Blue Whales, Beaches and Bliss - Northern Tour
On this tour we will spend our days exploring the many bays and islands of the Northern Chonos Archipelago. We will work our way north to the Golfo de Corcovado keeping a lookout for the massive and majestic blue whales as well as a host of other wildlife, not to mention the spectacular scenery! This northern end of the Chonos Archipelago and the Golfo de Corcovado was recently discovered to be a very important foraging and nursery ground for a sizable population of these unbelievably big creatures. This area can also be quite exposed and presents many challenges for kayakers, and this is where the comfort and safety of the mothership truly comes to light.
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Day Zero: Depart your home for Santiago, Chile. Most flights are overnight (apx 10 hours from Toronto) and arrive early to mid-morning the following day.
Day One: A member of the Spirit of the West Adventures team will meet you at the airport (or will help arrange transport for you into Santiago if you are arriving in advance of the group). From here we will transfer you to our hotel in the thriving arts district of Providencia. Here you can take the morning to shower, have a nap, lunch and then that evening we will gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Then it is back to our hotel for a good night's sleep.
Day Two: After a hearty breakfast we will head out of the city to the beautiful Casablanca Valley to visit some of the best wineries in Chile. The journey through the Valley begins our encounter with some of the many different types of landscapes that we are about to experience over the rest of our journey. Here we will visit some boutique wineries as well as some of the well-known establishments for tasting's and tours of their wine production. Of course there will be time for you to purchase a bottle or two to take home. We will return to the city in time for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants and will dine under the stars while enjoying the nightlife of the Chilean streets.
Day Three: Morning will come early, but the excitement of the journey to come will help with our wake-up call. After a continental breakfast we will transfer to the Santiago airport for our flight to Balmaceda airport. A 3-hour flight later, we will arrive in Patagonia! Our mini-van will transfer us to Coyhaique where we will explore some local artisan shops and dine at a local restaurant. We will spent the night in picturesque Coyhaique.
Day Four: We will drive an hour through beautiful rolling hills and past waterfalls to meet our mothership, the beautiful Noctiluca. The "Noctiluca" is a 57-foot motor yacht named after the luminous plankton that abounds in Patagonian waters (what we would call bioluminescence). Once all settled aboard, the captain will give us a safety briefing and we will enjoy dinner while watching the sun sink behind the islands as we motor out of the Aisen Fjord and Paso Casma. That night we will anchor in beautiful Chiva Cove (apx 60 nautical miles covered by boat).
Day Five: While enjoying a cup of coffee or tea as the sun rises we will motor toward Isla Kent (60 nautical miles). This sandy-shored island brings us to the edge of the world - or at least the very edge of the South America! While under way we will examine the charts and discuss possible routes for each day based on the weather and group desires. We also will have a kayak safety and paddling skills refresher to ensure everyone gets the most out of their trip. After a hearty lunch we will head out in the kayaks to explore the inner coves and bays of this magnificent island. The afternoon will present chances to explore outer ocean beaches and protected coves. We will be treated to many different types of oceanic birds and sea life.
* Please note route and kayaking are weather dependant, but the mothership will help to provide ultimate flexibility.
Day Six: Early morning we will start to motor toward Jechica Island (70 nautical miles). We will weave our way through the hundreds of islands to arrive in the early afternoon. We will spend the rest of the day kayaking within the sheltered bay of Isla Jechica and if the group desires stretching our legs on some of the islands hiking paths. Dinner will be on board watching the sunset, of course with a glass of Chilean red wine in hand!
Day Seven: We depart towards Port Melinka (35 nautical miles). We are nearing the area known for being the foraging and nursery grounds of the world's largest creature, the Blue Whale! We will take the kayaks through a route only accessible on high tide and by kayak and will meet our mothership, the Noctiluca on other side. Lunch will be on board as we continue our journey toward the very small port town of Melinka. We will have an early dinner to allow us (if the weather permits) to start our search for whales on the edge of the Corcovado Gulf (Golfo de Corcovado). Here we will experience the feeling and views of the open ocean, which is also a proposed Blue Whale sanctuary.
