Chilean fjords on the Skorpios II: Puerto Montt to San Rafael Glacier

Itinerary in brief:

• 5 nights on board the Skorpios II

Day 1: Puerto Montt & Corcovado Gulf        

Today you’ll board your cruise at the Skorpios Terminal in Puerto Montt, and sailing will start at noon. Your journey begins by sailing through the Llanquihue archipelago to the Gulf of Ancud, before arriving at Quemchi on Chiloe Island midway through the afternoon.

Leaving the ship, you’ll disembark by zodiac boat to visit this picturesque Chilote village including its handicraft market, coffee shops and the museum of the Chilean writer Francisco Coloane. In the early evening, you’ll continue sailing South through the Archipelago of Chiloe and Corcovado Gulf.        

Day 2: Moraleda Channel & Caleta Quesahuen     

Today you will continue the navigation through the Moraleda and Ferronave channels and you’ll arrive at the fishing village of Puerto Aguirre mid-morning. Disembark here with the opportunity to visit the village and take a walk through Patagonian rainforest typical of the region.

This afternoon, you’ll continue sailing through the Ferronave, Pilcomayo and Costa channels, until you reach Punta Pescadores. Here you’ll disembark on the shingle beach and take a guided walk to experience the natural environment, its plants and animals. This evening, the Skorpios will make its way further south until you reach Caleta Quesahuen or Punta Leopardos, where you’ll set anchor – just 20 nautical miles from the San Rafael Glacier.        

Day 3: San Rafael Lagoon & Quitralco Fjord        

This morning you’ll cruise into San Rafael Lagoon and the ship will set anchor before the glacier. Weather permitting, you’ll board the zodiacs and take an excursion among multicoloured icebergs up close. In the afternoon, the ship will cruise even closer to the glacier and you’ll see incredible ice floes, drifts and blue ice walls. Listen to the soundtrack of nature at its most dramatic; the thundering crashes can be heard as ice breaks off the glacier face and tumbles into the lagoon – a truly mesmerising experience. After some time at the lagoon, the Skorpius will set sail for the Quitralco Fjord where it will anchor.           

Day 4: Quitralco Fjord & Moraleda Channel

After breakfast, the ship will berth at Berth at the pier of Quitralco and you can relax with a visit to some indoor and outdoor hot spring baths where the water temperature is at 32ºC to 38º. If the weather allows, you’ll take a boat trip through the inside of the fjord. In the late afternoon, the ship will sail towards Chiloe, navigating through the Moraleda and Perez Norte channels.      

Day 5: Dalcahue & Puerto Montt

This morning, you will sail through Leucayec channel with a partial view of Melinka in the Chono’s archipelago – a shelter for fearsome pirates in past times. Further along the route, you will cross the Corcovado Gulf and if you’re lucky, you may spot humpback and blue whales.

You’ll continue sailing along the eastern coast of Chiloe Island, arriving at Conejos Islet at the Queilén channel, a great place to spot native wildlife. Here you’ll disembark by zodiac boat to see Magellanic penguins, sea lions and dolphins! This afternoon, you’ll arrive at Dalcahue where you will disembark and visit the charming town.

Back on the ship, you can look forward to the Captain’s dinner and farewell party whilst the Skorpios makes its way north towards Puerto Montt.

Day 6: Depart Puerto Montt

Breakfast will be served this morning, and after this, you will disembark.