Located on a picturesque bay? Check. Rows of colourful houses lining the hills? Check. A network of trams and funiculars that take you to scenic views? Check that too. A thriving arts scene and exciting foodie culture? Double check. With these shared similarities, it’s no wonder that vibrant Valparaíso is often compared, as a compliment, to San Francisco in the opposite hemisphere.

Depending on when you arrive here, you might be lucky enough to have some time to explore before embarking MS Roald Amundsen. If you plan ahead, you can even extend your voyage by adding our optional Pre-Programme adventure to the beautiful Atacama Desert.

However, if you are short on time, you can start by taking a stroll around Sotomayor Plaza to admire the architecture and spot ships in the nearby port. You could then head up into the Concepción Hills neighbourhood for panoramic viewpoints and trendy cafés, and make your way through the maze-like network of narrow streets. Baburizza Palace near Paseo Yugoslavo is home to the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts as well as a string of eateries that serve up sumptuous Chilean seafood such as conger eel stew, razor clams à la parmesan and scallops al pil pil chilli dressing. 

Don’t fill up on too much local food though as, once you’re on board the ship, there’ll be a welcome dinner to feast on too! This usually takes place after checking-in, introductions to the Expedition Team, and the all-important health and safety meeting.

Tucked away off a fjord in the middle of Chiloé Island, Castro has evolved from Chile’s third oldest city into a cosmopolitan capital that still manages to be classic Chilote in character. The typical postcard picture that you’ll want to see for yourself are the brightly painted palafitos. These are traditional wooden stilt houses that you can find lining the edges of the fjord at Gamboa wharf. The nearby UNESCO-listed Church of San Francisco is also a masterpiece of carpentry made entirely of wood in a Neo-Gothic style.

Other attractions you might like to check out are the Plaza de Armas centre of the city, the impressive Museum of Modern Art of Chiloé, and the Regional Museum of Castro. You can also spend the day sampling the wide range of high-quality restaurants and gastro-pubs that have popped up here for the fresh seafood and views of the fjord.

This tiny hamlet lies along a bay on a remote peninsula that juts out into a fjord in the province of Última Esperanza. As we sail into the area, you’ll immediately appreciate that the port’s main draw is its access to the exceptional landscapes of Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, which were surely the inspiration for naming the hamlet ‘Eden’ to begin with. The park is the largest protected area in Chile, made up of a stunning network of silent fjords and beautiful mountains covered in native forests. Keep on the lookout for South Andean deer on the nearby slopes, marine otters in the water, and cormorants up above.

The climate of the region, that of frequent rainfall, high humidity and heavy storms, makes Puerto Edén only accessible by sea and one of Chile’s most hard-to-reach inhabited places. There are no roads to, from or even within the isolated village, just boardwalks and footpaths that connect the homes of its less-than 200 inhabitants. A dozen of these residents are the last known community of the indigenous Kawéskar people who make a living fishing and selling wicker baskets to any travellers that pass through.

Our journey down the Chilean coast continues south through the many broken isles and fabled fjords of Chile’s rugged Magallenes Province. We will be in the western part of the Strait of Magellan, so named after the famous 16^th century Portuguese explorer who first traversed it.

The plan for today is that there isn’t one! After all, where’s the sense of fun and adventure if everything is scripted beforehand? The day’s activities and any landings will therefore be decided at the discretion of the Expedition Team. They will draw on their in-depth knowledge of the area to pick out the most interesting sites for you to explore, and based on the local weather conditions that day.

Whether cruising aboard small explorer boats or just out on deck aboard the ship, remember to scan the shores for picturesque waterfalls, birdlife, and maybe colonies of Magellanic penguins and, if lucky, elephant seals. In the waters themselves, you might get a rare glimpse of various species of whales.

Once we arrive in Ushuaia, you’ll catch a transfer to the airport for a flight to Buenos Aires. From here, you can either fly home or stay on for a few days to explore the city where tango was born. You can also opt to add on a post-programme to the magnificent Iguazu Falls on the Brazilian border.

But just before you depart for Ushuaia airport, you’ll sadly have to say goodbye to the ship, the crew and your amazing Expedition Team. Each of them has worked very hard to make your adventure a joyful and unforgettable one. We share an overall goal: to show that expedition cruises can and should be done sustainably, inspiring all of us to do more to cherish our wonderful planet. We hope that you’ll take that same appreciation home with you and share it with your friends and family. Together, we can be better. Here’s to seeing you on your next adventure!