Day Eight: The morning will see us traveling through the Corcovado Gulf and kayaking among the Guaitecas Islands. This day will hopefully present us with whale watching opportunities as well as stunning views of the mainland volcanoes.
Day Nine: Traveling south again through the archipelago, we head for a beautiful group of islands called Los Maceteros - the flowerpots (40 nautical miles). These scattered gems are a treat to paddle among.
Day Ten: Today's destination is the Cinco Hermanas National Park (20 nautical miles). Our route will take us to the '5 Sisters' or Cinco Hermanas group of islands. After exploring these beautiful islands we will paddle towards the steaming water and pure bliss - hot springs. Dinner on board will once again leave our taste buds truly satisfied and our bellies full. Really could life get any better?
Day Eleven: Sadly, this will be our last day on our floating home. We will get an early start to ensure we arrive back to Puerto Aisen (45 nautical miles) in time to transfer back to the Balmaceda Airport in time to catch a flight back to Santiago that evening. If you are pressed for time, it may be possible to catch an international flight this evening (check with the office for details). The rest of the group will enjoy one last farewell dinner together in Santiago. Hotel this last night is included in the tour cost.
Day Twelve: This is your last day in Santiago. After breakfast at the hotel you will say good-bye to your guides. You are welcome to explore the city on your own, perhaps heading to a local market for some souvenir shopping before flights that evening. Most international flights leave late in the day. Spirit of the West will arrange pickups and ensure you get to the airport safely.
If your time permits we would be happy to help you organize some more travels around this incredible part of the world (please see other things to do in Chile and Argentina). Or better yet, join us for the next leg of our journey to the southern part of the archipelago and the San Rafael Glacier (discounted rates if you join us for both legs of the tour).
Special Note: Please know that the above itineraries are meant to give you an idea of all the region has to offer. Weather, wildlife and our fellow kayakers will help to determine the specifics of our daily route. In order to cover maximum ground as well as see the highlights of the area we spend apx half of our time on the mothership and half kayaking during the kayaking portion of the tour. Please also bear in mind that these tours are always exploratory in nature and if we find another place we wish to explore, we can do so!
Glaciers, Gauchos and Wilderness - Southern Tour
This route will take us deep into the southern reaches of the Chonos Archipelago to the world famous San Rafael Glacier. We will take our time reaching the glacier kayaking amidst stunning scenery and enjoying all the region has to offer including a visit to an authentic hacienda or ranch and a trip to remote hot springs. This tour can be combined with the Blue Whales, Beaches and Bliss (Northern Tour) for a discounted rate.
View Chile Route South in a larger map
Day Zero: Depart your home for Santiago, Chile. Most flights are overnight (apx 10 hours from Toronto) and arrive early to mid-morning the following day.
Day One: A member of the Spirit of the West team will meet you at the airport (or will help arrange transport for you into Santiago if you are arriving in advance of the group). From here we will transfer you to our hotel in the thriving arts district of Providencia. Here you can take the morning to shower, have a nap, lunch and then that evening we will gather for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Then it is back to our hotel for a good night's sleep.
Day Two: After a hearty breakfast we will head out of the city to the beautiful Casablanca Valley to visit some of the best wineries in Chile. The journey through the Valley begins our encounter with some of the many different types of landscapes that we are about to experience over the rest of our journey. Here we will visit some boutique wineries as well as some of the well-known establishments for tasting's and tours of their wine production. Of course there will be time for you to purchase a bottle or two to take home. We will return to the city in time for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants and will dine under the stars while enjoying the nightlife of the Chilean streets.
Day Three: Morning will come early, but the excitement of the journey to come will help with our wake-up call. After a continental breakfast we will transfer to the Santiago airport for our flight to Balmaceda airport. A 3-hour flight later, we will arrive in Patagonia! Our mini-van will transfer us to Coyhaique where we will explore some local artisan shops and dine at a local restaurant. We will spent the night in picturesque Coyhaique.
