Magellan Explorer is a modern expedition vessel custom built for the Antarctic fly-cruise expeditions. The ship was constructed in Chile to the latest Polar Code specifications and launched in 2019. For our air-cruises, Magellan Explorer has seven categories of accommodation, including dedicated single cabins. All cabins except Porthole Cabins feature private balconies. All double cabins, except four, have two twin beds that can be configured as one king-size bed. All cabins feature a wardrobe, an individually controlled heating system, a sitting area, and a private bathroom with a shower. The ship features a glass-enclosed observation lounge and presentation room with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment, a spacious and stylish dining room, a well-stocked bar, a library, a meeting room, a gym, a sauna, and a medical clinic. The forward-facing observation deck leads to the ship’s bow, which is accessible to guests to offer proximity to marine wildlife. The ship has a fleet of 10 Zodiacs that are well suited for disembarking and wildlife watching. The fitness center aboard Magellan Explorer has been designed and built by the professionals at Anytime Fitness, the world’s only fitness company with boutique gyms on all seven continents.
Explorers House is an exclusive facility in Punta Arenas where the boat’s team helps you prepare for your expedition. It is a dedicated facility built from a converted heritage building. Here, guests can prepare for their expedition by attending briefings, reviewing checklists, trying on expedition gear, practicing wearing a life jacket, and learning how to board a Zodiac. You’ll be all set to go! (A21)
Cabins
There are seven categories of accommodations on this ship, all of which offer you a peaceful and private spot to rest and recharge for the next day’s adventure. Magellan Explorer also features a glass-enclosed observation lounge, a spacious dining room, and more.
Ship Specifications
76 Guests For Air-Cruises And 96 For Sea Voyages
60 Expedition Staff And Crew Members
Ice Class: LR PC6
Length: 90.7 M
Breadth: 16.2 M
Draft: 4.3
2 Fully Enclosed Lifeboats And 8 Life Rafts (Total Capacity: 320)
Propulsion: Diesel Engines, 3,440 KW
Cruising Speed: 14 Knots In Open Water
CLASSIC ANTARCTICA AIR-CRUISE SAMPLE ROUTE - 8 days / 7 nights
Drake Passage Antarctic Circle Frei Station Punta Arenas (Chile). An immersive Antarctic experience.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 —Start of the air-cruise. Arrive to Punta Arenas and attend a briefing and a welcome dinner at Explorers House with your fellow travelers.
DAY 2 —Scheduled flight to Antarctica. Fly to King George Island and board your boutique expedition vessel in Antarctica.
DAYS 3–6 —Explore Antarctica. Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs while enjoying the company of seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. On board the ship, attend an engaging program of educational presentations and enjoy spectacular views from the lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests.
DAY 7 —Scheduled return flight from Antarctica. Return to King George Island and board the flight back to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night. (Note: Meals in Punta Arenas are at your leisure and not included in the program).
DAY 8 —End of the air-cruise. After breakfast, a transfer takes you to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight.
POLAR CIRCLE AIR-CRUISE - 10 days / 9 nights
Drake Passage Antarctic Circle Frei Station Punta Arenas (Chile)
ITINERARY
DAY 1 —Start of the air-cruise. Arrive to Punta Arenas, and attend a briefing and a welcome dinner at Explorers House with your fellow travelers.
DAY 2 —Scheduled flight to Antarctica. Fly to King George Island and board your boutique expedition vessel in Antarctica.
DAYS 3–8 —Explore Antarctica. Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs while enjoying the company of seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. On board the ship, attend an engaging program of educational presentations and enjoy spectacular views from the lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests. The goal of this expedition is to sail far south in an attempt to reach the Antarctic Circle.
DAY 9 —Scheduled return flight from Antarctica. Return to King George Island and board the flight back to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night. (Note: Meals in Punta Arenas are at your leisure and not included in the program).
DAY 10 —End of the air-cruise. After breakfast, a transfer takes you to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight.
ANTARCTICA & SOUTH GEORGIA AIR-CRUISE - 18 days / 17 nights
Drake Passage Antarctic Circle Punta Arenas (Chile). South Georgia Ushuaia (Argentina) Frei Station. Discover the largest King penguin colonies in South Georgia.
ITINERARY
DAY 1 —Start of the air-cruise. Arrive to Punta Arenas, and attend a briefing and a welcome dinner at Explorers House with your fellow travelers.
DAY 2 —Scheduled flight to Antarctica. Fly to King George Island and board your boutique expedition vessel in Antarctica.
DAYS 3–6 —Explore Antarctica. Cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and among spectacular icebergs while enjoying the company of seabirds, penguins, seals, and whales. Each day, disembark by Zodiac and explore the landscape together with expert polar guides. On board the ship, attend an engaging program of educational presentations and enjoy spectacular views from the lounge while sharing your daily adventures with fellow guests.
