Experience the full sweep of Patagonia at close range, from charming Chiloé Island to the wilds of Tierra del Fuego and the pinnacles of Torres del Paine National Park. Aboard the powerful yet nimble National Geographic Resolution, you’ll navigate the region’s winding network of fjords, channels and isles to access remote corners that reveal incandescent icebergs, gigantic glacial fields and ancient forests. Explore a swath of the breathtakingly scenic Route of the Parks, including Karukinka Reserve, which you’ll visit with special permission, and spot the myriad creatures that thrive within this vast, natural kingdom.
- Discover four national parks, including iconic Torres del Paine National Park, with its epic granite peaks, and Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park, where you’ll hike through forests of Sequoia-sized alerce trees
- Enjoy special access to Karukinka Natural Park in the wild heart of Tierra del Fuego to spot albatrosses, Andean condors, flying steamer ducks and more
- Sail the legendary Beagle Channel and venture deep into the Chilean fjords to explore by Zodiac, kayak and on foot
- Visit Chiloé Island, a World Heritage site beloved by Chileans and known for its brightly colored wooden stilt houses
- Capture the region’s boundless photo ops, from dramatic landscapes to captivating wildlife like guanacos and elephant seals, with help from a National Geographic photographer and a certified photo instructor
Availability is always subject to confirmation. Please check with us before booking flights
Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.
Arrive in Santiago, Chile's mountainous capital. Transfer to the Ritz-Carlton (or similar).
Arrival Time: Arrive by 4:00 p.m. local time.
Arrival City: Puerto Montt, Chile
This day has a recommended group flight.
Join the recommended flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, Chile’s southern gateway to Patagonia; transfers to the airport and luggage assistance will be provided. Transfer to the harbor to embark the National Geographic Resolution.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Tierra del Fuego is one of Patagonia’s crown jewels, and Karukinka Natural Park sits right in the heart of this breathtaking wilderness. Established in 2004 through a gift from Goldman Sachs, Karukinka is one of the largest donations ever made for conservation. With special permission from the Wildlife Conservation Society, visit this private reserve, which spans 1,160 square miles and harbors the endangered culpeo fox, Andean condors and many other kinds of wildlife. Explore Jackson Bay, backed by a skyline of rugged mountains, and look for wildlife—from the black-browed albatrosses that nest on a small nearby island to elephant seals, which you may spot on the beach, in grass meadows and even in the small river draining the valley inland.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sail the historic Beagle Channel through a vast and pristine region of soaring, snowcapped mountains, gigantic glaciers, thousands of verdant islands, serene lakes and waterfalls. Wind through the fjords, getting up close to a number of different glaciers, and stopping along the way to Zodiac cruise or kayak in protected waters. Hike the rugged shores where the blue and white ice contrasts with the verdant forest and bright flowering plants. Look out for Andean condors, albatrosses, grebes, petrels, fulmars, shearwaters and many other birds that inhabit this otherworldly realm. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After a thrilling navigation through the Kirke Narrows, arrive in Puerto Natales. From there, drive to monumental Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve famed for its jagged, granite mountains topped with a thick layer of dark slate. One of the most spectacular and wildlife-rich areas in the Americas, this stunning park shelters an array of fascinating creatures, from Andean condors and flamingos to rhea and puma, throughout its 450,000 acres of glaciers, forests, grasslands, rivers and vibrant lagoons. Explore among the jaw-dropping scenery on exceptional hikes and walks through this world-famous national park, taking in the dramatic granite peaks and diverse wildlife.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This vast region of incomparable scenery is seemingly untouched by humans except for a few fishing villages perched at “the end of the world.” Over the next few days, you’ll have multiple opportunities to hike, Zodiac cruise and kayak among snowcapped mountains, thousands of islands covered with forests, lakes, soaring granite walls and waterfalls. One of the many highlights is the Pio XI Glacier, the longest glacier in the southern hemisphere outside of Antarctica, running some 60 miles from the Patagonia icefield to the fjord, where it noisily calves off gigantic ice masses at a rate of one every several minutes. Get up close to this impressive natural wonder on Zodiac rides. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today, choose from two options. Take a morning excursion to Aiken del Sur, a privately owned park set in a beautiful evergreen forest with lovely lakes and waterfalls, including a 75-foot-high cascade. As you walk the well-maintained trails, keep an eye out for ringed kingfishers, woodpeckers and a variety of forest birds. Cap off the walk with a Patagonian lamb barbecue (with vegetarian options) and entertainment by local musicians.
