Classic Antarctica Fly-in Cruise

Enjoy a couple of days in bustling Santiago, Chile's capital city. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Andes, Santiago is considered to have an understated charm. Sleek glassy skyscrapers share space with perfectly landscaped gardens, fascinating museums and stylish art galleries. There's also an emerging culinary scene boasting fine dining establishments and a celebrated seafood market. You'll have our list of recommended tours, restaurants and attractions to make sure you make the most of your time here.

Your local guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and start your walking tour towards the closest metro station. Santiago´s metro is South America's most extensive metro system and provides safe and smooth commute.

Arrive to Baquedano station, located underneath Plaza Italia, the focal point of celebrations and occasional demonstrations in the city. Continue by walking west through the Parque Forestal, an urban park in the middle of the city that was created to celebrate the 100 years of Chile as a republic. This park features a beautiful landscape design inspired by the French style of the early 1900s and several sculptures before you reach the fine arts museum. Take in the façade of the National Museum of fine arts, built between 1905 and 1910. The building features a neoclassic style along with some elements of the Art Nouveau and it is known because of the glass dome that allows the entrance of light to the central hall.

Continue the tour towards the Santa Lucía Hill, where the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded the city on February 12th 1541. After a quick visit to its top, descend to visit the Gabriela Mistral cultural center, a building which structure survived a strong fire and reopened recently to promote culture and arts.

Stroll around the streets of Lastarria Neighborhood that features a rich architectural value, little cute cafés, exquisite restaurants, many unique stores and a couple of museums worth visiting (not included on the tour).

Before heading back to your hotel, enjoy of a wine tasting in a wine bar in the heart of Lastarria neighborhood and walk five minutes to the metro station on direction to your hotel.

Spend two nights in one of the southernmost cities in the world, Punta Arenas. The small city, with a population of around 130,000, is most commonly used as a stopover for those en route to the Torres del Paine National Park or for one of the cruises through the Straits of Magellan. The city is very important to the region, being one of the largest ports in this isolated area.

This morning, your local guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel for a private half-day walking tour of Punta Arenas. This sprawling metropolis is located on the edge of the Strait of Magellan and you'll find it to be a relaxed and friendly city. Depending on your interests, your guide will bring you to see a number of the city's most interesting attractions including the main square, Muñóz Gamero, with its monument to Hernando de Magallanes and the surrounding wealthy mansions of the city's founding families. Moving on to Colón Avenue and travelling up to Arauco, you'll reach the vantage point on Mount La Cruz for a beautiful view over the city and its colorful roofs. When you reach the seafront you'll be shown the remains of huge shipwrecks before travelling up the waterfront to the tranquil María Behety Park. The tour can incorporate visits to the historic Fort Bulnes, the first Spanish and later Chilean settlement in Southern Patagonia, the Pali Aike National Park, Seno Otway or Magdalena Island according to your tastes.

Your expedition officially starts this afternoon, with a cruise briefing at your hotel in Punta Arenas. You'll be met at your hotel by a representative from the cruise who will give you a briefing on the guidelines that should be followed in Antarctica and the procedures for Zodiac boat embarkation and disembarkation. Afterwards, you will be invited to gather with your expedition mates for a welcome dinner where you'll enjoy some typical Magellanic cuisine. Spend the night back at your hotel in Punta Arenas.

Today you'll be transferred from your hotel to the airport for a flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands). The flight takes a little less than two hours. Upon arrival, a tour will be given around the area where Frei Chilean Base and the Bellingshausen Russian Base are located, gathering at the beach on Fildes Bay for boarding the expedition vessel by Zodiac boats.

While cruising between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and between spectacular icebergs, you will enjoy observing the sea birds, penguins, seals and whales. Your journey southwards will include visits to some of the most magnificent spots in the white continent, such as: Livingston Island, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Cuverville and Deception Islands amongst others. The objective of these few days will be the crossing of the Lemaire Channel and latitude 65° South. It will be very active couple of days too, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats and lectures.

On you last day you'll return to King George Island where you'll disembark, in Zodiac boats, at the Frei Chilean Base, and head to the aerodrome to take the flight back to Punta Arenas.

Spend a night in Punta Arenas before heading to Santiago the next day.