DAY 7 —Elephant Island. Sailing north, we hope to stop at Elephant Island, where the crew of Shackleton’s Endurance found refuge while he and five handpicked men carried on to South Georgia.
DAYS 8–9 —At sea, sailing to South Georgia.
DAYS 10–13 —Explore South Georgia. The island features majestic mountains, massive glaciers, grassy uplands, and deep fjords. Visit the former whaling outpost of Grytviken, where you may pay your respects at the simple grave of Ernest Shackleton. At St. Andrew’s Bay be overwhelmed by the sight of 150,000 king penguins. Explore Drygalsky Fjord and discover macaroni penguin colonies and South Georgia's largest glacier. At the peak of the breeding season, it is said to have the highest concentration of wildlife per square meter on the planet. If the weather is favorable, visits are also planned at Fortuna Bay, Salisbury Plains and Elsehul Bay.
DAYS 14–16 —At sea, sailing towards South America.
DAY 17 —At sea and Beagle Channel. Approach the South American continent and sail along the Beagle Channel. Take in the beauty of Tierra del Fuego and Navarino Island as you make your way to Ushuaia.
DAY 18 —End of the air-cruise. Arrive to Ushuaia, Argentina, where your journey ends.
Check out the boat HERE
Chilean Fjords + Patagonia (Apr-Sep)
Day 1: Puerto Montt, Embarkation
Your journey begins in Puerto Montt, Chile, with boarding between 3 PM (15:00 hrs) and 4 PM (16:00 hrs). After all mandatory briefings, the ship sets sail towards the Gulf of Corcovado.
Day 2: Puyuhuapi Channel
We continue south to visit the area around Puerto Aysen and Puyuhuapi in the Aysén region. As we cruise and explore the area, we see the landscape unfold with its many fjords, islands, and channels. We hope to visit either Puerto Cisnes, Puyuhuapi, or Magdalena Island, with the possibility to see dolphins, whales, cormorants, sea lions, and river otters.
Days 3: San Rafael National Park
Today, the ship reaches the Chonos Archipelago. Heading towards the Moraleda Channel, the vessel cruises around the area of San Rafael National Park, a biosphere reserve, if weather permits. The park is the main entry point to Chile's Northern Patagonian Ice Field. We will also explore the surrounding fjords, channels, islands, and coves.
Day 4: Day at Sea, Gulf of Penas
As we sail south, we cross the Gulf of Penas, enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The expedition team tells us about the indigenous inhabitants of these southern lands, the early Spanish colonizers, and famous explorers such as Charles Darwin, Fitz Roy, and Alberto de Agostini. We also learn about the region's biodiversity through presentations about the local marine fauna and flora.
Day 5: Caleta Tortel and Messier Channel
If weather permits, a visit to Caleta Tortel or the surrounding region is planned for the morning. Located between the mouth of the Baker River and a small cove within the Baker Channel, Caleta Tortel is a small village consisting mainly of stilt houses, typical of Chilotan architecture, built along the coast for several kilometers. Wooden walkways are built with Guaitecas cypress, they connect houses and give the village its distinctive look and unique culture. We continue sailing south towards Messier Channel and navigate through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59 feet) English Narrows for a privileged view of the glaciers of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Outside Antarctica, some of the largest glaciers in the southern hemisphere are found here.
Day 6: Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
We embark on a Zodiac excursion to the Amalia Glacier area or the surrounding glaciers along the Peel Fjord in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. We bask in the glacier’s icy-blue beauty and cruise across the sea and among its ice floes to uncover part of Chile's natural mystique. As we sail between snow-capped peaks to get a closer look at the glacier and its brilliant and rugged textures, we may spot dolphins swimming at a distance, cormorants or condors flying above, and otters.
Day 7: Day at Sea, Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego
While heading south along the Strait of Magellan, we explore the waters of the fjords that branch out from Tierra del Fuego. We follow the remote coast around the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a protected area in the southern hemisphere where whales feed. If we are lucky, we may be able to spot humpback or sei whales breaching in the distance. We may also see dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels.
Day 8: Beagle Channel & Garibaldi Fjord
The Beagle Channel is a striking narrow passage in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, a region originally named after the fires that burned in local native settlements when the first European explorers arrived. Dividing Chile and Argentina, the passage showcases ice formations along the snow-dusted Darwin Range. We will sail along Glacier Alley, home to the Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche glaciers, aiming to explore the Garibaldi Fjord.
Day 9: Ushuaia Argentina, Disembarkation
Morning arrival in Ushuaia and disembarkation.
Note: the itinerary presented above is for reference. As for any expedition cruise, our route will be subject to weather conditions and the requirements of the Chilean authorities.
* Contact us for dates, rates & bookings!
Polar Prize
Early Penguin Special - $1500 off
* Valid on Classic & Polar Air-Cruises 2026/27. Book by Jun 30, 2025
Patagonia + Chile Trips
$1000 off