12-Day South America & Cape Horn Cruise Itinerary

A European-influenced capital with time for tango before an evening departure

Buenos Aires is a full day's worth of sightseeing on its own, and most ships depart in the evening, leaving time for the city's tango culture — a genuinely essential experience here, not a tourist cliché elsewhere.

A relaxed, walkable capital directly across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires

Montevideo is noticeably quieter and more low-key than Buenos Aires, with a well-preserved Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) and a long riverside promenade (the Rambla) that locals use for walking, cycling, and mate-drinking.

Sailing south along the Argentine coastline toward the Falkland Islands

The stretch south from Montevideo toward the Falklands typically spans two full sea days, giving time to settle into the ship's rhythm before the more remote half of the itinerary begins.

Continuing south into increasingly remote, wildlife-rich waters

Onboard naturalists often begin wildlife and Antarctic-region lectures around this point in the voyage, as the itinerary moves from mainland South America into sub-Antarctic waters.

A remote British Overseas Territory known for penguins and wide-open landscapes

Port Stanley is the Falkland Islands' only town, and tenders bring passengers ashore to a landscape that feels closer to Scotland than South America — rolling green hills, a small British-style town center, and some of the most accessible penguin colonies on the entire itinerary.

Approaching Tierra del Fuego and the southernmost tip of South America

This sea day typically brings the itinerary's most dramatic scenery lectures, covering the history of Cape Horn, Magellan's original passage, and the region's notoriously unpredictable weather.

The world's southernmost city, gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park

Ushuaia markets itself as "the End of the World," and it's also the primary staging port for Antarctica-bound expedition ships. Tierra del Fuego National Park, just outside town, is the region's essential excursion, often paired with a ride on the historic "End of the World" train.

Not a port call — a scenic passage around the southernmost tip of South America

Cape Horn is where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, historically one of the most dangerous passages in the world for sailing ships. Modern cruise ships pass close by (weather permitting) for photos, but this is a scenic viewing day rather than a landing — a genuinely rare bucket-list moment for anyone who's studied maritime history.

Glacier Alley and the narrow channels of Tierra del Fuego

The passage north through the Chilean Fjords includes Glacier Alley (Avenue of the Glaciers), where several tidewater glaciers are visible in quick succession from the ship — one of the most photographed stretches of the entire route.

Another major penguin-watching hub and a historic Strait of Magellan port town

Punta Arenas sits on the Strait of Magellan and serves as the launch point for boat trips to Magdalena Island, home to a large Magellanic penguin colony, as well as tours further south to see king penguins on Tierra del Fuego.

The final stretch north through the Chilean coastline toward Santiago

The last full sea day is the time to pack, settle the onboard account, and take in whatever's left on the ship's activity calendar before disembarkation the following morning.

Ending an Atlantic-to-Pacific crossing on Chile's central coast