Chilean Fjord Cruise with Torres Del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks

Day 1: Arrive in Santiago, Chile

Pick-up from Santiago International Airport and transfer to hotel. Afternoon free to settle in, relax and explore the city.

Day 2: Santiago – Puerto Montt

Pick-up from the hotel and transfer to the airport for a short flight to Puerto Montt. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and explore this beautifully quaint fishing town with an exciting old-world charm in preparation for a fjord cruise through Patagonia.

Day 3: Chilean Cruise through Fjords

This morning we will depart for four days sailing cruise among the fjords and channels where you will be awed by the beauty of the virgin forests of the southernmost regions of the world and by the incredible species of birds and marine wildlife that the ship will come across along the Reloncaví Sound, the Gulf of Ancud, the Gulf of Corcovado, and when we visit the magical coastal town of Puerto Edén. The journey with Navimag’s ferry traversing through the southern fjords is a wonderfully unique journey for anyone from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales to reach Torres del Paine National Park.

Check-in is from 9:00 to 2:00 at our offices at Angelmó #1735, Puerto Montt, where our port staff will check in your luggage and give you instructions for boarding the ship. Passenger boarding time is at 4:00. Once onboard, members of the crew will give a welcome talk about the voyage with some tips and guidelines on safety. Then we begin our navigation to the Patagonian fjords and with Puerto Natales as our final destination. Our journey begins with the crossing of the Reloncaví Sound followed by the Gulf of Ancud. At nightfall, we arrive at the Gulf of Corcovado. The great adventure is just beginning.

Day 4: Gulf of Penas

In the morning we sail the Moraleda Channel, the widest in all our routes. Next, we sail through the Errázuriz and Costa Channels before entering the Pulluche Channel, which has an abundance of vegetation (Lenga and Cypress forests). If we are in luck, we will get to see some “Toninas” (dolphins), sea lions, and several species of wild bird. At nightfall, we enter the open sea as we cross the Golfo de Penas. The crossing takes approximately 12 hours and during this stretch, sightings of humpback whales are possible (depending on the time of year and the weather).

Day 5: Baja Cotopaxi – Puerto Eden

At dawn, we will be sailing past the fjords and starting our journey through the Messier Channel which at 1.270 meters (4,000 feet) is one of the deepest in this region. As we sail up this channel, we will be able to see the cargo ship “Capitán Leonidas”, which ran aground in the 1970s on the semi-sunken island of “Bajo Cotopaxi”. The wreck currently serves as a lighthouse and as a point of reference for sailors. Shortly after we cross the “Angostura Inglesa” (English Narrows), and arrive at Puerto Edén, which is home to the last surviving population of the Alacalufe indigenous people in Chile. Puerto Eden is on Wellington Island, one of the largest islands in Chile and part of Bernardo O’Higgins National Park – the largest in Chile – covered by Magellanic Forest. Disembarkation at Puerto Edén is possible for a day trip if sea conditions, itinerary, and the weather is permitting.

Day 6: White narrows – Puerto Natales

At dawn we will sail through the Sarmiento Channel before arriving at the narrowest stretch of the voyage, the Angostura White (White Narrows), which are only 80 meters wide. We will then continue our voyage across Seno Unión (Union Sound) before we enter the channel that will lead us to Puerto Natales, the final destination of our great adventure. Overnight in a hotel at Puerto Natales.

Day 7: Puerto Natales

Morning transfer by van to Torres del Paine National Park. This is a two-hour journey crossing the pampa Patagonica with final arrival at the Torres del Paine entrance. We will begin trekking to the Ascencio Valley where from above you see the river (of the same name) running wildly past Refugio Chileno where we will be spending our 1st night. After a quick stop here we will continue through a forest of the native Lenga (Beech) trees until reaching the glacial moraine. From here it’s a one-hour trek to the top where the towers appear from nowhere! This trek is spectacular where you get to view the 3 pink granite towers with its glacial lake below that made the park famous (6 hours round trip, 16 KM ). Lodging & dinner Refugio Chileno.

