Southern Quest from Buenos Aires with Stay, 5 February 2026 (26 nights)

Among the best opera houses in the world, Teatro Colón is a historic theatre venue in the heart of Buenos Aires, boasting stunning exterior architecture, impressive interior designs, and rooms boasting the best acoustics for operas and the second-best acoustics for music concerts in the world. To say seeing a show here is an incredible experience would be an understatement; it would be one of the best shows in the world. Although, if you don’t have time for that, the building itself is still worth taking the time to admire.

Among the most vibrant areas of Buenos Aires, El Caminito is touristy for all the right reasons and a must-visit area of Argentina’s capital. Found within La Boca, a historically working-class neighbourhood in the heart of the city, you’ll be met with brightly-coloured buildings, lively street performers, and fascinating art museums when you visit here. It’s thought of as something of a time capsule, showcasing the best of Buenos Aires in the early 20th century, and a fantastic place to spend some time immersing yourself in the incredible culture here.

Buenos Aires’ oldest neighbourhood, San Telmo, is overflowing with historic charm, authentic cuisine, and fascinating buildings and landmarks. From El Zanjón de Granados and Museo de la Historia del Traje to Casa Mínima, Museo Moderno, and more, culture vultures and history buffs will find themselves with an abundance of activities when spending any amount of time here. And, for everyone else, this neighbourhood is full of vibrant culture to immerse yourself in, with restaurants, bars, and more to explore.

A monumental example of neo-classical architecture in the heart of Montevideo, the Legislative Palace of Uruguay acts as the meeting place of the General Assembly of Uruguay, the seat of the legislative branch of the Uruguayan government, and a remarkable landmark to see when you visit. Built between 1904 and 1925, it was constructed to commemorate 100 years of Uruguayan independence.

Built in 1930 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first Constitution of Uruguay as a homage to the original members of the General Assembly, this three-sided structure stretches 40 metres up and is flanked by three bronze structures representing Law, Liberty, and Force. In 1983, it was the site of Rio de Libertad – the nation’s largest demonstration ever, demanding an end to the civil-military dictatorship in place at the time.

Standing 95 metres tall, this stunning structure takes advantage of eclectic architectural designs to deliver one of the most remarkable buildings in Montevideo. Built with the intention of being a hotel in 1928, it’s now a mixture of private residences and office spaces – though tours of the building are available at select times during the day.

A sculpture completed in 1982 by Chilean artist Mario Irarrazabal, La Mano (The Hand) has quickly become one of Uruguay’s most recognizable landmarks; depicting five human fingers emerging from the sands of Brava Beach, La Mano represents the dangers of drowning in the rougher waters of La Barra – which also make this a prime spot for surfing.

Opened in 1996, this nautical natural history museum is one of the most interesting spots to visit in Punta del Este – though, it’s a little more than a stone’s throw from the beachfront. Here, you’ll find over 5,000 species of marine fauna, an impressive exhibit on history’s most famous pirates, and almost 40,000 specimens of insects in the Insectarium.

Just 13km from central Punta del Este, Casapueblo is a stunning structure inspired by houses on the Mediterranean coast of Santorini and the nest of a red ovenbird – the national bird of Argentina. Constructed by, and once permanent residence of, Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez Vilaro, Casapueblo now hosts a hotel, a museum, and a restaurant among other amenities.

Located in the historic dockyard of Port Stanley, the Falkland Islands Museum boasts a comprehensive collection of artefacts and historic items that explore the natural and cultural history of this archipelago. If you want to know more about the Falkland Islands, this is one of the best places in the world to spend some time. You’ll also find an interactive room that explores the stories of Falkland Islands residents during the Falklands War in 1982, highlighting the real impact of this conflict, as well as an area dedicated to the region’s maritime history.

Built in 1845, Government House is the home of the Falkland Islands’ governors and one of the most important landmarks in Port Stanley. Alongside being somewhere where Ernest Shackleton stayed during his famous Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition in the 1910s, and home to one of the world’s southernmost grape vines, Government House was also the site of a major battle during the 1982 invasion of the Falkland Islands, an event that kicked off the Falklands War, and where the surrender was ultimately issued.

