Torres del Paine Tour
| Total circuit: |
440 km. |
| Departures: |
Everyday, 8am. |
| Length: |
11 hours. |
| Difficulty: |
Easy. |
| Lunch: |
Not Included. |
| Entrance Fee: |
Not included ($). |
Drive out of Puerto Natales along the Seno de Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope Sound) to Milodón Cave, the cavern, about 90 feet high, 200 feet deep, in which Captain Hermann Eberhard found in 1896 the remains of a prehistoric animal (which he named Milodón). You will continue on through the hills and extended pampas of the beautiful and beautifully diverse Patagonian landscape. Next, enter the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park, which is part of the United Nation’s World Biosphere Reserve system. Here, pumas, foxes, guanacos and rhea coexist in what is nothing if not Patagonian Eden, a rich landscape of Lengas and Coigües, fragrant heather, legendary Calafate (it is believed that those who sample this regional berry always return) and other amazing flora. Watch as the emerald Nordenskjold Lake at the base of the mountains pours through roaring Salto Grande (Grand Waterfall) into Pehoé Lake, a grand lake in its own right and a great spot to study the Cuernos del Paine (Horns of Pain). Drive along the bank of the lake to Salto Chico (Little Waterfall); stroll through an old lenga forest; enjoy an optional picnic watching giant chunks of ice, pieces of the nearby Grey Glacier, drift along the Grey Lake. For the return, cross Amarga Lagoon for yet another breathtaking view of the park’s iconographic Torres del Paine. Return to Puerto Natales.
Trekking to the Base of the Paine Horns
1. Difficulty: Hard.
2. Length: 12 hours.
3. Lunch: Not Included.
Departure from Las Torres B&B/Inn across the Ascencio Valley to the lagoon located at the foot of the Paine Horns. On the way across woods, you will enjoy wonderful views of the Park.
Trekking to the French Valley
1. Difficulty: Hard.
2. Length: 12 hours.
3. Lunch: Not Included.
Departure from Camping Pehoe to this valley, the most beautiful in the park and one of the most unique in the world, is surrounded by hanging glaciers and an amphitheatre of granite walls and spires.
Grey Glacier Lake Navigation
| Departures: |
Everyday, morning and afternoon. |
| Length: |
3 hours. |
| Difficulty: |
Easy. |
| Lunch: |
Not Included. |
| Entrance Fee: |
Not included ($). |
Grey Glacier is the biggest of all those that can be visited by means of a regular tour in the park. At present this natural marvel of impressive dimensions - which constitutes the end of the Southern Ice Field - can be visited and admired in all its magnitude sailing through the lake on board of our vessel Grey II. Weighing anchor from Hosteria Lago Grey and after sailing for 35 minutes among many icebergs, whose shape and color offer us unique themes for our pictures and video shots, we will approach the glacier's front wall, which is divided in two by a central island where landing is allowed. Here it is possible to appreciate in their entire dimension the infinity of crevasses and risings that constitute the snowdrift that gets lost in the distance. There are some periods in which big collapses in the front of the glacier fills the lake with icebergs of different sizes; the density of this mass of floating ice turns impossible the navigation of our vessel Grey II being then suggested the sailing in an inflatable around these masses of ice afloat not far from the Hostel.
The W of Paine
| Total circuit: |
5 days. |
| Departures |
Everyday. |
| Difficulty: |
Moderate to Hard. |
| Meals: |
Optionally Included. |
| Entrance Fee: |
Not included ($). |
Day 1
Leaving heavy equipment behind in Las Torres camping area, walk NW from the Refugio passing the Campamento (Camp Site) Chileno and to the W to a small lake just below the Torres del Paine, where there is probably the most amazing view within the park - of the three towers of Paine, mirrored in the lake.
Retreat to the Refugio and take your equipment left there.
Day 2
Today, you will trek by the lake which is narrow with lots of shrub on the edges including the wild barberry (Berberis Buxifolia or Calafate - the edible red/pink/magenta berries with a bittersweet taste when ripe) which makes wearing shorts unpleasant.
You will arrive to Campamento Cuernos, where you’ll spend the second night.
Day 3
Early morning departure to Campamento Italiano.
With a daypack only, walk N to the Campamento Britanico and further N or NE for a view of the valley. If you climb high enough towards an apparent pass to the NE (no clear path, you start walking on swampy grass and continue on unsteady rocks and in high wind, not very pleasant, but we met several people going there), you can see the Torres del Paine from 'behind'. Retreat to the Campamento Italiano and sleep there.
