Where
the snow capped mountains plunge to the sea
Smack your lips over fresh salmon steaks, or steamed shellfish gathered
from the cliffs at low tide, all prepared by our cook in the miniature
galley of our picturesque support vessel. Watch the sunset on the
peaks as you relax in hot pools. Spread your sleeping bag under the
diamond stars of the Southern Cross. Words alone simply cannot express
the unique beauty and variety of this majestic land, whose calm, protected
waters do not require you to have any previous experience with sea
kayaks.
Then it's on to the fascinating cultural experience of Chiloé,
where Spain once maintained it's last stronghold of colonial power
in South America. Today there are still vestiges of the original Araucanian
way of life, in harmonious combination with the influences of German
immigrants in the late 1800s and of modern-day Chile. One every lovely
island we visit, you'll see moss-covered old wooden churches gracing
the seaside, as well as palafitos (stilt houses) that are 20 feet
and more in the air when the tide is out, but nearly awash when it's
in. Taste guindao and rompón, try a hearty dish of "beans
with reins", savor a rich curanto and other typical cuisine to
delight your palate. Wander through the local market of Castro, where
you may see artisans at work on handicrafts you can buy for surprisingly
low prices even lower, if you're willing to bargain a little. What
more can we say?. This is the opportunity of a lifetime to enjoy a
fantastic adventure at the other end of the Earth, one that you'll
remember forever. |
|
| DAY 01 PUERTO
MONTT - LLANCAHUÉ ISLAND |
| After meeting
in Puerto Montt, we drive down the Southern Highway, and cross the
Reloncaví estuary to Hornopirén. There we board our
50-foot support vessel and head for Los Ciervos Island. After stopping
for lunch in a nice cove, we sail on to Llancahué Island, where
we climb into our sea kayaks for instruction and practice. Afterwards,
we camp for the night on this island. |
| DAY 02 LLANCAHUÉ
ISLAND - QUINTUPEU FJORD |
| Now we
begin the wild part of our sea kayak adventure. We put in near the
entrance to Quintupeu Fjord, where the German battleship Dresden hid
out during World War I. The sheer slopes, cut by countless waterfalls
tumbling off the heights, are covered with lush vegetation that hangs
over our heads. As we glide along under this lush canopy, we try to
catch a glimpse of dolphins jumping near our kayaks. At nightfall,
we camp at the end of the fjord. |
| DAY 03 QUINTUPEU
FJORD - CAHUELMÓ FJORD |
| We navigate
down to Cahuelmó Fjord, stopping at the entrance to see if
there are any sea lions at play. We don't stop for long though, because
we want to paddle the far end of Cahuelmó in time to get up
the river, or hike through the wild tidal flats. Finally, we take
a relaxing dip in Cahuelmo Hot Springs before turning in for the night. |
| DAY 04 CAHUELMÓ
FJORD - PORCELANA HOT SPRINGS |
Our goal
for today's journey is Porcelana Hot Springs. On the way, we stop
at the settlement of Huinay and hike up a glacial valley surrounded
by snow capped mountains. From this village we cut straight across
Comau Fjord to Porcelana, where we pitch camp in a lush green pasture
and head for the tidal pools of hot water surrounded by magnificent
scenery. |
| DAY 05 PORCELANA
HOT SPRINGS - COMAU FJORD |
| We paddle
down to the end of Comau Fjord to Leptepu, passing by stunning snow-capped
peaks on our way to a secluded corner in a setting of plunging waterfalls
and virgin forests. We also see a lagoon, teeming with wildlife, which
we can reach by kayak at high tide. In the afternoon we return to
Porcelana and, of course, we don't fail to go for another long soak
in our beautiful hot spring. |
| DAY 06 COMAU
FJORD - CHAUQUES ISLAND |
| Early this
morning we board our support vessel for the trip down Comau Fjord
and around the Huequi Peninsula.. After a hearty lunch, we set sail
across the open waters of the Gulf of Ancud, heading for the beautiful
Chauques Islands. We arrive in the late afternoon and set up camp
on the island of Mechuque. We still have plenty of time to wander
around and visit the local people, famous for their warm hospitality. |
| DAY 07 CHAUQUES
ISLANDS - MECHUQUE VILLAGE |
| We kayak
the waterways among the islands of Mechuque, Voigue, Añihue
and Taucolon, visiting villages and churches as we go. We pay special
attention to the traditional culture of this area, celebrated in the
songs and dances of Chilean folklore. In particular, we watch for
palafito stilt houses with brightly colored fishing boats tied up
in their "basements". We stop for the night in a family-owned
guest house in the enchanting village of Mechuque. Our hosts prepare
as a banquet whose main course is none other than the famous "curanto",
legendary dish in the maritime cuisine of southern Chile. |
| DAY 08 SEA
KAYAKING CENTER - DALCAHUE CHANNEL |
| In the
morning we set sail for our sea kayaking center near the port of Dalcahue.
After lunch at the center, we paddle across Dalcahue Channel to Quinchao
Island to visit the lovely San Xavier church and cemetery. On our
way back to the center, stop by the picturesque port of Dalcahue.
After a relaxing bath in our hot tub and a memorable dinner, we spend
the night in our center. |
| DAY 09 SEA
KAYAK CENTER - CASTRO - PUERTO MONTT |
| Today we
drive to Castro to visit the handicraft market, with its woolen goods,
baskets, and many other items that catch our fancy. We also visit
several additional attractions of the city, including the famous church
of San Francisco. In early afternoon, we depart for the return trip
to Puerto Montt, where some will board a plane for home while others
make go on to visit more of the countless interesting places in Chile.
So we say good-bye to our companions, whose warm friendship has helped
make this adventure such a wonderful, unforgettable experience. |
| |
| Note:
The 6 days trip, are first six days of itinerary ending in Puerto
Montt as follow: |
| DAY 06
COMAU FJORD - HORNOPIREN - PUERTO MONTT |
| Early this
morning we board our support vessel to navigate up Comau Fjord to
Hornopirén, where we take the road back to Puerto Montt in
time to catch the evening flight or bus to Santiago |
| |
|
Departures for the 9 or 6-day
trip:
|
|
October Upon request
|
November
|
December
|
|
January
|
February
|
March
|
|
NEW YEAR TRIP (6 days trip) : December
|
|
| |
|
|
|
9 days trip
|
6 days trip
|
|
6 - 10 pax
|
US$
|
6 - 10 pax
|
US$
|
|
| |
|
INCLUDED :
- All round trip transportation Puerto Montt/Puerto Montt, according
to the itinerary
- All meals from lunch on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 9
- Services of expert guides and support personnel
- Fully equipped fiberglass sea kayaks with spray skirts, paddles
and accessories
- 50-foot motorized support vessel
- Full camping gear, except for personal sleeping bag and pad
- One night at Mechuque guest house and one night in Altue's Sea
Kayaking Center, based on double occupancy
|
|
NOT INCLUDED :
- Any type of insurance
- Gratuities and personal
- Extras as communication cost, laundry, meals and drinks not
stipulated in the program
- Other personal items
|
| DEGREE
OF DIFFICULTY AND PHYSICAL CONDITIONING: |
| The
trip is not especially rigorous and requires no prior experience with
kayaks. You must know how to swim and be in reasonably good physical
condition. A positive attitude towards open-air activities is very
important. This is a trip for who enjoys participative tourism in
a natural setting, and who understands that during our trip we may
encounter variable weather and tidal conditions that will require
modifications in the itinerary. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