Alternatively, take a full-day excursion to the Coyhaique National Reserve, driving up into a scenic valley nestled in the Andes, with views of the snow-covered peaks. The starting point for the day’s hike is Laguna Verde, “Green Lake,” which you’ll reach after passing through evergreen forest full of giant rhubarb and ferns into the transition zone of deciduous Nothofagus forest. An array of animals can be found here, including three Chilean woodpecker species, passerines, diurnal and nocturnal predatory birds, pumas and foxes. After the hike, enjoy a picnic lunch followed by time in the city of Coyhaique to see its central plaza and artisans’ stalls.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Located in the wildest and most remote territory of the Great Island of the Chiloé Archipelago, Tantauco Park is made up of evergreen forests, millennial cypress groves, bog plains from the last glacial period and imposing lakes and rivers. A formidable diversity of flora and fauna, including many endangered species, are concentrated within, and the park has been declared one of the 36 key sites of biodiversity on Earth, as well as a priority conservation spot in Chile. You will have a choice of walks or hikes through the forests with your naturalist guides and an opportunity to visit the museum and information center to learn more about the history, ecology and conservation work in this remote and rugged region. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the day exploring Chiloé Island, which is known for its unique palafitos, colorful fishermen’s houses precariously built on stilts along the water’s edge, as well as its wooden churches, collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town of Castro has shops and a large open-air market where the Chileans show their wares, such as alpaca sweaters and lapis jewelry. You may choose a trip to Chiloé National Park to see its forests, wetlands and wildlife, with a selection of longer or shorter walks. Alternatively, visit some of the welcoming small communities that dot the countryside and learn about their traditional rural way of life.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spanning 750,000 protected acres in Chilean Patagonia, Pumalín National Park is one of the last areas where the unusual alerce forest remains. These huge trees compare in size and age to California redwoods, with some specimens reaching 2,000 years old. The Pumalín Project was established in 1995 by the late American conservationist Doug Tompkins, who wanted to preserve some of the remaining virgin forest in Chile. Walk through the forest with naturalists, visit a hidden waterfall or climb along a rushing stream and look for forest birds along the trail. In the afternoon, head for the Golfo de Corcovado in search of Magellanic penguins, sooty shearwaters, dolphins and, with luck, whales. Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Disembark in Puerto Montt, where you’ll have some free time to explore before proceeding to the airport for your flight to Santiago and return flights home.
Departure Time: Depart after 6:00 p.m. local time.
Departure City: Santiago, Chile
Meals Included: Breakfast
National Geographic Resolution
| Passenger Capacity | 126 |
|---|---|
| Built | 2020 |
A next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation. National Geographic Resolution is a next-generation expedition ship, purpose-built for polar navigation. A twin to National Geographic Endurance, she is a fully stabilized, highly strengthened, ice-class Polar Class 5 (PC5) vessel, it is designed to navigate polar passages year-round, and safely explore uncharted waters, while providing exceptional comfort. Its patented X-BOW® is key to its design; its powerful wave-slicing action provides an extremely smooth ride in even adverse conditions, and even reduces spray on deck, for superior observation. She carries a full suite of expedition tools and offers a variety of experience-enhancing amenities.
The luxury of comfort on expedition. National Geographic Resolution comfortably accommodates 126 guests in 69 outside-facing cabins. Cabins are efficiently designed, with sizes range from the 140-square-foot solo cabin to the 430-square-foot category 7 suite. Fifty-three of the 69 cabins, including all 12 of the solo cabins, will feature small balconies with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that bring in the spectacular views and ample natural light.
Comfort & convenience in every room. Every cabin has two portholes, a large window or balcony, and temperature controls. Bathrooms are modern and stocked with botanically inspired hair products, soap, and shower gel, plus a hairdryer. Cabins are equipped with expedition command centers with tablets and USB/mobile device docking, TVs, Wi-Fi connections, and hair dryers.
