{"id":100621,"date":"2026-11-04T14:22:45","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T14:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/?p=100621"},"modified":"2026-11-04T14:22:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T14:22:47","slug":"cape-horn-by-ship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/cape-horn-by-ship","title":{"rendered":"Rounding Cape Horn by Ship (2026 Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"<head><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\n    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n    \"@graph\": [\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"BlogPosting\",\n            \"headline\": \"Rounding Cape Horn by Ship (2026 Guide)\",\n            \"description\": \"Rounding Cape Horn by ship in 2026: Australis landings from Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, big-ship cruises, season, history and cargo options.\",\n            \"mainEntityOfPage\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/cape-horn-by-ship\",\n            \"image\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/11\\\/cape-horn-by-ship-cargoholidays.jpg\",\n            \"datePublished\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"dateModified\": \"2026-11-04\",\n            \"inLanguage\": \"en-GB\",\n            \"author\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\"\n            },\n            \"publisher\": {\n                \"@type\": \"Organization\",\n                \"name\": \"CargoHolidays\",\n                \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/cargoholidays.com\"\n            }\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n            \"mainEntity\": [\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Can you land on Cape Horn?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Yes, on Australis expedition cruises between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. Guests go ashore by Zodiac if the weather and sea allow. Big cruise ships do not land.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"How much does a Cape Horn cruise cost?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Indicative Australis 2026&ndash;27 fares range from about US$1,955 to US$7,107 per person sharing for four nights, depending on cabin and date.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"When is the Cape Horn cruise season?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Australis sails from September to April. Big-ship South America cruises pass the Horn mainly between November and March.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Do cargo ships still round Cape Horn?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Rarely. There are no regular cargo routes round the Horn; most ships use the Panama Canal or the Strait of Magellan.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"Who first rounded Cape Horn?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire, aboard the Eendracht in 1616. They named it after the Dutch city of Hoorn.\"\n                    }\n                },\n                {\n                    \"@type\": \"Question\",\n                    \"name\": \"What is a Cape Horner?\",\n                    \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n                        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n                        \"text\": \"A sailor who rounded the Horn under sail. Tradition allowed them a gold earring and to dine with one foot on the table.\"\n                    }\n                }\n            ]\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"Cape Horn by Cruise on Celebrity Equinox\",\n            \"description\": \"A cruise vlog of Celebrity Equinox rounding Cape Horn and crossing the Drake Passage.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/EsLlU7zln14\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/EsLlU7zln14\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2025-04-01\"\n        },\n        {\n            \"@type\": \"VideoObject\",\n            \"name\": \"Cape Horn and Crossing the Drake Passage\",\n            \"description\": \"Travel vlog passing Cape Horn and crossing the Drake Passage on an Antarctica cruise.\",\n            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/i.ytimg.com\\\/vi\\\/yHI3V0SqBew\\\/hqdefault.jpg\",\n            \"embedUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/yHI3V0SqBew\",\n            \"uploadDate\": \"2019-01-15\"\n        }\n    ]\n}<\/script>\n<\/head><div class=\"ch-post\"><p class=\"ch-updated\">Last updated: 4 November 2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>You can round Cape Horn by ship on a small Chilean expedition vessel that lands at the cape, or on a big South America cruise that sails past it.<\/strong> Australis runs four-night voyages between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia from September to April, with a Zodiac landing when the weather allows. Large ships from Princess, Celebrity, Holland America and Viking pass the Horn on longer Buenos Aires to Chile itineraries. Cargo ships no longer offer a realistic way round.