Ultimate Antarctica & Patagonia - 6214

San Antonio, Chile, is a Pacific port 63 km south of the port of Valparaiso. San Antonio is the largest freight handling port on the western coast of South America. The city lies on hills and coastal dunes north of the mouth of the Maipo River. It was seriously affected by earthquakes most recently in 1985 and 2010. Read more about San Antonio, Chile

Puerto Montt is a fast growing city in the south of Chile, just north of Chiloe Island. At the southern end of the Pan American highway in Chile, Puerto Montt is not only the end of the road, but the beginning of the fabled land of fjords, canals, islands, and the snow-capped mountains of the Andes. Fertile agricultural fields and green forested hills also add to the enchantment of Southern Chile. It is an all-season destination. Read more about Puerto Montt, Chile

Castro, situated on the east coast of Chiloe Island, sits on a bluff above its sheltered estuary and is the capital of the Chiloe Archipelago, in Chile. Castro is famous for its brightly painted traditional wooden stilt houses, so the greatest single attraction is simply walking down the streets and around the central Plaza de Armas. With its well-kept park that is surrounded by many shops and restaurants, it presents a great opportunity to absorb the local culture. Also of interest is a former railway yard, Plazuela del Tren - transformed into a pleasant park – with a display of locomotives and other vehicles, as well as machinery that was used from 1912-1960. Read more about Castro, Chile

Strikingly rich in natural and historical attractions, the narrow fjords on the west coast of Chile penetrate deeply into the mountains of the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, a major part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. This is the largest of the protected areas in Chile, and with no large rivers in the area the fjords drain water from outlet glaciers of the ice-capped, storm-swept elevations. It is a large area of uninhabited islands, deep sounds, breathtaking glaciers, and narrow passages. Because of its rugged geography and the remoteness of the area, tourism in the park, as yet, has scarcely been developed. Read more about Chilean Fjords, Chile

The Strait of Magellan, positioned along the southern edges of Chile, is the most important natural passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans. Indeed until the Panama Canal was finished in 1914, the Strait of Magellan was the only safe way to complete a circumnavigation of the world. Protected by the Tierra del Fuego to the south and the bulk of South America to the north, ships crossed in relative ease. It is approximately 570 km long and is about 2 km wide at its narrowest point. Read more about Strait Of Magellan, Chile

Punta Arenas, overlooking the Strait of Magellan in southern Patagonia, Chile, bustles with windswept trekkers en route to glacier-filled Torres del Paine National Park or an Antarctic cruise. Before leaving, be sure to take note of the mansion-lined main square, Plaza Muñoz Gamero where local vendors sell homemade crafts, the City Cemetery with its elaborate tombs, the Sara Braun Palace, and Braun Menendez Residence that presents great insight of the city's wealthy pioneer past. The city is also home to the former British Navy base and early Spanish colony of Puerto Hambre, and a popular ski centre that overlooks the Strait of Magellan. Read more about Punta Arenas, Chile

The Beagle Channel, named after Charles Darwin’s exploration ship, runs for 240km from Isla Nueva in the east, to the Darwin Sound in the west. At its widest point, the Channel measures 5km across. The strait separates Argentina’s Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, to the north, from remote Chilean islands like Nueva, Picton and Navarino to the south of the channel. At the western end of the channel it splits into two branches that encircle Isla Gordon. Read more about Beagle Channel, Chile

Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, is located on the Beagle Channel, where soaring mountains, ice-blue glaciers, and an historic lighthouse create an ideal backdrop. The capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego, it was first settled by British missionaries. During the first half of the 20th C the major building of the city was a prison, built by the Argentinian government for repeat offenders and serious criminals, as the subpolar oceanic climate made escape difficult. Today the Old Prison is a National Historical Monument housing the Museo Maritimo, where visitors can explore the history of the Argentine Navy. Read more about Ushuaia, Argentina

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Permanent ice covers the peninsula, which consists of a string of bedrock islands that are a continuation of the range stretching from far north Alaska, known as the American Cordillera. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Permanent ice covers the peninsula, which consists of a string of bedrock islands that are a continuation of the range stretching from far north Alaska, known as the American Cordillera. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Permanent ice covers the peninsula, which consists of a string of bedrock islands that are a continuation of the range stretching from far north Alaska, known as the American Cordillera. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Permanent ice covers the peninsula, which consists of a string of bedrock islands that are a continuation of the range stretching from far north Alaska, known as the American Cordillera. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Permanent ice covers the peninsula, which consists of a string of bedrock islands that are a continuation of the range stretching from far north Alaska, known as the American Cordillera. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost part of the mainland of Antarctica, the top one third (650km) actually lying north of the Antarctic Circle. It includes numerous islands and connecting ice sheets that reach to within 1000 km of the southernmost tips of Chile and Argentina. The northern part of the peninsula in known as Graham Land, the southern half Palmer Land. Permanent ice covers the peninsula, which consists of a string of bedrock islands that are a continuation of the range stretching from far north Alaska, known as the American Cordillera. Read more about Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Read more about South Georgia, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Montevideo is the largest city, capital, and chief port of Uruguay. Situated on the River Plate (Silver River), it is also home to almost half of the nation's population, and subsequently is a modern metropolis, though with a fascinating historical old town dating back to colonial times. Described as a vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life, it is the hub of commerce. The varied architecture reflects its history that ranges from colonial to Art Deco, all influenced by either Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French or British immigrants. Read more about Montevideo, Uruguay

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina, located on the eastern shore of the Rio de la Plata, on the SE coast of South America. The birthplace of the tango, the city is as bustling with energy as the dance itself. Stroll neighbourhoods with romantic restaurants, past its architecture and parks. The 20-lane main boulevard is the longest in the world, fashioned after the Champs-Élysées. Read more about Buenos Aires, Argentina