Dining. Food served aboard is fresh, local, and delicious, and sourced from suppliers who share our values of sustainable use whenever possible. Meals aboard are almost always served in the dining room, located aft of the lounge deck. When weather conditions allow, lighter fare may be served on the observation deck. There is no assigned seating and our dining room accommodates the entire expedition community in a single seating. During meals your expedition leader, naturalists, and any guest speakers aboard will join you.
Public Areas: Two restaurants, a Chef’s Table for small group dining, Observation Lounge with bar, gym, Wellness area, infinity-style outdoor hot tubs, library, main lounge with full service bar, 24-hour beverage, state-of-the-art facilities for films, slideshows and presentations, and a photo workshop area; plus, an expedition base with lockers for expedition gear, and an “open bridge” for access to our captain, officers and the art of navigation.
Meals: Two restaurants, featuring local, sustainable choices and unassigned seating for flexible, inclusive dining; plus a Chef’s table for intimate, small group dining. Main restaurant has 270º views, and the Observation deck restaurant features lighter, made-to-order fare.
Special Features: A full-time doctor, undersea specialist, National Geographic photographer, Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor and video chronicler, an internet cafe and laundry.
Wellness: The vessel is staffed by our wellness specialists and features a glass-enclosed yoga studio, gym, treatment rooms and spa relax area, and high- and low-heat saunas with ocean views.
Expedition Landing Craft. Key to our operation is our fleet of expedition landing craft, which we use to land in places that would otherwise be inaccessible. With 14 of these boats and two loading stations used every time we disembark, we’re able to transfer guests off the ship quickly, so you can be out on adventures, not idly waiting. The expedition landing craft we use are 19 feet long, powered by four-stroke outboard engines, and are capable of comfortably carrying 10-12 people. They are widely recognized as the safest and most versatile small boats afloat.
Remotely Operated Vehicle. Capable of reaching 1,000 feet, far beyond the range of any Scuba diver, the ROV allows you to literally view parts of the undersea that are as unexplored as the moon. Chances are you, like many of our guests, will be struck by how surprisingly colorful undersea life is in these unlikely places. And this glimpse may fundamentally change how you view the ocean.
Kayaks. National Geographic Resolution will be equipped with a fleet of kayaks large enough to ensure everyone who wants to can paddle at every opportunity. Consequently, prior kayaking experience isn’t necessary—many of our guests have their first kayaking experience in extraordinary locations. Our custom-designed floating platform lets us deploy kayaks from the ship, or any location we want—including far from shore. Kayakers are usually free to explore where they want within boundaries set by the undersea specialist and officer of the watch.
Underwater camera. Our undersea specialist will dive often during your expedition, even in polar regions, with cold-water gear, to shoot high-definition, Cousteau-like footage of the deep. Colorful nudibranchs, swimming, plant-like crinoids, and mysterious fish with antifreeze blood that thrive in the frigid sea will give you an entirely new appreciation of the marine environment.
Video microscope. Naturalists will use the video microscope to help explain all elements of the environment, including tiny organisms that are the building block of the marine ecosystem. Spellbinding live views of krill at 80x magnification fills the high-definition screens in the lounge with vivid detail, and fills every onlooker with a sense of wonder at the importance of otherwise unobservable creatures.
Hydrophone. This underwater microphone is deployed to listen to the vocalizations of marine mammals. Real time transmissions of their eerie, haunting sounds can be broadcast through the ship or recorded for later playback. Few experiences in nature are as captivating as watching humpback whales feed close to the ship as their vocalizations play through the ship’s PA system.
Electronic charts. An electronic chart showing the ship’s location, course, and speed is almost always on display in the lounge.
Open bridge. You’ll find our captains are engaged, knowledgeable members of your expedition who are eager to share their passion with you. National Geographic Resolution's open bridge features comfortable spaces to sit, enjoy the view, drink your morning coffee, or simply chat with the officers.
Snorkeling gear & wetsuits. On warm weather itineraries where there will be snorkeling, you’ll select a mask, snorkel, fins, and wetsuit that remain yours for the duration of the expedition. There’s no need to pack and tote your own gear, although guests who prefer to are welcome to bring their own.