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-key\"><strong>Quick answer<\/strong><ul>\n<li>Only expedition ships land: Australis (Ventus Australis and Stella Australis) is the main operator.<\/li>\n<li>Big cruise ships do a scenic pass, usually early morning, with no landing.<\/li>\n<li>Season: September to April; December to February gives the longest days.<\/li>\n<li>Indicative Australis fares for 2026&ndash;27 start around US$1,955 per person sharing.<\/li>\n<li>Freighters almost never round the Horn today; they use the Panama Canal or the Strait of Magellan.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<h2>Where is Cape Horn?<\/h2>\n<p>Cape Horn sits on Isla Hornos in Chile&rsquo;s Hermite Islands, at about 55&deg;56&prime;S, 67&deg;19&prime;W. It is a near-vertical cliff of roughly 425 metres facing the Drake Passage. The cape lies inside Cabo de Hornos National Park. UNESCO declared the area a Biosphere Reserve in 2005.<\/p>\n<p>The Drake Passage is about 800 km wide between South America and Antarctica. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current funnels through it, which drives strong winds and big swells. Gales are common, and rogue waves west of the Horn have been put at around 30 metres.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/options-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Comparison of ways to round Cape Horn by ship in 2026\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Comparison of ways to round Cape Horn by ship in 2026\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">The main ways to see Cape Horn from the sea in 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Ships that round Cape Horn in 2026<\/h2>\n<h3>Australis expedition cruises (landing possible)<\/h3>\n<p>Chilean line Australis sails two small ships, Ventus Australis and Stella Australis, each carrying about 200 guests. The season runs from September 2026 to April 2027. There are two four-night routes. &ldquo;Fjords of Tierra del Fuego&rdquo; sails Punta Arenas to Ushuaia and reaches Cape Horn on day four. &ldquo;Patagonian Explorer&rdquo; sails Ushuaia to Punta Arenas and visits the Horn on day two. Both include Wulaia Bay, Pia Glacier and Glacier Alley.<\/p>\n<p>The landing is never guaranteed. Australis states that excursions depend on weather and sea conditions. If the swell is too high, the ship rounds the cape without going ashore.<\/p>\n<h3>Big-ship South America cruises (scenic pass)<\/h3>\n<p>Larger lines pass the Horn on repositioning-style voyages between Buenos Aires and San Antonio or Valpara&iacute;so in Chile. For 2026&ndash;27, Majestic Princess sails 15- to 33-day South America itineraries from November to January, including a 15-night &ldquo;Cape Horn and Glaciers of Patagonia&rdquo;. Schedules for December 2027 show Celebrity Equinox, Holland America&rsquo;s Nieuw Amsterdam and Viking Jupiter all passing the cape too. These ships do not land passengers. Expect a slow sail-by, often around dawn, if conditions allow.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Option<\/th><th>Route<\/th><th>L\u00e4nge<\/th><th>Landing?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>Australis Fjords of Tierra del Fuego<\/td><td>Punta Arenas &rarr; Ushuaia<\/td><td>4 nights<\/td><td>Yes, weather permitting<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Australis Patagonian Explorer<\/td><td>Ushuaia &rarr; Punta Arenas<\/td><td>4 nights<\/td><td>Yes, weather permitting<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Princess (Majestic Princess)<\/td><td>Buenos Aires &#8644; San Antonio<\/td><td>15+ nights<\/td><td>No, scenic pass<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Celebrity, Holland America, Viking<\/td><td>Buenos Aires \/ Chile<\/td><td>14&ndash;37 nights<\/td><td>No, scenic pass<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>Frachtschiff<\/td><td>No scheduled route<\/td><td>n\/a<\/td><td>Nein<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_353155293-1024x406.jpeg\" alt=\"Ship at sea in the Southern Ocean near Cape Horn\" width=\"1024\" height=\"406\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Ship at sea in the Southern Ocean near Cape Horn\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Rough seas are part of the Cape Horn experience.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: a big-ship rounding of Cape Horn<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/EsLlU7zln14\" title=\"Cape Horn by cruise on Celebrity Equinox\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>Can you round Cape Horn on a cargo ship?<\/h2>\n<p>Realistically, no. There are no regular commercial cargo routes around the Horn. The Panama Canal opened in 1914 and largely ended the trade. Ships that do pass between the oceans in the far south tend to use the Strait of Magellan or the open Drake Passage, not the cape itself. The four-masted barque Pamir is recorded as the last commercial sailing ship to round the Horn with cargo, in 1949.