South America onboard Viking Jupiter (february 2024)

The 18-day itinerary was substantial :

– Buenos Aires (Argentina), overnight
– Montevideo (Uruguay)
– Puerto Madryn (Argentina)
– Port Stanley (Falkland islands)
– Le Cap Horn (navigation)
– Ushuaia (Argentina), overnight
– Les Fjords Chiliens (navigation)
– Punta Arenas (Chili)
– Puerto Montt (Chili)
– Valparaiso (Chili), overnight

Ushuaia

The city of Ushuaia has some Alpine village-like features. But with the addition of the sea. This surprising combination gives it incredible charm, especially during this rather mild season.

The museum visited here happens to be a former prison. The tour passes through what must have been a place with extremely difficult living conditions. It sends shivers down your spine. Throughout the cells, snippets of local history and the conquest of this particularly inhospitable place are scattered.

The port of Ushuaia is an important departure point for many expedition ships. In 48 hours, I saw quite a few of them. Most of them I had never seen before. It was the first time I saw the Viking Octantis, one of Viking’s newest expedition ships. I also saw the Seabourn Venture, the Scenic Eclipse 2, the Quark Express Ultramarine… in addition to the more classic Celebrity and Oceania.

These expedition ships regularly head toward Antarctica. Some only approach it, while others break through the ice to allow their passengers to explore the ice floes. This is the case, for example, of the Commandant Charcot, the Ponant expedition ship. It was in the region, but unfortunately not in Ushuaia at the time.

Chilean fjords

The Viking Jupiter sailed up the coast of Chile between the mountains, offering a magnificent journey through the Chilean fjords. Slightly less impressive than the Norwegian fjords, the navigation is no less captivating, and approaching a glacier is always an intense experience.

A little Viking moment, which never misses the slightest opportunity to surprise its passengers: members of the crew went to retrieve a small iceberg (or a huge ice cube!) which they displayed in the Atrium… an excuse for a caviar tasting.

Punta Arenas

Another colorful city, very pleasant to visit.

The museum of the day is a reconstruction of the conquest of the region by pioneers, their living conditions, their means and their history, with the beginning of industrialization.

Puerto Montt

Last stop before the final port of call. A visit to the town of Frutilac on the shores of Lake Llanquihue gives an idea of the beauty of Chile’s Lake District.