Day 11: Arriving at the Edge of the World - Cape Horn

We woke up filled with anticipation, wondering if we had made it to Cape Horn. Then, the announcement echoed through the ship: "We are arriving at Cape Horn!" What a stroke of luck! We knew it wasn’t always possible to land here, as the notoriously unpredictable weather often prevents ships from safely anchoring.

Interestingly, we learned that a group of Russian scientists, who were heading to Antarctica, had to cancel their voyage due to poor weather conditions and were now joining us on our journey. It sparked a little envy in me—I had always wanted to visit Antarctica, especially now that we were so close to the southernmost point of the planet. I tried to include it in our itinerary, but unfortunately, we couldn’t make it work this time. In the end, I felt content, realizing that even if we had planned to go, the weather would have thwarted us.

Cape Horn is a rocky headland on Hornos Island, part of Chile's Tierra del Fuego archipelago. It’s where the wild Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet, creating some of the most treacherous seas on Earth. A monument shaped like an albatross commemorates the thousands of sailors who perished trying to navigate these deadly waters. Nearby, a secluded lighthouse and the tiny Stella-Maris Chapel stand in quiet solitude.

We landed on the windswept island, where the symbolic albatross statue stands as a poignant tribute to those lost at sea. The wind was fierce and biting cold. One of the crew members even warned me to be careful, as people could easily be blown away in such extreme conditions—it was a sobering and slightly frightening thought! I even witnessed a fellow traveler struggling with his contact lens in the gale-force winds, a reminder of just how wild and untamed this place is.

After our time at Cape Horn, we continued cruising through Wulaia Bay, pausing for a brief hike on one of the islands before making our way towards the Aguila Glacier, which awaits us tomorrow.