Day 8: Torres del Paine National Park

Today we will trek along Lake Nordenskjold (named after the Swedish geologist who’s studies here formed an important contribution to world glacial geology) and below the hanging glaciers of Mount Almirante Nieto, where we will reach the base of Los Cuernos (5 hours, 11 KM). Lodging and dinner at Refugio Los Cuernos.

Day 9: Torres del Paine National Park

Morning trek to the French Valley. This valley, the most beautiful in the park and one of the most unique in the world is surrounded by hanging glaciers (where you can see & hear the ice calving off at various intervals) and an amphitheater of granite walls and spires. There are amazing views throughout this trek and the further you hike into the valley the better they become! On the return journey, you will notice the extraordinary turquoise color of Lake Pehoe (a hidden lake in the Tehuelche Indian language). The trekking is 6-8 hrs depending on how far into the valley you go with a total of 24 KM. Lodging and dinner at Lodge Paine Grande where you can enjoy a pisco sour in the bar that overlooks Paine Grande & Los Cuernos mountains in the beautiful evening light.

Day 10: Torres del Paine National Park

We will trek along with the enchanting Lake Grey (3-4 hours 11 KM) with magnificent views of Glacier Grey and floating icebergs. Visit the glacier lookout point and to the lakeshore for up-close views of vibrant-blue icebergs (Paine is a Tehuelche Indian word for “blue”). After lunch, we will traverse the water in a two-hour boat ride through this magic lake surrounded by icebergs and the boat does a circuit right up to the front of the Grey glacier whilst you stand on the deck sipping your pisco sour served with glacial ice! Transfer from Hosteria Grey to Camp Pehoe Ruta. Lodging and dinner in this beautiful place with the view of Paine Grande, Los Cuernos, French Valley & Almirante Nieto.

Day 11: After a relaxed breakfast we will trek to Mirador del Condor, the lookout point to the whole Paine mountain range, Laguna Honda, Sarmiento, and Verde. We will continue the trek to Quebrada la Feria, crossing an ancient Lenga Forest where our van will be waiting at Weber bridge. Transfer back to Puerto Natales, lodging at Kau Lodge, and a farewell dinner.

Day 12: Transfer to El Calafate, Argentina

El Calafate is located in the southwest corner of the province, at the bottom of the Andes and on the south shore of Lake Argentino. It was named after a typical bush of the area, known for its delicious fruits and its thorned branches. The village, also known as the “World Capital of the Glaciers” is the starting point to visit Los Glaciares National Park and the area’s best-known character, Perito Moreno Glacier. The climate is the ideal partner for this wonderful place. Due to its location, its weather is cold and dry. In summer mean temperatures reach 66F, while in winter descend to 25F.

Day 13: Day tour of Perito Moreno Glacier

Be seduced by the fascinating landscape of Argentina’s Perito Moreno glacier on a full-day tour from El Calafate. Explore glacier streams, small lagoons, gullies, crevasses, and plenty of ice formations on this one-of-a-kind South American experience. Learn about the different flora, fauna, and general glaciology of the region as well as a particular phenomenon that happens in the Perito Moreno Glacier. Perito Moreno Glacier is an impressive natural wonder and due to its extension and height, it has become world-famous for its easy access, continuous advance, and the loud loosening of huge icebergs. The Parque Nacional Los Glaciares (Glaciers National Park) area is home to other important glaciers such as Upsalla, Onelli and Spegazzini. Once inside Los Glaciares National Park, you’ll follow the route around Lago Argentino were 50 miles (80km) from El Calafate, Perito Moreno Glacier lies imposing with its 200 foot (60 meters) high ice walls. Follow the paths that lead you to face the glacier and get different impressive views, all while continuous detachments and constant ice breaking echoes all around you. Enjoy this great Argentinian getaway and discover firsthand the absolute beauty and grandeur of the Perito Moren Glacier. Night at hotel in El Calafate

Day 14: Fly to Buenos Aires spend the day touring around the city

Day 14: Fly out to next destination