We will wake up surrounded by the overwhelming beauty of one of the most pristine and wild regions of Patagonia. Mt Buckland (1,519 masl), named by Captain Phillip Parker King in 1827, stands as the dominant peak in the region, usually catching the first morning light and offering a wonderful spectacle.

We have planned a landing at Aguila Glacier with a short hike to appreciate the vegetation surrounding the glacier. The beautiful Nothofagus forests hold many flowering plants and lichens worthwhile to observe, study, and photograph. There is always the chance to see the Culpeo, the only native fox of Tierra del Fuego.

We will then steer towards Gabriel Channel, a very narrow and scenic pass between Tierra del Fuego and the massive Dawson Island. We will pleasantly cruise the protected waters of the pass, enjoying the scenery of a route seldom visited by tourists. We plan to spend the night on one of the many coves comprising the large Fitton Bay.

We start to navigate across the historic Admiralty Sound; most of the waterways we will explore during this week were extensively surveyed, charted and named by the British during their expeditions in the late 1820s and early 1830s. Their odyssey featured many names you might recognize: Pringles Stokes, Robert Fitz Roy and Charles Darwin.

The many discoveries on the field of natural history inspired young Darwin on his evolutionary ideas, as he was also a first-hand witness of the last bands of canoers, who dwelled through the islands and channels, and which were referred by him as Fuegians. In time, the southernmost portion of the Andes were named after Mr Darwin.

The ice sheet covering the Darwin Range comprises a surface of over 13,000 sq. km / 5,000 sq. miles and more than 8,000 glacial forms. Some of its outlet tidewater glaciers are colossal, including the one we visit today, Marinelli Glacier. Following the worldwide trend, these glaciers are also receding and we will see this as large areas of rock have been exposed by the disappearing ice. Marinelli Glacier itself has receded nearly 15 km / 9 miles during the last century.

Today we will learn a lot about the geology and glaciology of the area, while also enjoying the abundant birdlife found here, including Flightless Steamer Ducks, Kelp Geese, Chilean Skuas, Imperial Cormorants, and Magellanic Penguins.

Our journey continues westward, sailing deeper into the historic Admiralty Sound, a renowned location for great seabirding. Here, we seek out species like the White-chinned and Westland Petrels, Greater and Sooty Shearwaters, and the near-endemic Fuegian Storm-Petrel. Keep a keen eye out for the distinctive Rockhopper Penguins as well.

We will circumnavigate Islote Albatross, home to the only Black-browed Albatross colony in protected waters. This colony is unique, as Andean Condors have been documented preying on the albatross chicks. In these productive waters, we also stand a chance of spotting the elusive Southern River Otter.

A planned landing at Jackson Bay offers an intimate view of a small rookery of massive Southern Elephant Seals. Finally, we will set a spectacular course for the pristine Parry Fjord, where numerous glaciers cascade down, providing outstanding views of the Darwin Range. We will investigate the ice floes, searching for the formidable Leopard Seal, a rarely seen, massive mammal mostly related to the Antarctic.

Another day to enjoy the scenery of Tierra del Fuego as we sail back to Gabriel Channel. Hopefully the weather helps to reveal the magnificent landscapes of the archipelago, especially the many peaks and glaciers which surround us.

There is a summit especially extraordinary, Mt Sarmiento (2,246 m / 7,369 ft), a colossal snowy peak which usually remains covered, creating its own weather and acting as a magnet for clouds. This iconic mountain was named by the first European to navigate these waters and has inspired explorers, sailors, and writers for centuries.

We will explore the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, the first marine protected area of Chile, established to protect the migratory population of Humpback Whales, coming every year to Patagonia to feed and nurse their young after giving birth in warm waters off Colombia.

The Barbara Channel is one of our favorite places, with lots of feeding activities of the humpbacks, dolphins of several kinds, sea lions, fur seals and if we are lucky, Orca can sometimes be seen around here. We will have plenty of time to see and photograph the whale activity while they feed and move around these deep and productive waters.

We will look for the South American Sea Lion colonies in the area as well as interesting birds such as Andean Condor and Striated Caracara. Seno Helado is another seldom visited glacier and we will have another chance for Leopard Seal in the area besides the fantastic opportunity to photograph these vast landscapes with myriads of waterfalls and intriguing rock and ice formations.

This morning we will have another whale-watching session and if we are lucky, we may see the endemic and scarce Chilean Dolphin while sailing these waters. This intimate experience will be enhanced by the sight of the beautiful mountains, glaciers and pristine forests all around.

This magnificent area encloses Carlos III Island, which possesses a vast and unique biological diversity due, in part, to the mixing of the two oceans (Pacific and Atlantic), productive upwelling, the strong winds, the presence of glaciers and the dismembered coastline. This park holds a summer population of humpback whales (and occasionally Sei Whale and Orca), which use these waters as feeding grounds.

We will start to head back to Punta Carrera. After a few hours we will round the southernmost headland of continental America, the Cape Froward. We will arrive to Punta Carrera in late afternoon. Later we will be transferred to Punta Arenas, where our trip ends.