Compare Chile - Birds, Wildlife & Andean landscapes 2019 by Rockjumper Birding vs Hidden Chilean Fjords With Skorpios Cruises by Qwerty Travel Argentina
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 13 days | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 5,875 | $ 4,665 |
| Price Per Day | $ 452 | $ 424 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Small ship cruise |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
Breakfast |
| Description |
Chile occupies a 2,650 mile-long narrow ribbon of land between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, and stretches from north of the Atacama Desert to Cape Horn, the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Chile is one of South America’s most stable and prosperous nations and our tour covers the highlights of this fabulous country as we search for its numerous specialities and endemics. These range from the giant Andean Condor to the tiny Chilean Woodstar, and include the unique Chilean tapaculos called huet-huets and turcas. One of our primary targets will no doubt be the highly prized Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, while other no less desirable species include James’s Flamingo, Puna Ibis, Chilean Tinamou, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Andean Avocet, Rufous-legged Owl, Slender-billed Parakeet, Magellanic Woodpecker, White-throated Treerunner and the appropriately named Giant Hummingbird. We will also undertake an exciting pelagic excursion in search of the region’s seabirds, including the rare Peruvian Diving Petrel and Chilean Skua, while mammal possibilities include herds of stately Vicunas, the range-restricted Marine Otter and the bizarre Southern Mountain Viscachas. Accommodations, meals and wines are excellent throughout the tour and the Chilean people offer warm hospitality. Combined with the outstanding scenery of high altitude Puna lakes and snow-capped volcanoes, excellent coastal desert and rich Patagonian forest, this is without doubt one of South America’s most memorable birding destinations! |
This south program with the Cruise Skorpios, covers most of the glaciers in the area, namely Amalia, El Brujo, Bernal and Herman, and those located in the area of Fiordo Calvo. The cruise includes around 15 glaciers, some of which we will contemplate and admire directly, walking up to their front and moraines, and sailing through multi-coloured ice-floes on smaller expedition vessels like the Capitán Konstantino; from where we will have the chance to observe de varied Patagonian flora and fauna in all its natural glory. |
Day 1: SANTIAGO
Upon arrival a driver will be waiting for you and will transfer you to your accommodation.
Rest of the day at leisure.
Day 2: Santiago city tour
The city tour is a tour of the historical, commercial and zones.- tour and outer courtyards of the Government Palace “La Moneda” (visit determined by the activities of the President), view the historic center with the Plaza de Armas areas Cathedral, Central Post Office, City Hall, etc. It then passes through the main avenue of the city “La Alameda”, Santa Lucia Hill, Forest Park, Museum of Fine Arts, the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood and then continue to Cerro San Cristobal, natural view of the city.- We follow the modern residential and commercial areas, sectors that reach the foot of the Cordillera de los Andes. New neighborhoods such as Santa María de Manquehue, Las Condes and Vitacura, Bicentennial Park, mixed with areas of advanced architecture as in the Barrio El Golf For those who wish may end the tour in a modern shopping center or return to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
Day 3: Valparaíso & Viña del Mar tour
We will start our tour from your hotel towards the coast to get to Valparaiso, a city that was the main port of the Pacific Ocean during the 19th century and that today is one of the main tourist destinations in Chile thanks to its vibrant culture and particular architecture. . We will also visit Viña del Mar, a beautiful coastal city known for its gardens and pleasant beaches. We will cross the fertile wine valley of Casablanca and arrive in Valparaiso, obtaining beautiful views of the city from the viewpoints located on one of the 43 hills that surround the bay. We will visit some of its historical and commercial areas and also the National Congress, and we will go up one of the most famous elevators in the city. We will go to Cerro Alegre and we will achieve an extraordinary view from Paseo Yugoslavo, continuing to Cerro Concepción and strolling through the picturesque Paseo Atkinson, obtaining one of the best postcards of Valparaíso. We will go to La Sebastiana, an original construction that today is a museum and cultural center that houses collections of the renowned Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, and then we will continue to the neighboring spa city of Viña del Mar. There we will visit the Games Casino and the main avenues and gardens of the coastal sector, to then stroll through residential neighborhoods with modern architecture, reaching Reñaca beach. We will finish visiting the city center, Plaza Vergara and Av. Alvarez, returning later to the hotel in Santiago.
Day 4: Santiago de Chile - Puerto Natales
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take your flight to Punta Arenas. After arrival transfer to the bus station for the bus to Puerto Natales. Upon arrival a driver will transfer us to our accommodation.
Day 5: Torres del Paine National Park
The excursion begins with a visit to the Cueva del Milodón, a remarkable cavern 200 meters long, 30 meters high and 80 meters wide located 25 km from Puerto Natales. A half-hour walk will take us into the cave, known for the discovery of fresh skin and bones from a prehistoric species of giant sloth, the mylodon. Remains of other extinct animals have also been found there, such as the dwarf horse, the bear, the panther and the saber-toothed tiger.
