The other route to know the Fjords is on board the cruise which take us to San Rafael´s Route, in the Northern Ice Fields, in which we will be dazzled with its solid ice over 70 metres high and its great extension. It really astonishes with the turquoise colours, so colourful and those strange shapes it has. We will get to our last destination, Tenglo Channel which is a beautiful area to enjoy after disembarking, as its views will surprise to every people who go to know it.
Patagonia cruises Skorpios II - Chonos Route (from Puerto Montt)
The Chonos Route itinerary navigates 800 miles crossing gulds, channels and arquipelagos, getting to the fishermen village in Puerto Aguirre on Huichas Islands and the sea-trading city of Castro in the Great Island of Chiloé, the island capital which was found in 1567, and we will arrive at this millenial and amazing San Rafael Glacier and Quitralco Fjord thermal. The sea crossing set sail from Tenglo Channel, then Llanquihue, Chiloé, Chonos and Aysén arquipelagos and Moraleda, Ferronave, Pilcomayo, Costa, Témpanos, Pérez Norte, Leucayec, Yal, Estero de Xastro, Lemuy, Dalcahue, Quicaví and Calbuco channels and the gulfs of Ancud and Corcovado.
San Rafael Glacier is a real natural show, a mix of magic and colours that the ice floes show us with its different sizes. It is considered as the glacier which more collapse movements has in the region. The San Rafael Lagoon National Park has sea fauna and varied flora which live in a perfect state of harmony with the environment. Thanks to the icebreaker ships that we use for the tours we can get closer to the glacier with its 60 metres high towers so we can enjoy an unique experience which date from 30.000 years ago. The name was given to honour the spanish Jesuit don Juan García Tao who discovered the glacier at the beginning of the XVII century. This national park was declared as a World Biosphere Reserve by the Unesco in 1978.
Quitralco means "Fire waters" (Aguas de Fuego) in native language, a fjord that is surrounded by huge snowy mountain chains and full of vegetation. It is a glacier-bed surrounded by wild flora such as ferns, high trees and a compressed foliage that makes the environment a vegetal landscape in a mild microclimate. There are thermals in this fjord which reach to 36º C together with a national style bonfire in a wide green surface in the southern damp jungle. We will do some navigations to watch sea fauna along the icy and calm waters of Quitralco.
Patagonia cruises Skorpios lll - Kaweskar Route (from Puerto Natales)
The Kaweskar navigation route sails 380 miles dodges a great quantity of glaciers, such as the Amalia, El Brujo, Calvo Fjord, Bernal and Herman. It sails around 15 glaciers in the area. We will do some trekkings so we can see its morrenas and its front, besides we will navigate between ice floes on expedition inflatable boats during which we will appreciate the flora and fauna in wild life.
The first city we will visit is Punta Arenas, the most southern in the chilean territory. It was founded halway through the XXI century over the coasts of the Strait of Magallanes. Puerto Natales is 250 kilometres to the northeast, which was founded at the beginning of the XX century over the Señoret Fjord.
The Amalia Glacier descends from the Andes with its beautiful silhouette and blue towers that reach the 100 metres. The navigation goes on to the way to the Asia Fjord until getting to El Brujo Glacier, an impressive ice wall, where we will descend to walk and understand the glaciary geology. Its top are full of snow and surrounded by plentiful vegetation. The Calvo Fjord is a big natural amphitheater formed of glaciers which are located in the centre of the Southern Ice Field.
The waters in the Calvo Fjord look so pacific and quiet which make us believe that the ice on the surface won´t give any chance of movement; despite this appearence, the Capitán Constantino icebreaker goes on over this icy waters which are full of ice floes. Another natural spectacle is the Fernando Glacier which is in free backward movement. Over the mountain is the Capitán Constantino Glacier with its big size. We will also see other glaciers like the Alipio or Piloto Marcelo and Monsalve.
The de las Montañas Fjord is located in the southern extreme of the South Ice Field which is surrounded by the Riesco and Sarmiento mountains. There are also another 5 glaciers: Zamudio, Alsina, Paredes, Bernal and Herman. We will disembark in the Bernal Glacier to listen very careful to a Glaciology class, then we will do a trekking over the base of the glacier crossing a lagoon which was origined with the thaw in a very strong turquoise colour. This is the moment in which we will realise of the real life of a glacier, walking over its frontal and lateral morenas and to appreciate the thaw. Right in this place, we will see the flora and vegetation changes. The Herman is the last glacier we will visit, which is over huge cliffs and it has many vegetation where the Real Cormoran stands out.