Depart for Punta Arenas, Chile. Thursday, January 6th Depart from U.S. airport. Punta Arenas, Chile

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1 Depart for Punta Arenas, Chile Thursday, January 6th Depart from U.S. airport Punta Arenas, Chile Friday, January 7th Arrive in Santiago and continue flight to Punta Arenas. Check into Hotel José Noguiera, a beautifully restored mansion on the central plaza and one of the oldest buildings in Patagonia. ( Explore on your own for the afternoon or take a guided tour with students and staff from the University of Magallanes and the University of North Texas. Punta Arenas is compact enough to discover on foot with two major historical and ethnographic museums. Also, the hotel is located on the Plaza Muñoz Gamero, where you'll find a bronze sculpture of Ferdinand Magellan. Here, Magellan is depicted as being surrounded by a representative of the region's four native tribes, one of whom has a shiny toe polished by the hundreds of visitors who kiss it each year; legend has it that if you kiss the toe, you'll be lucky enough to visit Patagonia once again. In the plaza, artisans display their crafts and souvenirs for sale, as well. Nearby, you'll find Punta Arena's principal historic edifices from its pioneering days, which have been well kept over the decades. Gather with your fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception and Dinner in the hotel s greenhouse, encircled in grapevines. Saturday, January 8th 1 5 pm Board the new Stella Australis cruise ship for a 4 day cruise through the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. 6 pm Welcome cocktail reception on board the Stella Australis. Afterwards, the ship departs for the "uttermost parts of the earth". Navigation thru Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, Chile Sunday, January 9th At dawn, we continue navigating through Almirantazgo Sound, arriving at Ainsworth bay, inside the Alberto De Agostini National Park. From a distance we may see the Marinelli Glacier which descends from the Darwin Mountain Range, and we will learn how life begins after the retreat of ice. We will also take a walk to discover a beaver dam in the marvelous sub polar Magellanic forest. On the beach, we will try to see elephant seals, but we cannot guarantee this as the precise location of the colony is unpredictable. Later, we sail to Tuckers Islets, and after lunch we board the Zodiac boats to view Magellanic Penguins (which only live in the Southern Hemisphere), and Cormorants.

2 Monday, January 10th We navigate along the main part of the Beagle Channel to reach Pia Fjord, where we disembark near Pia Glacier. We take a short hike to a look out point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, we continue sailing along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel through majestic Glacier Alley. Tuesday, January 11th We sail through the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, where we will disembark (weather permitting). The mythical Cape Horn was discovered in 1616, and it is a sheer, 425 meter (1,394 foot) high rocky promontory. For many years it was an important navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and it is known as the End of the Earth. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June In the afternoon, we go ashore at historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region s largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed here on January 23 rd, 1833; during the voyage of the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We will walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coihues, Canelos, ferns and other native vegetation to reach a look out point. 9:00 pm disembark in Puerto Navarino and transfer to Puerto Williams, where you will check in to the luxurious Ecolodge Lakutaia. Puerto Williams, Chile Wednesday, January 12th In the morning and afternoon small groups will be provided with an exclusive visit to the Omora Park. Guided by scientists and students from the University of North Texas and the Universidad de Magallanes, you will visit two principal trails: The Miniature Forests of Cape Horn and the World s Southernmost Forests. Lunch will be provided between visits to the Park. Dinner together in Hotel. Thursday, January 13th Morning excursion options with Omora Park students and staff include: visiting the Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum, shopping for Yahgan crafts at Ukika Village and trail walking to the top of Bandera Mountain on the Chile Trail. Lunch with local foods, including king crab in Mejillones Bay. Evening of presentations from Omora Park scientists and students in hotel.

3 Punta Arenas, Chile Friday, January 14 th Take a charter flight to Punta Arenas and check into Hotel José Noguiera Saturday, January 15 th Transfer to airport for flight back to U.S. Sunday, January 16 th Arrive in U.S. Post Tour Extension: January 15 19, 2011 $1,202 per person/double occupancy, $1,307/single. Your tour price includes. 3 nights accommodations at 5 star hotels. 5 Meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners. Half day guided bus tour of Santiago. Docent led tour of the Pre Columbian Museum Valparaiso: private vineyard tour and tasting. Airport transfers Saturday, January 15 th Fly to Santiago and check into the luxurious Hotel Plaza San Francisco, a five star hotel known for its excellent service and thoughtful details. The hotel is well situated for exploring the city. In the evening, gather for dinner and an introduction to Chilean wines by chef, sommelier and cookbook author, Liz Caskey. Dine in the private garden of a converted mansion in the posh area of El Golf, known locally as Sanhattan, for its tall buildings and fancy shops.

4 Sunday, January 16th This morning, take a half day tour of Chile s capital to catch its pulse and understand what makes this modern city tick! Stroll through the Plaza de Armas, the main square, and learn the history of the city and the significance of the surrounding buildings and how Santiago has evolved from a sleepy colonial town into Latin America s most prosperous and modern capital. Visit the impressive Pre Columbian Museum, housing some of the finest textiles and archeological pieces in Latin America. Take a docent led tour to bring this fascinating history to life. Check out the hip Fine Arts Museum neighborhood on the eastern fridges of the downtown with its stately buildings, grand apartments, shady parks and cobblestone streets. We ll stop to recharge our batteries with the perfect espresso. Before concluding the tour, drive through the funky, bohemian area of Bellavista and take the windy road to the top of Santiago s highest point, San Cristobal Hill. High above the city, you can see the Andes extending from north to south. Now that you ve been introduced to Santiago, the day is yours to explore. Valparaiso, Chile Monday, January 17th Travel to the charming historic port city of Valparaiso, recently declared a World Heritage Site. Exploring the coastal wine valleys is a distinctive route to arrive in the charming port of Valparaiso. Drive northwest over the coastal range towards the chilly, Pacific Coast to arrive in the San Antonio Valley, Chile s smallest wine appellation. Its proximity to the ocean allows for cool temperatures that produce high quality varietals like Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and other aromatic whites. This morning be welcomed at a world class winery with a stunning location: their own 25,000 acre valley. Snake through miles of eucalyptus and native pines as the rolling hills gradually reveal vineyards. A new biodynamic/organic project, alpacas graze peacefully in this serene, bucolic setting where the modern winery appears to meld into the landscape. Let the resident sommelier walk you through a private tour of the winery with sweeping views of the vineyards. Sit down to a professional style tasting of selected premium wines accompanied by tangy homemade sheep s milk cheese. Have lunch on the coast in Valparaiso. Spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring this enchanting port. Before arriving at our hotel, we will drive up the coast to Valparaiso s modern sister city, Vina del Mar, a vibrant resort and garden city. Break for an ocean side cappuccino accompanied by mouthwatering ice cream. Chileans are passionate about their ice cream so try some perennial favorites like manjar (milk caramel) or cherimoya (custard apple). Check into Hotel Casa Higueras, a chic, boutique hotel with an impressive view of the bay of Valparaiso.

5 Enjoy innovative Chilean cuisine this evening at one of Valparaiso s fine restaurants. Tuesday, January 18 th Enjoy the day on your own to explore at your leisure. This evening, transfer to the airport for overnight flight home. Wednesday, January 19 th Arrive in U.S.

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