<\/p>\n<p>If you want freighter time in South America, combine a cargo voyage to Buenos Aires or Montevideo with an Australis trip from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas. That is the closest you will get to a cargo-ship Cape Horn trip in 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>A short history of the Horn<\/h2>\n<p>Dutch navigators Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire first rounded the cape in 1616 aboard the Eendracht. They named it Kaap Hoorn after the city of Hoorn, which backed the voyage. For three centuries, clippers and windjammers carried wool, grain and gold round it. An estimated 800 ships were wrecked near the Horn, and around 10,000 sailors died.<\/p>\n<p>Sailors who survived earned the title &ldquo;Cape Horner&rdquo;. Tradition let them wear a gold earring and dine with one foot on the table. The albatross monument on Isla Hornos, by sculptor Jos&eacute; Balcells, honours those lost at sea. The Chilean section of the Cape Horn Captains Brotherhood unveiled it in 1992. High winds damaged it in 2014.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/landing-steps-infographic-cargoholidays.jpg\" alt=\"Steps of a Cape Horn landing day on an expedition ship\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Steps of a Cape Horn landing day on an expedition ship\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">What to expect on a Cape Horn landing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>What a Cape Horn landing is like<\/h2>\n<p>On landing days the ship anchors off Isla Hornos and the captain makes the call. If conditions allow, guests go ashore by Zodiac and climb wooden stairs up the cliff. A boardwalk leads to the albatross monument. Nearby is the Chilean Navy station with its lighthouse and small chapel. A naval family lives there and staffs the post. Time ashore is short, so dress for wind and rain.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"margin:1.6em 0\"><img src=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/AdobeStock_335228642-1024x678.jpeg\" alt=\"Coastal scenery in southern Patagonia\" width=\"1024\" height=\"678\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:12px;display:block\" title=\"Coastal scenery in southern Patagonia\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:.85em;color:#6b7280;margin-top:.45em;text-align:center\">Patagonian channels between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Watch: Cape Horn and the Drake Passage<\/h3>\n<div class=\"ch-video\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/yHI3V0SqBew\" title=\"Cape Horn and crossing the Drake Passage\" loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"accelerometer; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<h2>Best season to round Cape Horn<\/h2>\n<p>All voyages run in the southern spring and summer. No month guarantees calm water. Swoop Antarctica notes that conditions on the Drake are fairly consistent across the season, and most crossings are mild rather than rough.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ch-table\"><table><thead><tr><th>Months<\/th><th>Was Sie erwartet<\/th><th>Who sails<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody>\n<tr><td>September&ndash;October<\/td><td>Cold, fewer crowds; penguin colonies swapped for other trips in September<\/td><td>Australis<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>November&ndash;February<\/td><td>Longest days, peak season, best wildlife<\/td><td>Australis, big-ship cruises<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>March&ndash;April<\/td><td>Autumn colours, quieter; penguin outings replaced in April<\/td><td>Australis<\/td><\/tr>\n<tr><td>May&ndash;August<\/td><td>Winter, no passenger sailings<\/td><td>Keine<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n<h2>Tips<\/h2><ol>\n<li>Book Australis if landing on the Horn matters; big ships only sail past.<\/li>\n<li>Pick a cabin low and central if you suffer from seasickness, and bring medication.<\/li>\n<li>Pack waterproof trousers, a windproof jacket, gloves and grippy boots.<\/li>\n<li>Allow a spare day in Ushuaia or Punta Arenas in case flights or weather slip.<\/li>\n<li>Check fares directly; the prices here are indicative and change each season.<\/li>\n<li>Pair the trip with a Falklands or Antarctica voyage for a full Southern Ocean journey.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>H\u00e4ufig gestellte Fragen<\/h2><div class=\"ch-faq\"><h3>Can you land on Cape Horn?<\/h3><p>Yes, on Australis expedition cruises between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. Guests go ashore by Zodiac if the weather and sea allow. Big cruise ships do not land.<\/p><h3>How much does a Cape Horn cruise cost?<\/h3><p>Indicative Australis 2026&ndash;27 fares range from about US$1,955 to US$7,107 per person sharing for four nights, depending on cabin and date.<\/p><h3>When is the Cape Horn cruise season?<\/h3><p>Australis sails from September to April. Big-ship South America cruises pass the Horn mainly between November and March.