Southern Patagonia, Chile

This desolate area of spectral beauty at the bottom of the Americas is truly the "final frontier" of the New World. Picture yourself at the edge of the world – icy fjords, towering, snow-capped mountains "tumbling" into the sea, penguins, sea lions and whales darting in and out of the blue waters. Memorable bird-watching excursions take you to view black-faced ibis, white-tufted grebe and distinguished black-neck swans. Welcoming estancias provide for comfortable stays. From the granite spires and turquoise lakes of scenic and dramatic Torres del Paine National Park to remote coastal islands rife with elephant seal colonies, the austere beauty of Chile's southernmost province is awe inspiring.