Dates: November 3 - November 15, 2018
Total Duration: 13 days
Cost: From $9,590 per person, double occupancy
Deposit (per participant): $1,000
Activity level: Moderately Active
Faculty:
Vehicle: M/V Ventus Australis
Tour Operator: Royal Adventures
Region: Central And South America
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Overview
Explore one of the spectacular corners of the world, Patagonia where we can see nature at its most pristine and desolate — a land of wonders at the end of the earth. Boasting an awesome landscape of pampas, lakes, mountains, and glaciers, abundant wildlife, and a wealth of fossils, from prehistoric creatures to ancient humans, the vibrant natural history of Patagonia has intrigued scientists and beckoned explorers for generations.
For the cruise portion of this compelling voyage, we have chosen the new 210-passenger exploration vessel, M/V Ventus Australis, which combines well-appointed accommodations and personalized service with meticulous environmental sensitivity. Following our flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, we board our vessel to sail through the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, and the fjords of Tierra del Fuego toward the end of the world to Ushuaia. Weather permitting we'll take Zodiacs to the legendary Cape Horn.
Later we'll explore Wulaia Bay, where Charles Darwin landed during his voyage on the H.M.S. Beagle and the southernmost beech forests of Tierra del Fuego National Park. Upon disembarkation in Ushuaia, our expedition ventures inland to Calafate to explore Glaciers National Park, declared by UNESCO to be part of the Natural Heritage of Humanity, and to marvel at the massive glacier, Perito Moreno. This enormous glacier rises nearly 200 feet above the Iceberg Channel, spans three miles across, and reaches back 22 miles through the Andes to Lago Argentino.
We continue our journey traversing the Andes into Chilean Patagonia to spend three nights at the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Torres del Paine National Park, set amid monolithic granite spires, azure colored lakes, and glaciers. Here condors ride on currents above the Andes, and foxes, rheas, and guanacos give chase in the windswept pampas. Join Yale to see Patagonia during the Southern Hemisphere's spring when the landscapes are majestic and spectacular.
