Private journeys - Cruise and Discovery of Chilean Fjords ULCH04

12 Days : $4,853 per person inclusive of superior rooms in superior hotels, superior cabins on expedition ship all meals, open bar on board ship, small group shore excursions while cruising, personal guides, and private car and driver on land. Airfare is additional and we can assist you. Business Class airfare at special rates is available and highly recommended This program features a one week cruise through the Chilean Fjord Region highlighted by a visit to the San Rafael glacier and to the island of Chiloe. Your ship is well equipped for this type of journey and still offers all amenities. This is for the adventure traveler who also likes comfort…

Day 1 Depart USA

Your adventure begins with an overnight flight to Santiago. Dinner and breakfast on board.

Day 2 Arrival in Santiago

Upon arrival and after passing though arrival formalities your driver will meet you and escort you to your deluxe hotel located in magnificent gardens in one of Santiago's best residential areas. You have a chance to relax, stroll the gardens and surrounding community before enjoying dinner at your hotel before turning in early for the full days ahead.

Day 3 Discovering Santiago

After breakfast your guide will pick you up for a personalized tour of the city including Moneda Palace, Plaza de Armas. You will drive down Parque Forestal which is modeled on the Champs d'elysees and continue to the bohemian area of Bellavista where you climb San Cristobal Hill for a panoramic view of the city with the Andes providing the backdrop. After a chance to relax after lunch, your driver will pick you up in the late afternoon to view Santiago in its nightly illumination. You will finish the tour in Barrio Bellavista where you will enjoy one of Santiago's best restaurants Mesun Nerudiano named for Pablo Neruda, Santiago's most well known poet.

Day 4

Puerto Montt, gateway to the Chilean FjordsAfter your driver has transferred you to the airport, your flight will take you to Puerto Montt, the most southern town in the Americas. You will be transferred to your hotel which is centrally located near the main square. Dinner is at the hotel, overlooking the water.

Day 5 The Chiloe Archipelago and Corcovado Gulf

This morning you will board your expedition ship MS Skorpios II which was specially designed to explore the Chilean Fjord region. Despite being well-suited for expedition work, she offers many of the amenities typical of most cruise ships including laundry service, souvenir shop, physician, restaurant and an open bar service. On this first day you will start by sailing through Llanquihue Archipelago, the Gulf of Ancud and the Chiloe archipelago. As you enjoy your dinner and your first night aboard, the ship will be crossing the Corcovado Gulf.

Day 6 Puerto Aguirre and Puerto Leopardos

As you enjoy Breakfast, the ship will be navigating the Moroleda and Ferronave Channels.You will arrive at the remote village of Puerto Aguirre where you are able to disembark and explore. After your visit on shore, you set sail for the San Rafael Glacier sailing through the Ferronave, Pilcomayo and Costa channels on the way. The ship will anchor in Puerto Leopardos which is about twenty miles from the Glacier and you will overnight here.

Day 7 San Rafael Glacier Exploration

After breakfast the ship will up anchor and pass through the San Rafael Bay and Tempanos Channel and anchor a little over a mile away from the glacier. Here you will board the ship's tenders and, with your experienced guides, conduct observations around the glacier. After lunch, the ship itself will move closer to the glacier to allow a close up view from the comfort of the ship. You then set sail for Quitralco Fjord, your destination for tomorrow.

Day 8 Quitralco Fjord and the Patagonian Channels

Once you arrive at Quitralco and dock, you have the opportunity to bathe in thermal pools either outdoors or indoors. Refreshed and rejuvenated, you have the chance to take motorboat cruises on the Fjord. Early evening you board the ship as she sets sail for the Chiloe archipelago, navigating the Moraleda and Perez Norte Canals on the way.

Day 9 Patagonian Channels and Chiloe

As you enjoy your breakfast, you can observe the ship's passage through the Leucayec canal. There is a partial view of Melinka, in the Chonos Archipelago, an island that in past times was a refuge for notorious pirates. We cross the Corcadova Gulf and sail along the east coast of Chiloe where, weather permitting, you can go ashore at Queilin. You continue through the Yai Canal and Castro inlet arriving in Castro in the evening, where the ship overnights.

Day 10 Castro and the Return to Puerto Montt

This morning you disembark to explore the quaint town of Castro with its wooden church (a UNESCO world heritage site) the crafts market and houses on stilts. If you choose, you can take an excursion to Chonchi about ten miles away. You return to the ship for lunch and set sail for Puerto Montt. On your return you will sail through the Castro Inlet and through a series of canals called the Lemy, Dalachaue, Ouicavi and the Cabuco. Tonight is the farewell dinner and as you toast your adventurer with fine Chilean wine our ship docks in Puerto Montt for your last night aboard.

Day 11 Puerto Montt/Santiago

After breakfast you will transfer to the airport for the flight to Santiago connecting to your return flight to the USA.

Day 12 Arrival in the USA

You arrive back in the United States at breakfast time.

•       Transfers and sightseeing by private helicopter or aircraft as indicated on the itinerary

•       Superior Rooms at the properties indicated in the accommodations area (We reserve the right to substitute a property of equal quality in advance of departure should the designated hotel be unavailable)

•       Private Transfers to and from the airport at destination

•       All meals as indicated on the itinerary by B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner

•Entrance fees to all museums, attractions and other venues as indicated on the daily itinerary

•       Private guides for city explorations and private driver/guide while traveling.

•       Baggage handling at all hotels and camps

•       All applicable taxes and service fees

•       International airfare (round-trip from hometown departure gateway to destination)

•       Beverages with included meals (unless otherwise indicated on itinerary page)

•       Any meals not indicated on the Itinerary page

•       Items of a personal nature e.g. minibar, film, postcards etc.

•       Gratuities to Guides and Driver/Guides (we provide suggested guidelines for your selected destination in your pre-departure material)

•       Any passport or visa fees or government departure taxes (It is the traveler’s responsibility to secure the latest information regarding passports and visa requirements)

Available Year Round