PATAGONIA FIORDS

Day 1 Puerto Montt – Melinka – Isla Jéchica

Once in Puerto Montt (arrival via jet plane from Santiago or otherwise), a private charter plane from "Paloma Airstrip" will take you directly to Melinka (one hour), the main port of the Guaitecas Archipelago, where our motor yacht "Noctiluca" will be awaiting.

Constructed between 2005 and 2007, "Noctiluca" is a 57-foot classic motor yacht made of a unique Patagonian wood (cipres de las Guaitecas) used for centuries by the maritime Chiloé seagoing culture. Blending the traditional craftsmanship of experienced Chiloé boatbuilders and the latest technology in boat design, safety, and interior finishing, it offers the ideal means to explore the interior ocean passages of Patagonia. Once on board we travel toward the westerly islands for an introduction to the majestic beauty of the Guaitecas Archipelago, and finish the day with dinner in the solitude of a quiet cove.

Day 2 Noctiluca Charter

After a Patagonian breakfast, we depart toward the Guaitecas channels to encounter the great variety of resident sea life: sea lions, sea otters, many species of sea birds, Chilean dolphins, humpback whales and, if we're lucky, the great blue whale. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience through the unexplored islands of the Guaitecas Archipelago.

Day 3 Noctiluca Charter – Isla Jéchica

Now that we have accustomed ourselves to life at sea, we head toward Isla Jéchica, a sanctuary of pristine nature in the heart of Chilean Patagonia. In this exuberant evergreen paradise, you will discover the pleasure of silence, surrounded by thousands of native species.

The facilities on Isla Jéchica combine beauty, simplicity, and comfort. They were built to respect the unique characteristics of the natural surroundings, are crafted from native wood, and integrate artistry of wool and loom weavings typical of the area.
After sharing lunch at the hostería, we start exploring the magical places of the island. Sea kayaking and trekking excursions will help us appreciate the island from different points of view.

Day 4 Isla Jéchica

We start the day with a complete buffet breakfast so that we are ready for exploration. A variety of excursions are offered, some more demanding than others.
While walking through beautiful surroundings, you will enjoy the wide variety of flora and fauna. Jéchica Island's unique vegetation includes the rich biodiversity of the sphagnum peat bogs, the ancient evergreen forest, and the seashore.

Kayaking through the fjords brings you close to the southern and Chilean dolphins, imperial cormorants, and penguins.
Later, we share dinner and our experiences, then get ready to board Noctiluca in the morning for the Patagonian hot springs at Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa.

Day 5 Isla Jéchica – Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa

After breakfast, we will depart on Noctiluca and start our navigation through the Jacaff and Puyuhuapi Channels, arriving at the lodge in the afternoon. Surrounded by lush vegetation, and accessible only by sea, an understated luxury and well-planned simplicity combine to create the pleasant atmosphere of this beautiful lodge.The hot springs emanating from the sea invite you to enjoy a relaxing moment before dinner.

Day 6 Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa

The lodge offers footpaths through the cool forest, visits to the Queulat National Park with its Hanging Glacier, easy bicycle trips along the Carretera Austral, or exploration of Dorita Bay in kayaks. The complete facilities of the Spa include a large hydro massage pool, Jacuzzis, a spring-water fountain, a steam sauna, thalassotherapy, relaxation massages, and facial and other treatments. The outdoor thermal pools at the edge of the sea are pleasant under the starry night sky, or even in a gentle rain shower.

Day 7 – Puyuhuapi – San Rafael Glacier – Chacabuco Port

At 7:00 a.m. you board the PATAGONIA EXPRESS catamaran to begin a journey through the austral fjords on the way to the San Rafael Lagoon. The 7-hour route is a sheer delight to the senses: the transparency of the waters, the majesty of the Andes Mountains wrapped in lush forests, the play of light interwoven through the clouds, and, sometimes, the thrill of playful dolphins.

Cruising through a number of channels, the catamaran finally reaches the Témpanos River, which leads to the San Rafael Lagoon, home to a millenarian glacier. A two-hour visit gives time for you to travel closer to the ice via motorized raft. We return to Puerto Chacabuco by 10:30 p.m., and you are taken to the hotel.

Day 8 Chacabuco Port – Balmaceda Airport

After breakfast, you will travel for about two hours from Chacabuco to Coyhaique along the road that parallels the Simpson River, then continue to the airport in Balmaceda.
Noctiluca includes flight from Puerto Montt to Melinka and extension to Puyuhuapi Lodge and San Rafael Glacier.
USD 3300 per person.