Day 4
2-hour trek to Refugio Pehoe. From Refugio Pehoe walk by the Lago Grey to the Campamento Grey.
The camping ground is close to a nice sandy beach, although few would want to swim between the ice rocks. North walk for a closer look of the glaciar Grey.
Day 5
In the morning, you’ll embark on the vessel for navigation across the Grey Lake. Once on the shore, transfer back to El Calafate or Puerto Natales.
Seno Otway Penguin Rockery Tour
| Total circuit: |
150 km. |
| Departures: |
Everyday, 8am. |
| Length: |
8 hours.. |
| Difficulty: |
Easy. |
| Lunch: |
Not Included. |
| Entrance Fee: |
Not included ($). |
At the mercy of the elements, the beautiful Otway Sound is a region of spectacular plains, bays and fjords and also home to a large colony of Magellanic Penguins. Leaving Punta Arenas and heading north along the isolated Brunswick Peninsula the tour passes through some wild scenery before arriving at the penguin nesting ground, where you’re greeted by the sight of thousands of braying penguins coming ashore to breed and lay eggs. There are wooden walkways stretched out around the breeding grounds as well as good information displays and informative guides.
Navimag Ferry
Route: Puerto Natales ~ Puerto Montt
**High season: November to March.
Includes:
1. Lodging according to category.
2. Meals (breakfast, lunch & dB&B/Inner).
3. Movies & Hall games.
4. Disembark in Puerto Edén (optional visit in local boats).
5. Include glacier sighting.
Check-in time:
1. Passenger must board on Thursday night and sleep on board.
2. The dB&B/Inner of Thursday night is not included.
3. Ferry departure is early Friday.
4. Check-in: Thursday from 1.00 PM to 9.00 PM.
5. Final check to board: Thursday 9.00 PM.
**Low season: May to October.
Includes:
1. Lodging according to category.
2. Meals (breakfast, lunch & dB&B/Inner).
3 .Movies & Hall games.
4 .Landfall in Puerto Edén (disembarking only for residents and passengers with final destination in this port).
5 .Do not include glacier sighting.
Check-in time:
1. Check-in: Thursday from 1.00 PM to 9.00 PM.
2. Final check to board: Thursday 9.00 PM
Day 1 - Thursday
- Boarding at Puerto Natales 9:00 PM.
- Film (dining room) 10:00 PM.
- Live music (pub) 10:00 PM.
Day 2 - Friday
- Captain’s welcoming meeting and safety video.
- Information and inscription Puerto Edén shore visit.
-.Talk on geology/glaciations (Spanish) 10:30 AM.
-.Talk on geology/glaciations (English) 11:00 AM.
-.Lunch 12:30 PM.
-.Documentary 3:00 PM.
- Talk on Kaweskar people (Spanish) 4:00 PM.
- Talk on Kaweskar people (English) 4:30 PM.
- Glacier Amalia (5:00 PM).
- Documentary 6:00 PM.
- DB&B/Inner 7:00 PM.
- Film (dining room) 10:00 PM.
- Live music (pub) 10:00 PM.
Attractions:
Última Esperanza Fjord.
Sarmiento Channel.
White Channel.
Glacier Sightseeing (only high season).
Day 3- Saturday
- Breakfast 07:30 AM.
- Shore visit Puerto Edén 08:30 AM.
- Departure Puerto Edén 11:00 AM.
- Morning Briefing 11:30 AM.
- Lunch 12:30 PM.
- Talk on flora and fauna (Spanish) 3:30 PM.
- Talk on flora and fauna (English) 4:00 PM.
- Documentary 5:30 PM.
- DB&B/Inner 7:30 PM.
- Film (dining room) 9:30 PM.
- Live music (pub) 9:30 PM.
Attractions:
Early arrival at Puert Edén.
Messier Channel.
Passing through Angostura Inglesa and Bajo Cotopaxi.
San Pedro lighthouse.
Sailing out to sea in the evening
Day 4 - Sunday
- Breakfast 08:00 AM.
- Morning Briefing 09:30 AM.
- Talk on idiomatic expressions (Spanish) 10:00 AM.
- Talk on idiomatic expressions (English) 10:20 AM.
- Documentary 11:00 AM.
- Lunch 12:30 PM.
- Talk on Puerto Montt and the region’s attractions (Spanish) 4:00 PM.
- Talk on Puerto Montt and the region’s attractions (English) 4:30 PM.
- Documentary or film 6:00 PM.
- DB&B/Inner 7:30 PM.
- Film (dining room) 9:30 PM.
