Sea Kayaking Expedition in Northern Patagonia

"Chile"

Come and join us for an unforgettable adventure in the magnificent fjords of Comau, Quintupeu and CahuelmO, on the eastern side of the Gulf of Ancud, where wild mountains cliffs soar out of the dark waters to touch the sky. See stupendous glacial valleys, primeval temperate rainforests, and numerous kinds of marine wildlife, including dolphins, sea lions, penguins and other sea birds. 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 Chiloe, 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 rompOn, try a hearty dish of "beans with reins", savor a rich curanto and other typical cuisine to delight your palate. Wander through the local handicraft market of Castro. 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 will remember forever.

The Itinerary

DAY 01 PUERTO MONTT - LLANCAHUE ISLAND
After meeting in Puerto Montt, we drive down the Southern Highway, and cross the Reloncavi estuary to Hornopiren. 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 Llancahue Island, where we climb into our sea kayaks for instruction and practice. Afterwards, we camp for the night on this island.

DAY 02 LLANCAHUE 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 - CAHUELMO FJORD
We navigate down to CahuelmO 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 CahuelmO 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 CAHUELMO 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 sourrounded 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 ISLANDS
Early this morning we board our support vessel for the trip down Comau Fjord and around the Huequi Peninsula.

Those who chose the 6 day expedition leave us and are transfered to Puerto Montt.

After a hearty lunch, we set sail across the open waters of the Gulf of Ancud, heading for the beautifull 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, Anihue 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 LODGE - DALCAHUE CHANNEL
In the morning we set sail for Altue's sea kayaking lodge near the port of Dalcahue. After lunch at the lodge, 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 woode-fired hot tub and a memorable dinner, we spend the night in our center.

DAY 09 SEA KAYAKING LODGE - 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 frienship has helped make this adventure such a wonderful, unforgettable experience.

General Information

Rated: Moderate

Physical Demands:
The journey is not 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 the person 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.

Please enquire for sea kayaking journeys from 1 to 5 days around Chiloe archipelago and Dalcahue channel which departure with 2 passengers as minimum

Departure dates
2006-07
9 days: Nov. 4, 18 – Dec. 2, 14 – Jan. 10, 23 – Feb. 6, 18 – Mar 5
6 days: Nov. 4, 18 – Dec. 2, 14 & 30 (New Year trip) – Jan. 10, 23 – Feb. 6, 18 – Mar 5

Sea Kayaking Expedition in Northern Patagonia
N° of participants	6 days (Fjords)	9 days (Fjords)
USD	$ 990	$ 1590
EUR	€ 821	€ 1319
GBP	£ 554	£ 890

(*) Price last updated on 11 August 2006. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .
(**) Fixed departures for 6 and 9 days journeys need 5 people minimum.
(****) 10 participants maximum

Included: All transportation according to the itinerary, for round trip Puerto Montt - Puerto Montt / 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 in shared room at Mechuque guest house and one night in Altue's Sea Kayaking Lodge based on double occupancy with wood-fired and hot tub facilities

Not included: Flight from/to Puerto Montt, other meals, sleeping bag and pad