Tierra del Fuego Photo Expedition
Tierra del Fuego photo tours | Wildlife and Landscapes of Sub-Antarctic Patagonia
Aboard M/Y Steel Magnolia
5-day trip from Punta Arenas, Chile | Maximum group size: 10 participants
Tierra del Fuego photo tours. Tierra del Fuego is a huge island territory of Patagonia, encompassing the archipelagos located south of the mythic Straits of Magellan.
On this nature photography journey and wildlife cruise we will explore this vast and wild territory aboard the comfortable 75-ft M/V Steel Magnolia. Our program has been designed for photo and nature enthusiasts of all skill levels, willing to travel in a small group (with a maximum of 10 participants) and taking advantage of the great landscape and wildlife photography opportunities we will have during this itinerary. Tierra del Fuego photo tours.Tierra del Fuego photo tours
This itinerary offers spectacular wildlife highlights including feeding pods of Humpback Whales, up to four dolphin species and four seals and sea lions. We will have the chance to visit breeding colonies of penguins, albatrosses and cormorants and during the zodiac landings we will explore the lush sub Antarctic southern beech forests and the impressive glaciers of the Darwin Range. Join us on this unique journey of discovery and follow the footsteps of Magellan, Darwin and Fitz-Roy among so many explorers, here at the End of the Earth. Tierra del Fuego photo tours.Tierra del Fuego photo tours
Trip Highlights
• A small-ship expedition geared up for wildlife photographers and nature enthusiasts willing to travel in a small group.
• Explore the pristine western regions of Tierra del Fuego, its many fjords, channels and glaciers, an area of fantastic scenery and rich history of exploration.
• Intriguing wildlife including penguins, seabirds and marine mammals, many species which you can find in isolated regions of Antarctica and sub-Antarctic islands, all here in Patagonia.
• Explore the sub-Antarctic forests of Patagonia.
• Great opportunities to see and photograph cetaceans including Humpback Whale, Sei Whale, Peale’s Dolphin and Commerson’s Dolphin.
• Impressive pinnipeds such as Southern Elephant Seal, Leopard Seal, Southern Fur Seal and South American Sea Lion.
Itinerary in Brief
Important note: Guests are advised to stay in Punta Arenas, the prior and last nights of this itinerary.
Day 1 • Early transfer to Punta Carrera (4am) – Sailing through Gabriel Channel towards Tucker islets
Day 2 • Exploring the Tucker Islets – Sailing through Admiralty Sound towards Jackson Bay and Parry Fjord
Day 3 • Exploring Ainsworth Bay – Sailing through Gabriel Channel
Day 4 • Exploring Francisco Coloane Marine Park – Sailing through Barbara Channel, Shag Pass and Seno Helado
Day 5 • Sailing through the Magellan Straits – Cape Froward – Back to Punta Carrera – Transfer to Punta Arenas – End of our Tierra del Fuego Photo Expedition
Expedition Map
Detailed Itinerary and Activities
Important: Guests are advised to stay in Punta Arenas, the prior and last nights of this itinerary.
Start the journey from Punta Arenas at 4am. Transfer by van to Punta Carrera (50km south of Punta Arenas) where we will board the yacht M/V Steel Magnolia. We will set off exploring the Magellan Straits in direction to the scenic Gabriel Channel. Cape Froward is the most southerly point of the American continent and we will spot the impressive cross erected at its peak to honor sailors and explorers of the past. We will have great chances to see pods of Peale’s Dolphins, Sei Whale, Black-browed Albatross and the snowy peaks of Tierra del Fuego, the mythic Darwin Range.
Night on board M/V Steel Magnolia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
The Tucker Islets are located south of Dawson and Wickham Islands and are teeming with wildlife. Both are a fantastic place to photograph Magellanic penguins plus several seabird species including skuas, gulls, terns among many others. We will approach the seabird colonies by zodiac and photograph them from a prudent distance. Afterwards, we will continue exploring the broad Admiralty Sound. We will have alternate visits to the small Southern Elephant Seal rookery located at Jackson Bay and circumnavigate the small colony of Black-browed Albatross, located the small islet called Islote Albatross. We will set off towards the pristine Parry Fjord and its outstanding views of the many glaciers descending from the Darwin Range. We are going to investigate the ice floes searching for Leopard Seal; there is a small and fairly unknown population of this massive seal, mostly related to the Antarctic.
Night on board M/V Steel Magnolia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
We will have the whole day to explore the remote and striking Ainsworth Bay concentrating on photographing its glaciers, morraine patterns, the untamed peaks of the Andes as well as to explore its rocky shoreline as we look for wildlife in the world’s southernmost woodlands. We are going to explore this scenic region by zodiac as well to set foot on these seldom visited places belong to the huge Alberto De Agostini National Park, honoring of the most prolific explorers of the region. The secluded Finlandia Fjord will be our main target for the day, named by Finnish explorer Vaino Auer. In the late afternoon we will set off towards Gabriel Channel.
Night on board M/V Steel Magnolia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
We will explore the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, which was the first marine protected area of Chile, established to protect the migratory population of Humpback Whales, coming every year to Patagonia in order to feed and nurse their young after they give 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, seal lions, fur seals and if we are lucky, Orca sometimes can 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.
Night on board M/V Steel Magnolia (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
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 hold 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.
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner). Tierra del Fuego photo tours.
Dates & Rates
Scheduled Departures
Trip Length | 5 days, 4 nights |
Dates | March 23 to 27, 2024 |
Price per person (USD) | $4,598 |
Single Supplement (USD) | Just 2 cabins can be used as a single cabin. Guest has to pay for the 2 berth spots. |
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What the trip includes/excludes
The above prices are per person in US Dollars, based on double occupancy. All payments are in US Dollars.
Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested.
The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, transfers and park entrance fees.
The trip price excludes: Domestic flights, tipping for crew and guides, travel insurance, entrance tax to Chile, excess baggage charges, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.
The Vessel
M/V Steel Magnolia
| Length: | 23.2 m., 76'1" |
| Beam: | 5.9m., 19'4" |
| Draught: | 2.7m., 8'10" |
| GRT: | 99 tonnes |
| Engine: | 2 Detroit 165 HP |
| Builder: | Fairmile Construction Co. Ltd. (1973, refitted 2005 & 2023) |
| Crew: | 4 |
| Passengers: | 10 |
| Accommodations: | 2 triple cabins (3 guests per cabin) |
| 2 double cabins (2 guests per cabin) | |
| 3 bathrooms | |
| Liferafts: | 1x 25 people |
| Auxiliary boats: | 2x 8-passenger zodiacs |
Tour Registration
To book this tour, please fill in our online registration form. We will process your booking and will send you a note with space confirmation and a transfer invoice with payment instructions within 24 hours. The transfer amount is 500 USD per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
NOTE: Inquiries received on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will be replied to during the following working day.
Cancellation Policy
Notice of cancellation can only be accepted in writing from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.
Refunds are made according to the following schedule:
• If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the transfer amount minus 200 USD is refundable.
• If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the transfer is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.
• If cancellation is made less than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.
This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.