Patagonia & Chilean Fjords (Northbound)

Your journey begins in Ushuaia, Argentina, with boarding between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs. We will make a brief technical stop in Port Williams to comply with Chilean customs and immigration requirements before proceeding along the Beagle Channel.

The Beagle Channel is a striking narrow passage in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, a region originally named after the fires that burned in local native settlements when the first European explorers arrived. It belongs to both Chile and Argentina. Today, we sail in view of spectacular ice formations sprawled along the sea from the snow-dusted Darwin Range. We will sail along Glacier Alley, home to a family of five glaciers: the Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche glaciers. We hope to explore the Garibaldi Fjord, where we will be surrounded by hanging and tidewater glaciers; nearby waterfalls are so close they can almost be touched.

While heading north along the Strait of Magellan, we explore the waters of the fjords that branch out from Tierra del Fuego. We follow the remote coast around the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a protected area in the southern hemisphere where whales feed. If we are lucky, we may be able to spot humpback or sei whales breaching in the distance. We may also see dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels.

We take an exploratory Zodiac cruise to the Amalia Glacier area or the surrounding glaciers along the Peel Fjord in the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. We bask in the glacier’s icy-blue beauty and cruise across the sea and among its ice floes to uncover part of Chile’s natural mystique. As we sail between snow-capped peaks to get a closer look at the glacier and its brilliant yet rugged textures, we may spot dolphins swimming at a distance, cormorants or condors flying above, and otters.

We continue sailing north towards Messier Channel and sail through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59 feet) English Narrows to have a closer look at the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in one of the nearby glaciers. Outside Antarctica, some of the largest glaciers in the southern hemisphere are found here. If permits, we will visit Caleta Tortel, a small village, or the surrounding areas in the afternoon. Located between the mouth of the Baker River and a small cove within the Baker channel, Caleta Tortel consists mainly of stilt houses, typical of Chilotan architecture, built along the coast for several kilometers. There are no conventional streets – instead, there are wooden walkways built with Guaitecas cypress. The wooden walkways give the village its distinctive look and its unique culture.

As we sail north, we cross the Gulf of Penas, enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The expedition team tells us about the indigenous inhabitants of these southern lands, the early Spanish colonizers, and famous explorers such as Charles Darwin, Fitz Roy, and Alberto de Agostini. We also learn about the region’s biodiversity with presentations on the local marine life and flora.

The voyage continues with an expedition day in the Chonos Archipelago. Heading towards the Moraleda Channel, if weather permits we plan to cruise around the area of San Rafael National Park, declared a biosphere reserve. The park is the main entry point to Chile’s Northern Patagonian Ice Field. We also explore the surrounding fjords, channels, islands, and coves.

We continue to head north to visit the area around Puerto Aysén and Puyuhuapi. As we cruise and explore the area, we see the landscape unfold with its many fjords, islands, and channels. We hope to visit either Puerto Cisnes, Puyuhuapi, or Magdalena Island where we have the possibility of seeing dolphins, whales, cormorants, sea lions, and river otters.

Morning arrival in Puerto Montt and disembarkation.