Itinerary

Day 1    
Santiago (Valparaiso), Chile
A bay bordered by steep hills, stately old Victorian homes, cable cars - no, it's not San Francisco, California. Welcome to Valparaiso. Founded in 1536, and named after the birthplace of conquistador Diego de Almagro, Valparaiso is Chile's oldest city. It is also the gateway to Chile's central valley and the capital of Santiago. With a population of over 5 million people, Santiago sprawls at the feet of the snow-capped Andes. The Maipo Valley, Chile's internationally renowned wine district is a short drive to the south.
   
Day 2    

At Sea
   
Day 3    
Puerto Montt, Chile
Puerto Montt is your gateway to Chile's magnificent Lake District. Here, snow-capped volcanoes gaze down on alpine valleys nestled among low hills. Glaciers carved out this terrain, leaving the jewel-like lakes in their wake. The Lake District was a magnet for German immigrants, and their legacy can be seen today in the manicured rose gardens of Puerto Varas, in Chile's "German Villages" like Frutillar and in Puerto Montt's gabled homes with elaborate balconies.

   
Day 4    

At Sea
   
Day 5    
Amalia Glacier, Chile (Scenic Cruising)
Located in the central part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Fields, the Amalia Glacier descends from the Andes Mountains and sits towering above the sea. While cruising through the sparkling waters of Chile's legendary inlets, you'll be graced by the presence of snowcapped mountain peaks, majestic forests, and spectacular blue-tinged glaciers that will take your breath away.
   
Day 6    
Punta Arenas, Chile
Punta Arenas lies atop rolling hills, looking out over the Strait of Magellan. In the days before the Panama Canal, this was a major port as ships plied the waters of Cape Horn. Punta Arenas remains a prosperous town today, thanks to its rich natural resources. The city is also the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, a maze of fjords, rivers, steppes, and mountains to the north. To the south lies the great frozen mass of Antarctica. Adventure awaits in any direction at this port located near the end of the earth.

   
Day 7    
Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego), Argentina
Magellan called it Tierra del Fuego, "the Land of Fire," having seen flames rising from the darkened islands. Today, Ushuaia, a former Argentine penal colony, serves as your gateway to this wilderness where snow-capped mountains plummet to the icy waters of the Beagle Channel.

   
Day 8    
Cape Horn (Scenic Cruising)
Cape Horn is the southernmost tip of South America. Unusual rock formations with deep grooves and granite cliffs covered in trees are its signature features. Enjoy the beauty of this scenic area.
   
Day 9    
Falkland Islands (Stanley)
Capital of the Falklands since 1845, tiny Stanley lies on the windswept tip of East Falkland Island. The Falklands long served as a way station for ships, particularly whalers, bound to and from Cape Horn. While their strategic location led to important roles in both World Wars, the islands are best remembered as the cause of the 1982 war between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Today, travelers increasingly journey to the islands to view their rich assortment of bird and marine life.

   
Day 10    

At Sea
   
Day 11    
Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Fleeing the economic devastation of England's Industrial Revolution, Welsh settlers immigrated to Argentina in search of cheap land. Led by Viscount Madryn, one group of settlers sailed for Patagonia, founding the small city of Puerto Madryn in 1865. Today visitors can still see their legacy in Puerto Madryn and its surrounding communities.

   
Day 12    

At Sea
   
Day 13    
Montevideo, Uruguay
Nestled between the continent's two giants, Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America. More than half of the nation's population of three million reside in the capital of Montevideo, located at Uruguay's southernmost point on the Rio de la Plata. Although small in size, Uruguay has proven to be big-hearted - the country is one of the most literate nations in the world while Montevideo is one of South America's most interesting and cosmopolitan capitals.

   
Day 14    
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Disembark and begin your journey home with fond memories of your Grand American tour.

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