Day Four: We will drive an hour through beautiful rolling hills and past waterfalls to meet our mothership, the beautiful Noctiluca. The "Noctiluca" is a 57-foot motor yacht named after the luminous plankton that abounds in Patagonian waters (what we would call bioluminescence). Once all settled aboard, the captain will give us a safety briefing and we will enjoy dinner while watching the sun sink behind the islands as we motor out of the Aisen Fjord and Paso Casma. That night we will anchor in beautiful Chiva Cove (apx 60 nautical miles covered by boat).
Day Five: This morning we will get an early start on the day and will head to Odger Cove which is near the entrance to San Rafael Lagoon. Here we will kayak through the small inside passages exploring all in nooks and crannies. That afternoon we will take an excursion by Zodiac to the beaches and streams near the glacier.
Day Six: Today we will explore the San Rafael Lagoon. We will have lunch near the glacier, surrounded by icebergs. We will carefully navigate our way by kayak through the icebergs to visit the regions various beaches and islets. That evening we will anchor at Port Lepardo at the entrance of the lagoon. While we eat dinner we will listen for the tell-tale cracking sounds of the calving glacier in the distance (35 nautical miles).
Day Seven: Today we motor to the hacienda owned by our Captain Robin Westcott (60 nautical miles). Hacienda Quitralco is a private ranch which covers many square kilometers and offers us the chance to spend the afternoon river kayaking, fly fishing, horseback riding and/or trekking on the property. We will finish off our day with an authentic gaucho lamb asado (or BBQ). The taste of meat and vegetables slow-roasted over an open fire enjoyed under a starry sky is second to none. This meal of course will be accompanied by a great selection of Chilean wine and beer and vegetables picked fresh from the garden on-site. Is this heaven on earth?
Day Eight: We will set sail today for McPherson Island via Estero Barros. We will spend the day navigating through small channel of pristine nature which is ideal for dolphins and encounters with other wildlife. We will spend our afternoon kayaking at McPherson Island and then will have dinner anchored in Colonia Cove (40 nautical miles).
Day Nine: There are so many places to explore in this region it is hard to say where exactly we will spend today, but we will enjoy the many islands as we work our way back towards Puerto Aisen.
Day Ten: We will get an extra early start this morning in order to reach the sheltered waters of Gato Cove in plenty of time to enjoy kayaking in Cinco Hermanas (Five Sisters) National Park. The scenery here will not disappoint. After exploring these beautiful islands we will paddle towards the steaming water and pure bliss - hot springs. Dinner on board will once again leave our taste buds truly satisfied and our bellies full. Really could life get any better?
Day Eleven: Sadly, this will be our last day on our floating home. We will get an early start to ensure we arrive back to Puerto Aisen (45 nautical miles) in time to transfer back to the Balmaceda Airport in time to catch a flight back to Santiago that evening. If you are pressed for time, it may be possible to catch an international flight this evening (check with the office for details). The rest of the group will enjoy one last farewell dinner together in Santiago. Hotel this last night is included in the tour cost.
Day Twelve: This is your last day in Santiago. After breakfast at the hotel you will say good-bye to your guides. You are welcome to explore the city on your own, perhaps heading to a local market for some souvenir shopping before flights that evening. Most international flights leave late in the day. Spirit of the West will arrange pickups and ensure you get to the airport safely.
If your time permits we would be happy to help you organize some more travels around this incredible part of the world (please see other things to do in Chile and Argentina). Or better yet, join us for the next leg of our journey to the Northern Part of the archipelago and the Blue Whale foraging area of the Gulfo de Corcovado (discounted rates if you join us for both legs of the tour).
Special Note: Please know that the above itineraries are meant to give you an idea of all the region has to offer. Weather, wildlife and our fellow kayakers will help to determine the specifics of our daily route. In order to cover maximum ground as well as see the highlights of the area we spend apx half of our time on the mothership and half kayaking during the kayaking portion of the tour. Please also bear in mind that these tours are always exploratory in nature and if we find another place we wish to explore, we can do so!
Call Breanne or John if you have any questions, or would simply like to get to know us better. Call 1 800 307 3982
Overseas 1 250 285 2121