<\/p><h3>Do cargo ships still round Cape Horn?<\/h3><p>Rarely. There are no regular cargo routes round the Horn; most ships use the Panama Canal or the Strait of Magellan.<\/p><h3>Who first rounded Cape Horn?<\/h3><p>Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire, aboard the Eendracht in 1616. They named it after the Dutch city of Hoorn.<\/p><h3>What is a Cape Horner?<\/h3><p>A sailor who rounded the Horn under sail. Tradition allowed them a gold earring and to dine with one foot on the table.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-related\"><strong>Verwandte Anleitungen<\/strong><ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/antarctica-by-ship\/\">Antarctica by ship<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/falkland-islands-by-sea\/\">Falkland Islands by sea<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/cargo-ship-to-south-america\/\">Cargo ship to South America<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/freighter-travel-from-buenos-aires\/\">Freighter travel from Buenos Aires<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"ch-cta\"><strong>Plan your southern voyage<\/strong><p>Want a freighter to South America before rounding the Horn? Tell us your dates and we will check routes.<\/p><a class=\"ch-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/anfrage-fur-eine-frachtschiffreise\/\">Angebot f\u00fcr eine Reise anfordern \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"ch-sources\"><em>Sources: Australis 2026&ndash;27 rates and excursion pages; Lost World (Ventus Australis); Cruise Industry News (Princess 2026&ndash;27, Australis 2026); Cruise Timetables (Cape Horn, December 2027); Swoop Antarctica (Drake Passage); AntarcticaCruises.com; Wikipedia (Cape Horn). Checked November 2026.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<style>\n.ch-post{font-family:inherit;line-height:1.7;color:#1f2937;max-width:820px;margin:0 auto}\n.ch-post h2{font-size:1.6em;margin:1.8em 0 .6em;color:#0b2545;border-bottom:3px solid #f5a623;padding-bottom:.25em}\n.ch-post h3{font-size:1.15em;margin:1.4em 0 .3em;color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post p{margin:0 0 1em}\n.ch-post ul,.ch-post ol{margin:0 0 1.2em 1.3em}\n.ch-post li{margin:.35em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-updated{font-size:.9em;color:#6b7280;margin-bottom:1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-key{background:#fff7e8;border-left:5px solid #f5a623;border-radius:10px;padding:1em 1.3em;margin:1.4em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-key strong{color:#0b2545;font-size:1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-key ul{margin:.5em 0 0 1.2em}\n.ch-post .ch-table{overflow-x:auto;margin:1.2em 0 1.6em}\n.ch-post table{border-collapse:collapse;width:100%;font-size:.95em}\n.ch-post th{background:#0b2545;color:#fff;text-align:left;padding:.65em .8em}\n.ch-post td{padding:.6em .8em;border-bottom:1px solid #e5e7eb;vertical-align:top}\n.ch-post tr:nth-child(even) td{background:#f6f8fb}\n.ch-post .ch-video{position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;border-radius:12px;margin:1em 0 1.8em;background:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-video iframe{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0}\n.ch-post .ch-faq{background:#f6f8fb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1em 0 2em}\n.ch-post .ch-faq h3{margin-top:1em}\n.ch-post .ch-related{border:1px solid #e5e7eb;border-radius:12px;padding:1em 1.4em;margin:1.5em 0}\n.ch-post .ch-related strong{color:#0b2545}\n.ch-post .ch-cta{background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0b2545,#13315c);color:#fff;border-radius:14px;padding:1.6em 1.8em;margin:2.2em 0;text-align:center}\n.ch-post .ch-cta strong{display:block;font-size:1.35em;margin-bottom:.4em;color:#fff}\n.ch-post .ch-cta p{color:#dbe4f0;margin:.2em 0 1.1em}\n.ch-post .ch-btn{display:inline-block;background:#f5a623;color:#0b2545 !important;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;padding:.8em 1.6em;border-radius:999px}\n.ch-post .ch-btn:hover{background:#ffbb45}\n.ch-post .ch-sources{font-size:.85em}\n.ch-post em{color:#4b5563}\n<\/style>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to round Cape Horn by ship in 2026: expedition landings, big-ship cruises, the Drake Passage, history and the best season.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":100618,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single3.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[356,357],"tags":[1996,1998,1983,1966,1997,1558],"yst_prominent_words":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100621"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100621"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100623,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100621\/revisions\/100623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100621"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cargoholidays.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=100621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}