On our first full day in Patagonia, we cruised west through Glacier Alley on National Geographic Endurance. We arrived at Seno Pía, a spectacular glacially-carved fjord in Patagonia. After breakfast and a safety briefing, the low clouds lifted. We boarded Zodiacs for a trip to get closer to the faces of the two tidewater glaciers. We noticed an abundance of seabirds, fur seals, and floating icebergs along the way. As we cruised out of the fjord, we admired the breathtaking scenery with glacial features and waterfalls. Later, we cruised east along Glacier Alley, noticing the abundant glaciers and glacial features. We made a landing at Caleta Olla and enjoyed walking along the shoreline and going on various exploratory hikes to see Hollandia Glacier and its glacial lake. At recap and Captain’s Welcome Cocktail Hour, we enjoyed sharing our adventures with our fellow guests as we continue cruising deeper into the fjords.
3/28/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
Isla de los Estada, Ushuaia
We entered Bahia Capitan Canepa where the mountains were rounded over by ancient glacial grinding and the valleys had begun to fill in with nothofagus trees and many of the ferns, mosses, and lichens familiar to the rest of this region. Waterfalls were found around every corner, and both sea lions and fur seals were scattered about, playing in the cool water. Some places felt like scenes from Jurassic Park with waterfalls turning to showers before they hit the seawater below, while the wind fiercely blew the scattering droplets about. The rain was steady, but moods were bright as we encountered shags and oystercatchers along the shores of this magical place. Showers cleared by the afternoon while we made our way west to Ushuaia on the final leg of this voyage. The Beagle Channel always feels different depending on what direction we are traveling. At the beginning it is wonderous and full of mystery, but the return trip always feels sad as we prepare to disembark and bid farewell to our newly made friends. This part of the voyage is fun for spotting whales and Magellanic penguins, but we all know it is short for time. By 2130 dinner ended and National Geographic Endurance’s bow thrusters and Azipods were driving us to the pier for our final berthing of this incredible voyage.
