of Stanley from the bottom of the harbor and the shipwreck the Lady Elizabeth. The tour ends at the Jetty Visitor Centre where you’ll have the option to visit the nearby Historic Dockyard Museum to learn more about the history of the Falklands, admission is included.

OVERVIEW

Walk along the coast of Golfo Nuevo to observe a colony of sea lions and then relax over a cup of hot tea and fresh-baked pastries in the Welsh-founded town of Gaiman. The colony of sea lions at Punta Loma Reserve – which may number in the hundreds – is protected and live there permanently so you are bound to see them along the beach and just offshore. Even from a distance, you can easily distinguish the males from the females as they are twice the size and sport lion-like manes around their muscular necks. Although sea lions may move awkwardly on land, they are graceful swimmers and can reach speeds up to 25 miles per hour in the water. Their antics will give you plenty to discuss later at the Ty Gwyn tea house in Gaiman. Afterwards, you will enjoy free time in town, where the ambinace is still decidedly Welsh.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Observe a colony of sea lions along the coast of Punta Loma National Reserve.
• Enjoy tea and tasty pastries at a Welsh tea house in the town of Gaiman.
• Explore the Welsh-influened town of Gaiman independently during free time.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

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.

Puerto Montt is the capital of the Lake Region and gateway to the breathtaking surrounding scenery of lakes and rivers framed by snowcapped volcanoes. This is nature at its most magnificent. Head to the Lake District en route to Petrohue falls, where you’ll make your first stop. Your drive continues to an altitude of approximately 3,937 feet to La Burbuja, the starting point for those who come to ski on the slopes of the volcano Osorno. From this privileged point, you can admire the valley below snow-capped Osorno Volcano, which reaches 8,700 feet above sea level, and also have time to walk around and take some amazing pictures. Descend towards Ensenada for lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll also stop in the resort community of Puerto Varas located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue where you’ll have some free time for shopping at a handicraft market.