25 January - At sea

26 January

Chile: Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt is the capital of the Chilean Lake District, spread out around a wide bay against a backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes. This wild region offers a host of outdoor activities, including mountain hikes, kayaking, white water rafting, fishing, zip lining and cycling.

27 January

Chile: Castro (Chiloé Island)

Rugged and unspoilt Chiloé, situated at the southern end of Chile’s Lake District, is a unique and culturally distinct island that stands apart from the rest of the country. The main town, Castro, is notable for its colourful waterfront homes on stilts (known as palafitos), and is the gateway to the dense forests and rolling hills of the island interior.

28 January

Chile: Puerto Chacabuco

Puerto Chacabuco is situated close to the Aysén Fjord and serves as a gateway to the Laguna San Rafael National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Amongst the lush forests, waterfalls and lagoons you have the chance to spot wildlife including marine otters, giant condors and Chilean dolphins.

29 January - At sea

30 January to 31 January

Chile: Chilean Fjords

1 February to 2 February

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.

3 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.

4 February - At sea

5 February

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.

5 February

Antarctica: King George Island

The relative proximity of King George Island to South America, together with the fact that around 10% of the island is ice-free, means that there are several research stations clustered here, along with an airfield. It’s the biggest island in the South Shetlands archipelago, and is also home to the world’s most southerly Russian Orthodox church!

6 February

Antarctica: Gerlache Strait

6 February

Antarctica: Paradise Harbour

7 February

Antarctica: Deception Island

Part of the South Shetland archipelago, Deception Island is a flooded volcanic caldera that forms one of the largest natural harbours in the world. The island was once a whaling station, and it’s also an active volcano - the British Antarctic Survey base here was abandoned in 1969 following an eruption.

7 February

Antarctica: Snow Hill Island

Remote and difficult to reach, on the edge of the ice-clogged Weddell Sea, Snow Hill Island is a very special place indeed. As the name suggests, the island is almost entirely capped by snow, and it’s one of the few places in Antarctica where it’s possible to see an emperor penguin colony on land.

8 February - At sea

9 February

Falkland Islands: Stanley

The rugged and windswept Falkland Islands make for a fascinating stop on the way to or from Antarctica. Over 80% of the population lives in the capital, Stanley, though humans are far outnumbered by other creatures, including penguins, sea lions and albatrosses.

10 February to 11 February - At sea

12 February

Uruguay: Punta del Este

The upmarket Uruguayan beach resort of Punta del Este is where the A-listers come to party, with a reputation as the Saint Tropez of South America. The town also has an arty side, typified by intriguing sculptures such as the giant concrete fingers emerging from the beach at Playa Brava.

13 February to 14 February

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.

15 February to 16 February

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.