TORONTO — He’s a ‘star’ of Mighty Cruise Ships on the Discovery Channel and the subject of features in other media including National Geographic Traveler magazine.

And this week Mauricio Alvarez, Expedition Team Leader with Australis, regaled a Toronto audience of tour operators, travel planners and the media with his experiences in southernmost South America.

The native of Punta Arenas spoke of his studies with elephant seals, as well as research on the biodiversity of the south polar forest and the region’s indigenous tribes including the Yamanas, telling Travelweek only one competent speaker of the tribe’s complex language remains and she is in her 80s.

“We’ve been finding artifacts including a harpoon that is 4,000 years old.”

Through research in libraries around world, Alvarez, said he also found evidence in maps and other sources of three previous missions to his homeland that took place before the famous voyage of Ferdinand Magellan.

Australis offers small ship expedition style cruising on two ships – the 210-passenger MV Stella Australis and the 136-passenger MV Via Australis.

The all-inclusive trips run September to April in Cape Horn and Patagonia.

The main points of interest are Tierra del Fuego, the Strait of Magellan, the Beagle Channel, glaciers, national parks, penguins, elephant seals and “incredible birding.”

“It’s an absolutely pristine experience on the two ships and they (the ships) don’t go anywhere else in the world,” said Dallyce Macas, Canadian Representative Australis. “Unlike other cruises that go in and out of ports and where lineups are common, with Australis the biggest lineup is with the penguins.”

The vessels also meet specific requirements that allow them to venture where other boats cannot take you.

Alvarez added that passengers can participate in some of the research studies, “so by the time they leave they feel they’ve taken part in something important.”

Australis has introduced two new tours including End of the World – a 3-night trip that begins and ends in Ushuaia and is an ideal add on to Antarctic and South Georgia Island voyages; and Wild Patagonia, a 3-night trip that begins and ends in Punta Arenas and includes a visit to the largest penguin colony in South America.

The company’s other trips include its 4-night 1-way routes from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia or Ushuaia to Punta Arenas, as well as a 3-night 1-way route from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas.

Travel professionals can receive information on fam opportunities and bonus commissions after taking the Australis Specialist Program – an e-learning certification course, to identify, market and close sales with the Australis demographic. Agents can learn more by visiting australisagents.com or calling 1-877-678-3772.