In Cerro Castillo where we make a stop at a cafeteria and then continue towards Torres del Paine crossing numerous ranches and a landscape that goes from steppe to deciduous forest. Along the way it is possible to spot local fauna including the rhea, or South American ostrich, and the guanaco, a wild camelid.
Torres del Paine is known worldwide for the massifs that give it its name, giant granite shaped by the force of glacial ice. After entering the park we discover a series of lagoons of intense colors, mountains covered with ice and abundant local fauna. Then we will stop for a 15-minute walk to the Salto Grande on the Paine River. After lunch we continue to Lake Grey, where we will take a walk to the beach from which you can see the glacier of the same name in the distance. Subsequently, the return to Puerto Natales is undertaken by the same route, or by the road that borders the Toro, Porteño and Sofía lakes.
Day 6: PUERTO NATALES
Start the Cruise Adventure
At 10.30 a.m. Start of boarding. At 1:00 p.m. Set sail from Skorpios terminal. Security ship talk. At 2:00 p.m. Lunch. Navigation through the Almirante Gulf Mont. At 4:30 p.m. Arrival at Caleta Juárez in Fjord Guardamiro and disembarkation in boats to see a colony of elephant seals up close. At 6:00 p.m. Set sail, crossing Kirke Narrows, channels Morla Vicuña, Union, Collingwood and Sarmiento.
Day 7: Guillard Glacier - Sarratea Bay
We continue sailing north through Pitt channel. On the port side, the island Chatam, to enter the Guillard Fjord at 10:00 a.m. Navigation inside the fjord to Guillard Glacier. 11:00 a.m. Disembark in Glacier and walk through the place. 1:30 p.m. Lunch. 3:30 p.m. Disembarkation in boats for a tour through the channels of the Glacier. 5:00 p.m. Navigation towards Sarratea Bay. 6:00 p.m. Disembark to take a boat ride around the place. (this excursion depends on the conditions of sunlight and weather) 19.00 hrs. Return to the boat. 8:00 p.m. Dinner on board. 12:00 a.m. Set sail heading south through Pitt Channel.
Day 8: Amalia Glacier - El Brujo Glacier - Sorcerer Glacier - Fernando Glacier
08:00 a.m. Arrival at the Amalia Glacier. The ship approaches the glacier. Panoramic view from the ship. 09:30 a.m. Landing on a nearby beach to walk on the sand, vegetation and rocks, reaching a viewpoint from where you can appreciate this beautiful glacier. 11:30 a.m. The navigation towards the El Brujo Glacier begins. 2:00 p.m. Arrival at El Glacier Sorcerer, if the weather and ice conditions allow it, you can go down to see this glacier from a nearby rock. 3:30 p.m. Set sail for the spectacular Calvo Fjord. 5:10 p.m. Landing in Calvo Fjord, where an excursion is made in a boat suitable for sailing
among the ice, called Capitan Constantino, visiting the glaciers Fernando, Capitan Constantino and Alipio, among others. 8:00 p.m. Set sail to the Fjord of the Mountains.
Day 9: Mountains Fjord - Alsina Glacier - Bernal Glacier
Visit to the Fjord of the Mountains, where you can see four glaciers, those that descend from the Cordillera Sarmiento to the sea, two of them being in our binnacle. 09:30 a.m. Visit the Alsina Glacier, disembark in our exploration boats to tour this small bay and its colorful glacier appreciating all its beauty and its enormous surrounding mountains. 10.30 a.m. Return to Skorpios III, we continue sailing through the fjord de las Montañas towards the Bernal Glacier. 11:15 a.m. Landing on the Glacier. The walk starts in the middle of a small native forest, to later cross a path that crosses a small lagoon of glacial water. We continue the walk over the frontal moraines and sides, until reaching the front of the Glacier. From here we will have the opportunity to play some ice and be watching the withdrawal phase of a glacier that no longer reaches the sea. 12:45 p.m. The passengers return to the ship, which is undergoing a pure water supply maneuver and natural descent from a waterfall. This water is what is consumed on board for all service ship's. 2:00 p.m. The Skorpios III Motor Ship continues to navigate the Mountain Fjord and we will be able to see the Herman and Zamudio glaciers from the boat. 5:45 p.m. Angostura Crossing White. 9:00 p.m. Farewell party, Captain's dinner, dance. Navigation through the Almirante Gulf Mont.
Day 10: PUERTO NATALES
Cruise ending
Arrival to Puerto Natales between 02.00 hrs. and 07.00 hrs. depending on wind conditions, to reach Skorpios Terminal. 08.00 hrs. and 09.30 hrs. Passengers leave the ship and will be transferred to your hotel.
Day 11: Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas
After breakfast, transfer to the bus station. Take the bus to Punta Arenas airport to take your departure flight.
