This year Cape Horn reaches the 400th year anniversary of its discovery.
It was discovered by Dutch navigators, Jakob Le Maire and Willem Schouten, in 1616.
They were the first people to sail to Cape Horn through its notoriously treacherous waters and named the point ‘Cape Hoorn’ after the town of Hoorn in Holland, where they were born.
We sailed around the Cape last year and wrote all about it here
We sailed in Via Australis owned and operated by expedition cruise company, Australis, is the only company to offer trips to the magical Cape Horn at the very southerly tip of South America.
As it is inaccessible any other way and to celebrate the 400th anniversary of its dicovery Australis is to offer three to seven night itineraries travelling around Cape Horn, from September to April.
Itineraries typically start in either Ushuaia (the southernmost city in Argentina) or Punta Arenas (the southernmost city in Chile) and sail through Patagonia’s glacial channels before reaching Cape Horn.
At Cape Horn if the weather permits, Australis passengers are taken ashore by small zodiac boats to Cape Horn to explore the island and meet the Chilean naval officer who lives in the lighthouse and cares for the island.
Whilst on board guests can hear about the discovery of Cape Horn and its important role in the history of shipping.
Other highlights on the cruise include experiencing a colony of penguins up close; a trip to Wulaia Bay, where Darwin landed in 1833; a walk through the stunning Magellan Forest and a stop off at the beautiful Pia Glacier. The ship also sails through Glacier Alley, made up of deep fjords flanked with 6 glaciers called Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland, named after the expeditions that studied the area for the first time.
A four night trip with Australis costs from £934pp including accommodation, sea transportation, all meals, open bar on board, shore excursions and on board entertainment.