Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Exit
Punta Arenas
Cluster
6 - 18 passengers
Difficulty
Expedition / Navigation
Accommodation
Camp on Charles III Island
Following the whales, towards the heart of the Strait
A three-day expedition to delve into one of the most extraordinary marine territories in Patagonia.
We will sail from Punta Arenas towards the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, exploring fjords and channels where a large amount of marine life concentrates each season.
During the expedition we will look for humpback whales, dolphins, sea lions and seabirds, while we explore a landscape dominated by glaciers, mountains and some of the most remote places in the Strait of Magellan.
And there's something that makes this experience different: We didn't just come here to observe the territory. We know it, we study it, and we've been tracking the presence of its whales for decades.
Following the whales, towards the heart of the Strait
A three-day expedition to delve into one of the most extraordinary marine territories in Patagonia.
We will sail from Punta Arenas towards the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, exploring fjords and channels where a large amount of marine life concentrates each season.
During the expedition we will look for humpback whales, dolphins, sea lions and seabirds, while we explore a landscape dominated by glaciers, mountains and some of the most remote places in the Strait of Magellan.
And there's something that makes this experience different: We didn't just come here to observe the territory. We know it, we study it, and we've been tracking the presence of its whales for decades.
DAY 1 — ENTER THE STRAIT
Punta Arenas → Francisco Coloane Marine Park
The expedition begins early in Punta Arenas. From there we travel to Punta Carrera, our embarkation point, to begin our voyage into the heart of the Strait of Magellan.
For approximately eight hours We will sail towards the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, crossing a landscape that gradually changes from the city to a territory of canals, islands and mountains.
Navigation is a fundamental part of the experience.
As we ventured deeper into the Strait, we also began searching for our first sightings.
Upon arriving at Isla Carlos III, we will set up camp and have the opportunity to make the first observations of the humpback whales that come to these waters to feed.
Night in the heart of the Marine Park.
DAY 2 — WHALE DAY
Exploration of the Francisco Coloane Marine Park
The second day is dedicated entirely to exploring the territory and searching for marine life.
Before we begin our voyage, we can listen to the sounds of the ocean from the camp and, with some luck, observe the first whale tails at dawn.
Then we will embark for Explore different areas of the Marine Park and its surroundings, looking for the best conditions to observe cetaceans and marine fauna.
The expedition continues towards the Barbara Channel and the surroundings of Santa Inés Island, where the large ice fields descend to the sea.
During navigation we will find:
Humpback whales · dolphins · sea lions · penguins · albatrosses · petrels · cormorants
The landscape is also part of the expedition: glaciers, fjords, mountains and virtually untouched coasts accompany the entire voyage.
Night at the camp.
DAY 3 — CAPE FROWARD AND THE END OF THE CONTINENT
Francisco Coloane → Cape Froward → Punta Arenas
After breakfast we will begin our return to Punta Arenas.
But the expedition still holds one of its greatest moments.
Before leaving the Marine Park, we will make some final whale and dolphin watching and visit a colony of Magellanic penguins.
Then we will sail east until we reach Cape Froward, the point where the Andes mountain range reaches the sea and the continental tip of America is located.
From there we will change course north to begin our return to Punta Arenas.
During the voyage we will be able to make new observations of fauna and pass in front of some of the most important historical places that are part of the maritime history of the Strait of Magellan.
We will arrive at Punta Carrera during the afternoon and from there our transport will take us back to Punta Arenas.
The arrival in Punta Arenas marks the end of a three-day expedition where science, extreme nature, and some of Patagonia's most remote landscapes converged on a single journey. It was an experience that went beyond simply observing the territory; it was about understanding it—guided by those who have spent over three decades studying these waters.
Estimated arrival time: 7:00 PM.
- Accommodation capacity on the island is limited. Accommodation conditions and cabin configurations depend on the group size.
Elements of this expedition from Whalesound
Humpback whale watching at one of the species' main feeding grounds in South America!
Three days exploring channels, fjords and islands in one of the most remote marine environments in South America.
A guided experience from the perspective of those who have spent years observing and monitoring the marine fauna of this territory and the historical heritage of the Strait and its shipwrecks.
Glaciers, ice fields, mountains, Patagonian forests and virtually untouched coastlines.
Magellanic penguins, sea lions, albatrosses, petrels, cormorants and other species are part of the expedition.
PARA RECORDAR
Important
This is a expedition in remote territory. Weather and sea conditions may alter the itinerary, sailing times, and places visited.
Wildlife observation depends on natural conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
