Embark in Punta Arenas

A wind-whipped, fractured land of islands, glacial fjords and mountains, which drop away towards Antarctica. A hardy city, where the temperature hovers in single figures throughout much of the year, Punta Arenas nevertheless offers a warm welcome and refuge, ahead of - and following - epic adventures and expeditions south across the Drake Passage.

Captain Scott stopped here in 1904 – testing the postal service sending 400 letters of his successful return - and the city welcomed the rescued Ernest Shackleton and his Endurance crew to these shores in 1916. Punta Arenas is a remote place, but with custom-free status, and more than 120,000 people calling it home it's also surprisingly cosmopolitan. The commercial centre of Magallanes Punta Arenas is fueled by Chilean oil and gas - and establishing itself as a global centre for Antarctic research, with teams from various countries basing themselves here.

The town is built around the Plaza de Armas, its central square - be sure to kiss the toe of the Monumento del Indio Patagon statue, said to guarantee you good luck on your return.

After a peaceful night in your hotel, you will board the transfer vehicle to Punta Arenas airport for your flight home.

Eat a hearty Chilean breakfast in your hotel before leaving for the airport. We know your mind will be swimming with hundreds of remarkable memories from the days you have spent exploring the splendors of Antarctica.

Enjoy a 2-hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island and back in Business Class Luxury.