Choose the route that suits your requirements best:
The “Chonos Route”, the classic San Rafael itinerary aboard the Skorpios II, featuring six days and five nights of the most spectacular scenery through channels and fjords, isolated fishing villages and settlements, thermal baths, the San Rafael National Park… An experience of a life time!
This cruise starts in Puerto Montt.
The “Kaweskar Explorers Route” is a unique journey aboard the Skorpios III towards the glaciers of the Southern Ice Field, for the discovery of a still existing pristine world.
This cruise starts in Puerto Natales, in the Chilean Patagonia.
We will be pleased to arrange your flights and transfers, a mini-stay in Santiago, a reconnaissance tour of splendid Puerto Varas and neighboring villages and even a memorable lake crossing to Bariloche, in Argentina, if you choose the Chonos Route.
If you select the Kaweskar Explorers Route, then we recommend an optional tour to the world famous Torres del Paine National Park with extensions to the Argentine Perito Moreno Glacier – one of the most visited in the world – and charming El Calafate.
6 Days / 5 Nights
Sails on Saturdays / Disembarkation is on Thursdays
FRIDAY: Additional optional night (additional cost)
Offered on Friday before the ship sets sail. Includes: Welcome drink, dinner on board, lodging on board, breakfast. At 18.00 hrs. of Friday, you are welcome on board.
SATURDAY
12.00 hrs noon, weigh anchor from Skorpios Terminal in Puerto Montt. Sailing through the Llanquihue archipelago. Catch sight of Calbuco city. Ancud Gulf, archipelago of Chiloe and Corcovado Gulf crossing at midnight.
SUNDAY
08.00 hrs. Navigation through the Moraleda and Ferronave channels. Arrival at the fishing village of Puerto Aguirre at 11.00 hrs – 12.30 hrs noon continue sailing through Ferronave, Pilcomayo and Costa channels. At 21.30 hrs approximately, anchor at Hualas cove or Punta Leopardos, 20 nautical miles from the San Rafael Glacier.
MONDAY
07.30 hrs. Crossing of the San Rafael Lagoon entrance and Tempanos channel. 09.00 hrs. The ship enters the Lagoon and anchors at 2 kms away from the Glacier. Boat excursions among multicolored icebergs, if the weather allows to. 15.30 hrs. The ship gets closer to the Glacier. 17.00 hrs. Set sail to the Quitralco Fjord.
TUESDAY
08.00 hrs. Berth at the Quitralco pier. After breakfast, passengers can take hotspring baths were the water temperature is at 32º C and 38º C, in covered and outside pools. If the weather allows to, boat excursions in motor boats through the inside of the fjord. 17.00 hrs. Sail towards Chiloe, navigating through the Moraleda and Perez Norte channels.
WEDNESDAY
08.00 hrs. Corcovado Gulf crossing. In this area, if the conditions allow to, there is a possibility of watching humpback whales and blue whales. Continue to sail through the oriental coast of the Chiloe island, Yal channel, Castro stream, arriving to this beautiful city at 15.00 hrs. Disembarkation to visit this place. 22.00 hrs. Set sail towards Puerto Montt through Lemuy, Dalcahue and Quicavi channels. Farewell party, Captain’s dinner, dance.
THURSDAY
08.00 hrs. Docked at the Skorpios Terminal pier in Puerto Montt. 09.00 hrs. Breakfast, disembarkation.
End of our services.
4 Days / 3 Nights
CRUISE 1: Sails on Tuesdays / Disembarkation is on Fridays
CRUISE 2: Sails on Fridays / Disembarkation is on Mondays
Optional additional night (additional cost)
Monday, sleeping on board. Thursday Night in Hotel Remota or another similar hotel in Puerto Natales, or on ship. Thursday or Friday, excursion to Torres del Paine and the Milodon’s Cave (includes dinner, buffet breakfast, lunch and excursion)
Day 1
As from 16:00 hrs. Reception of passengers. 17:15 Shipboard safety lecture, place to be informed. 17:30 – 18:00 We sail from Puerto Natales, cruising Patagonian channels Angostura Kirke, Morla Vicuña, Unión Collingwood and Sarmiento Channels.
Day 2
We reach Amalia Glacier. The ship approaches the glacier. Panoramic view from the ship. 09:30 hrs. Debarkation on a nearby beach to trek through the beach, vegetation and rocks, until we reach a belvedere or mirador from where we can observe this beautiful glacier. 11:30 hrs: We sail for the El Brujo Glacier. 14:00 hrs. Arrival at the El Brujo glacier weather permitting, passengers can leave the ship to contemplate this glacier from a nearer rock. 15:30 hrs. Sailing for the spectacular Fiordo Calvo. 17:10 hrs. We set anchor in Fiordo Calvo, and take a special boat called the Capitán Constantino to sail among the ice, visiting the Fernando, Capitán Constantino, and Alipio glaciers among others. 20:00 hrs. Sailing for the Fiordo de Las Montañas.