- Bingo and party (pub) 9:30 PM.
Attractions:
Early entry into channels zone.
Ana Pink Bay.
Entry into Pulluche Channel with abundant vegetation.
Sailing along North and South Pérez Channels (high season).
Sighting of seal colony and cormorants.
Brieva Strait and Peñón Blanco.
Sailing past Melinka.
Corcovado Gulf.
Ancud Gulf.
Day 5 - Monday
- Arrival at Puerto Montt 06:00 AM.
- Breakfast 07:30 AM.
- Returning of keys 08:00 AM.
- Disembarking at Puerto Montt 08:30 AM.
Note: Programme subject to alteration.
Mare Australis Cruise
Mare Australis Cruise: Punta Arenas / Ushuaia ~ 5 days, 4 nights
Day 1 - Saturday - Departure from Punta Arenas
- From 1pm to 5pm, passengers check in at 990 Magallanes St, Punta Arenas.
- From 6pm to 7pm: boarding "Mare Australis" expedition cruise ship. The crew, headed by the Captain, will welcome you aboard for cocktails with your cruise companions. Immediately after, the ship will depart towards the city of Ushuaia, through the mythical Strait of Magellan, sailing through the Patagonian Channels and around Tierra del Fuego. The begB&B/Inning of a great adventure.
**More than 140,000 people inhabit Punta Arenas, the capital city of the XII Region of Magallanes, Chile. Geographically, it is located in parallels 53 South and 72 longitude West, in the borders of Strait of Magellan, the access door to the two oceans: the Pacific and the Atlantic. This city is the front door to visit diverse attractions of the zone, among them are Tierra del Fuego, Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Williams and Antarctica. The city boasts the farthest southern ski center of the world, which has the unique characteristic of being the only one in the world with view to the ocean; this center is only 8 km to the west of Punta Arenas.
Day 2 - Sunday - Navigation
- With the first light of dawn, navigation will continue through Almirantazgo Fjord. We will disembark in Ainsworth Bay near Marinelli Glacier, where we will take a walk to see an elephant seal colony closely and we will also appreciate the Magellan Forests.
- Disembark at the bay of the Brookes Glacier to hike near the glacier.
**From the Ainsworth Bay, in the midst of the Darwin Range, in the distance, one can see the enormous wall of this ice giant of more than 40 meters high. Here we land on the beach to start a 20 minute walk through quiet trails in the native woods towards the beaver dam. The Australis Cruises Expedition Group will give us a brief talk about the ecosystem and geography. We will then head towards the colony of sea-elephants living nearby in the company of a great variety of birds.
Day 3 - Monday - Navigation
- Disembark in the bay of the Pia Glacier and excursion to an observation point.
- Navigate through the Beagle Channel and appreciate the spectacular "Glacier Avenue”.
**On the north-west arm of the Beagle Channel, Pia Glacier is embedded in the Darwin Range, and it gradually runs down into the waters of Pia Bay. We will head towards an observation point that offers excellent conditions to view the mountain range where the glacier originates, and its progress until it falls into the sea. Here we will listen to the thunderous noises caused by the large masses of ice cracking and dropping into the bay.
Day 4 - Tuesday - Navigation
- Navigation through the Beagle Channel and Murray Channel to disembark at the Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn) National Park, weather permitting.
- We will visit Horn Island to get a panoramic view of the famous and mythical Cape Horn, the place where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans merge and the last promontory of South America.
- Disembark in Puerto Williams, the southernmost town of the world.
**We will visit Horn Island, to get a panoramic view of the famous and mythical Cape Horn, the place where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet, and last promontory of South America. Cape Horn, an island featuring cliffs of almost 425 meters high, was discovered on January 30, 1616 by a Dutch commercial expedition organized by Isaac LeMaire and under the command of Captain Wilhem Schouten. The Cape owes its name to the Port of Hoorn from where the expedition departed on June 14, 1615.
**Located at the northern end of Navarino Island and on the shores of the Beagle Channel, Puerto Williams- with no more than two-thousand inhabitants- is proud to be the farthest southern town of the world. In the woods that surround this outpost, we will discover splendid waterfalls, lakes and rivers very apt for fishing. We will learn about the place where the last direct surviving descendants of the Yagan Indians still live. Another attraction is the Martin Gusinde Museum, which houses the history of the native cultures of the region. There are optional tours of the area.
Day 5 - Wednesday - Ushuaia
- Arrival at Ushuaia, the most important Argentinean city of the Tierra del Fuego and the southernmost city in the world.
- Disembarkment of passengers at 8:00 a.m.