Roughly four miles northeast of Port Stanley, Yorke Bay is a stunning destination to visit when spending some time in the Falkland Islands’ capital. Known internationally as a breeding ground for Magellanic penguins, a threatened species also found along the coast of Argentina and Chile, this is a fantastic place to see these incredible birds in their natural habitat. Interestingly, much of this area serves as an unplanned wildlife refuge, with Yorke Bay among several areas of coastline that were heavily mined during the Falklands War, making them unsafe for visitors. The island is free of landmines now, though, and you’ll be able to observe the wildlife and admire the stunning scenery of Yorke Bay from a safe distance.

Named after Captain Carl Anton Larsen, master of the Norwegian whaling vessel Jason, which ventured along the coast of Antarctica in 1893, the Larsen Ice Shelf is a staggering platform of glacial ice that stretches from Cape Longing to Smith Peninsula; often the source of the iceberg shards you’ll encounter in the Antarctic Sound and an impressive feat of nature you can spot from miles away on a clear day, the ice shelf roughly covers an area of 26,000 square miles today – which is comfortably over three times the size of Wales.

As you near coastal areas when traversing the Antarctic Sound, you’ll have the opportunity to marvel at several species of penguin in their natural habitat. Particularly, an area known as Hope Bay is home to one of the continent’s largest colonies of Adélie penguins, and you’ll have the chance to spot Adélie and gentoo penguins in Trepassey Bay too. It’s important to keep in mind that the specific wildlife sightings you’ll experience when cruising the Antarctic Sound can vary depending on the current weather conditions and the time of year you’re travelling.

Several species of whale can be spotted in the waters surrounding Antarctica, the Antarctic Sound included. While the specific wildlife sightings you experience will vary depending on the current weather conditions and time of year you’re travelling, humpback whales, orcas, and minke whales are all among the species spotted in these icy waters before. You may also be able to spot a blue whale in these waters, although that is incredibly rare.

An expansive national park that protects nearly 70,000 hectares of land, the Tierra del Fuego National Park combines marine areas, forests, and mountains to create a truly fascinating place worth exploring if you have the time while visiting Ushuaia. Here, you’ll find everything from luscious woodland and tumbling waterfalls to dramatic mountains and serene lakes. Throughout, you’ll also find evidence of the Yámanas, the first inhabitants of these lands, which serves to remind everyone who spends some time here that this region has been inhabited for more than 10,000 years. With so much to see, this is easily the best place to visit if you’re looking to switch off and embrace the great outdoors.

If you want to learn more about the city of Ushuaia, Museo del fin del Mundo is the perfect place to go. A living heritage museum that explores the history and culture of Ushuaia and the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the End of the World Museum (which is its name in English) is home to numerous exhibitions that explore the native history of this region, the local fauna and flora, the traditions and customs of the people here, and even some of the shipwrecks that have happened here over the centuries. Found in parts of the National Bank building and Old Government House, these impressive buildings only serve to highlight the importance of the museum and its contents.

Also known as Casa Pena, this former private residence has served as the City Museum in Ushuaia since 2009; with an interesting selection of informative exhibits and historic items, this museum offers visitors a fantastic insight into what ordinary life was like in this city throughout the 20th century – which is when it was originally occupied by the Pena family.

Home to around 60,000 pairs of Magellan penguins, Magellan Penguins Natural Reserve is a fantastic place to get up close to nature. The boat ride there is also a chance to spot whales and other marine life, before getting some great photos with the penguins.

The oldest fine arts museum in South America, the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts in Santiago is one of the world’s major centres for Chilean and South American art; established in 1880 and currently housed in the Palace of the Fine Arts – which was built in 1910 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Chilean independence – this museum boasts a collection of over 5,000 artworks.

Once an impressive mint house during Chile’s colonial period, producing coins from 1814 to 1929, La Moneda Palace is the current seat of the president of the Republic of Chile and one of Santiago’s most famous landmarks. Occupying an entire block in the city’s Civic District, the neoclassical architectural style is influenced by Roman construction styles, affording the building a unique grandeur. It opens onto the Plaza de La Constitución, a neat city square that’s almost the same size as La Moneda Palace itself. The La Moneda Cultural Centre also sits just behind the palace, and you’ll find rotating art exhibitions, restaurants, and more within.

One of the principal places of worship for the Catholic Church of Chile, and somewhere that’s considered a symbol of the city of Santiago, the Sanctuary of the Immaculate Conception is a shrine made famous for its impressive statue of the Virgin Mary – symbolising the immaculate conception of Jesus Christ – that stands over 14 metres tall. Sitting atop San Cristóbal Hill, which means the statue stands over 850 metres above sea level, this sanctuary offers visitors incredible views of Santiago and the surrounding scenery.