Island
And Fjords in Patagonia Aisen
South of Puerto Montt, the Central Valley of Chile, which runs north
to south, between the imposing Andes and the Coastal mountain range,
sinks into the sea creating a world of fjords and channels, perfect
habitat for sea wolves, austral dolphins and many fishes and sea birds.
While navigating in these channels between the mainland and the islands,
a mysterious world of glaciers dropping into the sea, of mountains
covered with a lush rainforest, of natural hot springs, of sun and
rain and of a nature still virgin in many areas will reveal itself
to the visitor.
We invite you to discover this world on board of the "Chungungo".
A 62' length and 5.5 meters breadth motorsailor, with a 10 knots speed,
equipped with 5 double cabins for 10 passengers and two bathrooms.
The captain is Ricardo Born, a sea wolf, with many year of experience
in this area and many hours navigating to the most remote places in
the occidental Patagonia.
The motorsailor has two 140 hp engines, and a rigid bottom inflatable
boat used to approach the shore and explore this wild and virgin land.
The anglers on board can enjoy in the afternoon some good fishing
at the mouth of the rivers, catching fierce and combative rainbows
and browns and Coho salmons.
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| ABOUT
SAN RAFAEL GLACIER |
The best
and most worldwide known destination in Aysén is perhaps the
Glacier San Rafael and the Laguna of the same name. The Laguna and
the glacier are part of the Laguna San Rafael National Park, created
June 17th, 1959, with a surface of 6729 sq.miles. The park includes
the whole area of the Northern Ice Field which has a length of approximately
112 miles from north to south and a width of about 37 miles, that
is from 46°40' to 48°20' latitude south and from 74°to
73°40' longitude west.
Within the park is the highest summit of the Austral Andes: the San
Valentin Mount with a height of 13.280 ft above sea level and 19 main
glaciers which are sources to many streams and rivers, being the most
important the Ventisqueros, Colonia, Nef, Soler, Leones y Exploradores,
adding up to more than 250 lakes. One of the most beautiful glacier
of the park is the San Rafael, which flows down, as a frozen river,
from the high peaks toward the west. The San Rafael reaches the sea
at a small lake (Laguna San Rafael) with many floating icebergs that
have come out of the wall of the glacier with loud explosions; these
icebergs resemble ice sculptures with capricious shapes. The wall
is of a crystalline blue with shades changing according to the day
light and a deep green forest surrounds the glacier in its whole length,
shaping in this way a landscape which has been the wonder of many
of today visitors and also of the Indians and Europeans sailors that
in the past have reached this coast. Toward the north, the Laguna
flows into the Ventisquero river and then into the Golfo Elefante,
toward the south the lake is closed by the Istmo de Ofqui which connects
the Peninsula Taitao with the continent. It is an area with abundant
rainfall, however it has been since old times a safe passage toward
the south to elude the navigation around the Peninsula Taitao which
is very dangerous.
Not only the glacier and its Laguna are beautiful but also the navigation
from Puerto Chacabuco along the austral channels. On the way many
aquatic birds and animals can be seeing, or you can fish or stop at
hidden hot springs or simply relax and enjoy the view. |
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| DAY
1 BALMACEDA - COYHAIQUE - PUERTO CHACABUCO |
o Reception
at Balmaceda airport for the morning flight
o Drive to Coyhaique for lunch and a short visit of the town
o Scenic drive from Coyhaique to Puerto Chacabuco and stop at the
Coyhaique view point and at the "Cascada de la Virgen"
o Arrival to Puerto Chacabuco to board the Chungungo
o Time to set sail toward adventure, first navigating on the Aisén
gulf to then continue on the Costa channel and spend the night anchored
in a calm bay
o Late afternoon fishing and maybe some exploration on shore.
o Meals and lodging on board |
| DAY
2 NAVIGATION, BIRDS AND SEA WOLVES WATCHING |
o Early
in the morning we will set sail toward the Mogotes, a very outstanding
island, to visit a sea birds nestling area.
o We will continue our navigation, passing the Oma island and its
sea wolves colony, toward the Huillín bay in the Cupquelan
fjord, where we will do some land excursions and some late evening
fishing.
o Meals and lodging on board |
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3 NAVIGATION AND LAGUNA SAN RAFAEL |
o In the
morning we will enter the beautiful Laguna San Rafael through the
Témpanos river
o We will approach the glacier among the floating icebergs, watching
birds and wild life
o Toasts in thousand years old ice cups
o In the afternoon we will drop anchor in a small cove in the Tuahuencayec
or Barros Arana channel
o Meals and lodging on board |
| DAY
4 NAVIGATION AND KENT ISLAND |
o Today
we will set sail toward Kent Island (biosphere world reserve) which
we will reach at sun set, after a beautiful navigation along the channels
of Los Chonos Archipelago, surrounded by lush forests, many waterfalls
and with the occasional company of austral dolphins
o Meals and lodging on board |
| DAY
5 KENT ISLAND, LAND EXCURSIONS, HIKES AND FISHING |
o We will
sail on the placid interior channels of this beautiful channels to
then get to shore to walk along the beautiful beaches
o Those who want can do some fishing and see if they get lucky casting
at river
mouths or in the sea.
o We will then visit the inland of incomparable beauty
o Meals and lodging on board |
| DAY
6 NAVIGATION TO PUERTO AGUIRRE, CINCO HERMANOS NATIONAL RESERVE AND
PUNTA TORTUGA |
o We will
navigate on the Ninualac channel until reaching Puerto Aguirre, a
very picturesque fishing hamlet which we will visit. Then we will
continue sailing along the Cinco Hermanos (National Reserve) until
we arrive to Punta Tortuga where we will drop anchor.
o Meals and lodging on board |
| DAY
7 NAVIGATION TOWARD PUERTO CHACABUCO - DRIVE TO BALMACEDA |
| o Early
in the morning we will set sail toward Puerto Chacabuco to go a shore
and drive back to Balmaceda airport for the last flight of the day. |
Prices
are valid from September 2004 to May 2005
High Season: December 16, 2004 to March 15, 2005
Mid Season: September 15 to December 15, 2004
Low Season: March 15 to September 15, 2005
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Min. 4 to 5 pax
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6 to 7 pax
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8 to 10 pax
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High Season
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US$ 3.359
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US$ 2.255
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US$ 1.703
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Mid Season
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US$ 2.662
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US$ 1.790
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US$ 1.354
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Low Season
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US$ 2.468
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US$ 1.661
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US$ 1.257
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Optional guide on board
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US$ 263
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US$ 175
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US$ 131
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| Departures:
only on Saturdays |
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INCLUDED :
- 6 nights lodging on board of the Chungungo
- On shore excursion to explore beaches, islands and bays
- Visit of the San Rafael Glacier
- Birds, sea wolves and austral dolphins observation
- Fishing at the mouth of several rivers we will pass by during
our journey
- Natural hot spring baths
- All meals
- Land transfer Balmaceda - Puerto Chacabuco - Balmaceda
- Bilingual guide
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NOT INCLUDED :
- Tips, phone calls and extras
- Travel insurance, please bring. We recommend you verify that
your health insurance will cover you during your stay in Chile.
You may also wish to obtain a short-term traveler's insurance
policy in your home country, to cover yourself and your equipment.
- Before the trip, all passengers must sign a "Release of
liability for risks and exemption of responsibility of the operators
for personal accidents, displacemente, medical and other expenses"
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| Requirements:
Passengers must sign a "Release of liability and exemption of
responsibility of the operators for personal accidents, displacement,
medical and other expenses". |
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| Restrictions:
Maximum group 10 passengers |
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