Day 3
Visit to the Fiordio de las Montañas where we can sight four glaciers, which course down from Cordillera Sarmiento towards the sea, who of which are part of our cruise programme. 09:30 hrs. Visit to the Alsina glacier, landing on our special exploration boats to sail through this small bay and beautiful glacier, appreciating its beauty and the huge mountains that surround it. 10:30 hrs we return to Skorpios III. We continue to sail along the Fiordo de Las Montañas towards the Bernal glacier. 11:15 hrs. We visit the glacier. Trek in the midst of a small rainforest, to then cross a path that leads to a small glacier water filled lagoon continue walking on the front and lateral moraines, until we reach the front of the Glacier. At this point we will be able to touch some of its ice and witness the contraction of the glacier, which no longer flows into the sea. 12:45 hrs. Passengers return to the ship, which is loading pure and crystalline water from a waterfall. This is the water used on board the ship. 14:00 hrs. MV Skorpios goes on touring the Fiordo de Las Montañas, and from the ship we will able to see the Herman and Zamudio Glaciers. We reach Angostura White at 17.45 hrs, where we debark on exploration crafts, sailing between islands and rock formations until we reach Angostura White at 17.45 hrs, where we go on shore on our explorer boats, sailing between islands and rocks, recording the native wildlife. At 19.30 we return to the ship and get ready for the Captain’s dinner at 21.00. Farewell party, Captain’s dinner, Dancing. Sailing along the Golfo Almirante Montt.
Day 4
Arrival at Puerto Natales between 02:00 and 07:00 depending on wind conditions to berth at Skorpios Puerto Natales. 08.00 and 09.30 hours. Passengers debark and transfer to Punta Arenas for those who have hired the service (see rates)
End of our services.
Note
Programmes and timetables may vary according to climate conditions or force majeure. Similarly debarkation and duration will depend on the authorisation of the skipper, who will assess safety and ice conditions in each location.
Lectures and guided activities will be indicated during the cruise.
Departure:
Low Season: 08:30 a.m.
High Season: 09:00 a.m.
Our tour departs from the Skorpios terminal, located at Puerto Bories, 4 km (2.5 miles) away from Puerto Natales, travelling along the roads of Southern Patagonia, where the Aónikenk or Tehuelche natives, hunters and collectors also called Patagons by the conquerors, wandered by walking through this vast territory.
After travelling about one hour contemplating the beauty of such a lonely landscape, our first stop will take place at the viewpoint of the Sarmiento Lake, a 24 km. (15 miles) long lake, from where depending on weather conditions we are likely to see the Paine mountain chain and the famous Paine Towers for the first time.
Later, our trip will take us to the so called “Laguna Amarga” (Bitter Lagoon). Fed by underground water and rain, very rich in salt and minerals, the name of this lagoon comes from its extremely salty water, being the temporary home for beautiful flamingos that visit it during the summer time. In our second stop we will have the opportunity to admire the peculiar beauty of this place from its viewpoint.
Then, we go on with our tour which will take us inside the Torres del Paine National Park, created in 1961, currently having 242,242 hectares (599,000 acres). Inside the park, we will stop at the viewpoint of the Nordenskjöld Lake, which is made up of glacier melt water. That fact gives the lake a beautiful turquoise color. From that place we are likely to admire the socalled Paine Horns, beautiful granitic formation located at the same mountain chain.
The Paine mountain chain has an estimated age of 12 million years and is the result of a big magmatic intrusion that took place in the area. Glacier ages with their tremendous erosive power sculpted the landscape that we enjoy nowadays.
Subsequently, we will continue travelling inside the park, crossing the Weber Bridge, in order to leave the park through Administration. Then we will go to the Rio Serrano Hotel, a place to enjoy in order to have lunch.
Time for lunch: 1 hour.
After lunch we will continue with our trip in order to reach our last stop: The Milodon Cave. Place that comes into historical and touristic importance in 1895, when the german Pioneer, Hermann Eberhard discovered at the inside of the cave a piece of skin that belonged to an animal that became extinct some 5 thousand years ago. After a 45 minutes visit, we will return to the Skorpios terminal.
Estimated time of arrival: 05:00 p.m.
The prices quoted are based on airfares and land services available on today’s date (May 5th, 2016) and are subject to change without notice.
All our tours are subject to a minimum number of participants. If that number is not reached, all the money’s paid as deposits and other items will be refunded in total. Deposits and final payments once made are totally non-refundable, unless the group is cancelled for not reaching the minimum number of participants.
850 College Street,
Toronto, ON M6H 1A2
Tel: 416.979.1100
Fax: 416.979.1800
Hours:
Monday to Friday
9:30am – 5:30pm