Patagonia and Chilean Fjords

15 Days

Overview

Explore the fjords and coast of southern Chile and discover why Chile was voted best adventure destination in South America for three consecutive years at the World Travel Awards. Sail the legendary Beagle Channel and marvel at the snow-covered peaks of rugged Patagonia. Zodiac-cruise through fjords flanked by glaciers and watch as the captain skillfully navigates narrow channels while you keep watch for acrobatic dolphins, penguins and seals. Spend two days hiking and exploring in Torres del Paine National Park, renowned for its majestic granite towers and jaw-dropping landscapes.

Arrive in Puerto Montt, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred with your fellow expeditioners to your assigned pre-voyage hotel in nearby Puerto Varas. Visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby to collect your luggage tags. The team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information on where to dine or purchase last minute items.

The remainder of your time is at leisure. All meals on Day 1 are at your own expense.

The morning of Day 2, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.

Your morning is at leisure to explore the beautiful lake and surroundings in Puerto Varas. Meet back at the hotel in the afternoon for your transfer to the port.

Settle into your cabin, where each detail was designed with your comfort in mind. This luxurious vessel is yours to explore! Join your expedition team on deck as you set sail before tucking into a delicious dinner, and toast to the voyage ahead.

Spend the morning exploring the delightful and impressive coastline of Tic Toc Bay – either ship cruising or perhaps by Zodiac and kayak. This whole area has been recently recognised as one of the few marine parks of Chile famous not only for the seasonal presence of blue whales but also for the rich array of other cetaceans, marine mammals, and seabirds. In the Corcovado Gulf, you will enjoy spotting a good variety of seabirds including black-browed albatross, southern giant petrel, southern fulmar and long-distant migrants such as the migratory Arctic skua.

Spend the next few days navigating through Patagonia’s maze of fjords, with hopefully some chances for Zodiac cruising and landings along the way. Spend time on the decks to scan for whales, dolphins and seabirds, while admiring the beautiful landscapes of the maze of channels and islands around. You will be sailing along part of the 145 km long Moraleda Channel, which separates the mainland from the huge archipelagos of Chonos and Guaitecas. See magnificent Andes peaks such as the Mentolat, Melimoyu and the Maca volcanoes. Scan the waters for the occasional presence of pods of killer whale that predate on the numerous South American sea lion colonies located along the coast and forested islands.

The scenic narrows of this region of Patagonia are affected by slack tides, and the slack tide timings will determine your arrival into Puerto Natales as well as the day’s plan.

Puerto Natales is the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, world-renowned for its granite towers, which give the park its name. These gigantic spires were carved by glacial ice and upon entering the park, you will see a series of lakes with intense colours, mountains covered in ice, and an array of local fauna. You will have two days to experience the wonders of Torres del Paine National Park on various hikes suited to your fitness level. You will pass several estancias (ranches) en route to the national park and witness the landscape change from a steppe eco-region to deciduous forest. Along the way, pause amongst the mountains to admire views of the lakes called Amarga, Sarmiento, and Nordenskjold, and Salto Grande. You may be able to see some of the local fauna, including many species of birds including the majestic condor. Look out for foxes, huemul (Andean deer) and guanacos, which are wild camelids related to the llama. The reclusive difficult-to-spot puma has also been seen inside the national park where authorities are happy to report a healthy growing population.

Spend the night at a comfortable hotel located just outside of the national park offering superb mountain and river views. Here you will enjoy local cuisine and Chilean wine and hear about the various hiking options available to you and suited to your individual interests and fitness level. On the afternoon of your second day in Torres del Paine National Park, you will be transported back to the vessel in time for dinner, swapping stories on the drive back, of your exploration of the park.

Choose one of the following three activities each day in Torres del Paine National Park to suit your fitness levels.

Day 8

• Easy: minimal walking required with visits to the national park’s most impressive lookouts
• Medium: Enter the Laguna Azul area of Torres del Paine National Park and hike the Cañadón Macho trail
• Difficult: Las Torres Base trek – up to 20 km

Day 9

• Easy: minimal walking required with visits to the national park’s most impressive lookouts
• Medium: two short treks of up to 6 km each
• Difficult: Hike the Lazo-Weber trek, starting from the base of Sierra del Toro

Cross the White Narrows – a narrow channel of water approximately 80 metres wide. Find a spot on one of the many observation areas and appreciate the masterful skills of your Captain as they navigate you through this difficult channel.

Travel through a dazzling stretch of the 240-kilometre long Beagle Channel called Glacier Alley or ‘Avenue of the Glaciers’ as it’s more elegantly known. You will marvel at this string of tidewater glaciers pushing down to the edge of the sea from the enormous Darwin Ice Field. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, most of the glaciers were named after European countries or the explorers who discovered them: Holland, Italy, Romanche, Spain, Garibaldi. Weather permitting, board the Zodiacs for a closer look at the impressive Romanche Glacier. Even if fog obscures the view, the sound of the cracking ice as it calves into the water is sure to impress. Apart from the spectacular scenery, Glacier Alley offers opportunities to spot wildlife such as penguin rookeries and South American fur seals.

If time and conditions permit, the captain may take you close to Cape Horn, an important place in maritime history. Until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, ships had to sail round Cape Horn to travel between the east and west coast of South America—a hazardous endeavour due to the strong winds and current, large powerful waves and occasional icebergs.

This evening, enjoy Captain’s Cocktail Party and Farewell Dinner to celebrate the end of a memorable adventure in this magical part of the world.

During the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where you will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as you continue your onward journey, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.