**World's farthest southern city, located on the border of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by the Martial Mountains, the port of Ushuaia, originally a penal colony, is now the capital of the Argentinean province of Tierra del Fuego. Ushuaia is the threshold to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Here, we will enjoy the wonders of this landscape where the sea meets the forests and mountains. This southern Argentinean town is the embarking and disembarking port for those passengers who take the 3 or 4-night tour between Ushuaia and Punta Arenas or vice-versa. There are optional tours available to visit the area.
Additional Information:
** During the cruise there will be interesting talks on the wildlife, history and geography of this legendary region given by the Mare Australis Expedition Group. The talks will take place both on board (with audio-visual support) and on land.
** During the cruise, there will be daily inland tours lasting approximately two hours. These tours are organized and managed by the Mare Australis Expedition Group and consist of walks through trails in the native forest and visits to glaciers. The tours include talks on the flora and fauna of the area. A delicious whisky with the millenary ice, or a cup of hot chocolate will be served at the end of the excursions.
** Excursion clothing:
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** Cabins: click the image to zoom
Frequent Ask Questions
· What is included in the cruise rate?
- Breakfast, lunch and dB&B/Inner.
- Open Bar.
- Daily land excursions.
- Welcome and good-bye drinks.
- Whisky and hot chocolate during the excursions to the glaciers.
- All activities inside the ship.
·What will we see?
- Navigation through the legendary Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel.
- Navigation through the glaciers, channels and fjords of the Darwin Mountain Range.
- The southernmost cities in the world: Puerto Williams and Ushuaia.
- The areas declared by the United Nations as the most virgin ones in the world.
- Flora and Fauna of great beauty: native forests, sea lions, seals, cormorans, exotic flowers, dolphins, etc.
- One of the largest penguin colonies in the southern hemisphere.
- Cape Horn, the point where the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans merge. That United Nations delcared as the most virgin one in the world.
· What kind of lectures are there on the cruise?
- Navigation routes.
- Flora and fauna of the Magellan region.
- Glaciology.
- The Beagle Channel.
- Marine mammals.
- The Strait of Magellan.
- Magellan penguins.
- The Indians.
· Do we always disembark at Cape Horn National Park?
-Disembarkation at Cape Horn National Park is subjet to weather conditions. Disembarkation success rate for this excursion last season was 85%.
· Are penguins seen throughout the whole season?
- No, penguins can be seen from early October through early April. Then, they migrate to the North.
· Is there a shop on board?
- Our ship has a nice shop on board where you will find exclusive designs in sports wear, souvenirs and different gift items, specially created for Mare Australis.
· Is there a doctor on board?
- There is a doctor on board. lf you require medical attention this will be considered as an additional charge. We obviously hope that you do not require this kind of attention.
· Should we tip on board?
- Tips are at the discretion of the passenger. We suggest US$ 15 per day per passenger, to be paid in cash on the last day of the cruise.
· What will the climate be like?
- During the Cruise season, the temperature fluctuates between 5 and 15 degrees centigrade. While rainfall in the western islands of the archipelago can reach 4.000 millimeters per year, in the eastern sector of the Strait of Magellan they are hardly over 254 millimeters per year.
· Are pets allowed?
- We regret not being able to accept animals on board.
·Are there safety boxes available?
- Cruceros Australis is not responsable for loss of money, Travelers checks, jewels or other valuables. For your comfort we have safety boxes in each cabin.
· Are passports and visas necessary?
- Visa/Passport requirements vary according to passenger’s country of origin, so that this shall be verified at the time of making the reservation. Each passenger is responsible for carrying the necessary documents to enter Argentinean and Chilean territory. Minors not traveling with both parents must carry an authorization of the absent parent signed before a notary public.
· Is there any insurance?
- The responsibility of Cruceros Australis for the losses or damages is limited to the passage contract. We recommend that you to check on your personal insurance policy. We recommend www.travelguard.com.
· What is the kind of electricity on board?
- Cabins are equipped with 220 volt plugs. In bathrooms, there are plugs for both 220 volts and for 110 volts.
· Which is the official language?
- Official languages on board are Spanish and English. However, guides speaking French, German and Italian will be available.
· How can I pay on board?
- Items purchased at the shop such as souvenirs, videos, sportswear and others can be paid with Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Diners credit cards, travelers checks, US dollars, Euros or Chilean pesos.
· Are there hair dryers on board?
- Yes, you may ask for it at Reception.
· Are there elevators on board?
- The ship does not have elevators or equipment necessary for the handicap
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