18 February

Argentina: Ushuaia

Perched on the ragged southern edge of Argentina, where the snow-capped Andes fall away into the churning sea, Ushuaia has a frontier town feel to it, and serves as the base for expeditions into the icy waters of Antarctica.

19 February - At sea

20 February to 26 February

Antarctica: Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica is the world’s last great wilderness, an alien landscape of snow-covered mountains, jagged icebergs and extraordinary wildlife. February is a great time to spot whales, with species including humpback, sperm and orca, and you still have a chance of seeing penguin chicks. Fur seals are also abundant at this time of year. Expedition trips will spend time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, making several landings at various sites and cruising through scenic channels.

27 February - At sea

28 February to 1 March

Argentina: Ushuaia

Perched on the ragged southern edge of Argentina, where the snow-capped Andes fall away into the churning sea, Ushuaia has a frontier town feel to it, and serves as the base for expeditions into the icy waters of Antarctica.

2 March

Chile: Cape Horn

Surrounded by notoriously treacherous waters and battered by gale force winds known as the Furious Fifties, Cape Horn is the dramatic southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. This is the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet, watched over by a lonely lighthouse.

3 March

Chile: Pia Glacier (Glacier Alley)

3 March

Chile: Garibaldi Glacier

4 March to 5 March

Chile: Chilean Fjords

5 March

Chile: Águila Glacier

The majestic Águila Glacier lies within the Agostini Fjord at the heart of the Cordillera Darwin in Tierra Fuego, where snow-capped mountains rise up above the watery channels of the Patagonian temperate rainforest.

5 March

Chile: Condor Glacier

6 March

Chile: Tuckers Islets

7 March to 8 March - At sea

9 March

Chile: Punta Arenas

The weather-beaten city of Punta Arenas is a laid back and welcoming place, in spite of its inhospitable location on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. Nearby attractions include penguin colonies and the dramatic scenery of Torres del Paine National Park, while beyond the horizon lie the frozen wastes of Antarctica.

10 March - At sea

11 March

Argentina: Isla Pingüino

Tiny Isla Pingüino is named after its most famous inhabitants, the southern rockhopper penguins that arrive here to nest in October. Other wildlife to look out for includes elephant seals, red-legged cormorants, sea lions and the remarkable Commerson’s dolphin.

12 March - At sea

13 March

Argentina: Punta Piramides

14 March to 15 March - At sea

16 March

Uruguay: Montevideo

Located just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Uruguay’s underrated capital is a cosmopolitan and eclectic mix of colourful colonial architecture and high rise modernity. The 14-mile waterfront promenade, La Rambla, is a popular and pleasant place to be on a summer’s evening.

17 March

Arriving in Buenos Aires

The streets of Buenos Aires are redolent of a grand old European capital, lined with elegant architecture that wouldn’t look out of place in Madrid or Paris. There is also plenty of Latin passion on display: Argentina is the home of tango, that most electrifying of dances, and has played host to countless revolutions over the years.