# 405 - SKORPIOS I - ADVENTURE ROUTE (4 nights & 5 nights cruises)

SKORPIOS I “ADVENTURE ROUTE”
PUERTO CHACABUCO/ LAGUNA SAN RAFAEL/ PUERTO CHACABUCO
4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS (FRIDAY - MONDAY)

Friday: Reception at Balmaceda airport. Bus transfer to Coyhaique along a route of many attractions such as: The Agua de la Virgen Waterfalls, The Bridal Veil Waterfalls, Río Aysen and Simpson Bridges. At 18:00 hrs. - transfer to Chacabuco Port and embarkation on M/N Skorpios I, to sail towards San Rafael Lagoon at 20:30 hrs. - navigating by way of Aysén inlet, Punta Tortuga, Elena Island, Costa Channel, Estero Elefantes, to anchor at midnight in Punta Leopardos, 20 miles from the Glacier.

Saturday: 08:00hrs. - Entrance to San Rafael Lagoon by way of Río Témpanos canal; anchoring 2 kms. from the glacier. Excursions in “Hércules” motorboats amongst colorful icebergs. The tradition of whisky with millennium old glacial ice. In the afternoon the vessel moves in closer to the glacier.
Departure to Quitralco Fjiord at sunset.

Sunday: While docked at Quitralco, passenger can have thermal baths in covered or open-air swimming pools or take excursions in the fjord in motorboats. Lunch consists of an Open Pit BBQ. Sail towards Puerto Chacabuco at mid-night.

Monday: 06:00 hrs. Weigh anchor at the Puerto Chacabuco dock.
07:00 hrs. Breakfast
08:00 hrs. Disembarkation of passengers for transfer by bus to the Balmaceda Airport for connection to Santiago.

SKORPIOS I: “ADVENTURE ROUTE”
PUERTO CHACABUCO/SAN RAFAEL LAGUNA/ PUERTO CHACABUCO
5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS (MONDAY – FRIDAY)

Monday: Reception at the Balmaceda Airport. Transfer by bus to Coyhaique by way of a route of many attractions such as: The Augua de la Virgen Water Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Bridges over the Aysen and Simpson Rivers. 18:00 hrs. - transfer to Puerto Chacabuco and boarding of the M/N Skorpios I. 20:30 hrs. - set sail towards the Quiltralco Fjord. Navigate to Aysen Inlet, Puerta Tortuga, Elena Island and Canal Costa.

Tuesday: Anchor at the Quiltralco dock, during the day passengers can take baths in open air or covered thermal pools, take excursions in motorboats in the fjord, walks in the verdant forest & take optional fishing trips (passengers must bring their own fishing equipment).
Lunch consists of an Open Pit BBQ.

Wednesday: During the morning passengers can enjoy thermal and/or steam baths. 14:00 hrs. - M/N Skorpios I sails towards the San Rafael Lagoon, navigating by way of the Canal Costa, Elefante Inlet & Punta Leopardes, to anchor approximately 15 miles from the face of the San Rafael Glacier at 21:00 hrs.

Thursday: 09:00 hrs. - Entrance into the San Rafael Lagoon by way of the Tempanos River Canal, anchor 2 kms. from the Glacier. Take excursions amongst the multicolored ice floes in “Hercules” motorboats. The tradition of whisky on millennium old glacial ice. In the afternoon the vessel draws in closer to the glacier.

16:30 hrs. Set sail towards Puerto Chacabuco

Friday: 06:00 hrs. Dock in Puerto Chacabuco
07:00 hrs. Breakfast
08:00 hrs. - Disembarkation of passengers for transfer by bus to the Balmeceda Airport to take connecting flights to Santiago.

WHAT`S TO SEE


SAN RAFAEL GLACIER
This Chilean National Park was declared to be a worldwide reserve by UNESCO in 1979. Located at latitude 46 – 45 south of the Chilean Patagonia it is 1,242,000 hectares of millenary beauty. A Spanish navigator discovered this place four centuries ago. Today it has become one of the natural splendors of Chile, of the greatest international importance. The ice of the San Rafael Glacier date back as far as 300,000 years, its frontal face is 2kms wide and its ice towers reach up to more than 75 mts. and plunges down into the ocean waters more than 230 meters. It has a length of and stems from the San Valentín Nevado of the Southern Ice Fields of the Los Andes Mountains. The blues of the ice and its constant avalanches have converted this natural spectacle into international fame. With its ice floes of different shapes and colors it is a spectacle that is unique in this world.

QUITRALCO FJORD
An old glacier formed riverbed surrounded by mountains, with exuberant and unique vegetation. Here is where the Thermal Installations of Skorpios are located, with their warm and pure waters of volcanic origin, where you can enjoy thermal and steam baths.
Walks through this austral forest and sports fishing are some of the activities of this beautiful fjord.
In 1996 the Mountains and Parks Council of Chile declared this location a Natural Sanctuary.

CITIES AND VILLAGES
Amongst the routes of the Skorpios cruises that are chosen, you can visit different cities, and villages, such as: Puerto Montt, with its German customs and handcrafts; Coyhaique, surrounded by rivers and mountains; Castro, land of mythology, legends and handcrafts; villages like Puerto Aguirre, fishermen and their children as hosts; Queilén, a village of Chilotes fishermen and as well Puerto Chacabuco.
In each of these places you can be in direct contact with the fishermen, view their typical homes and customs, enjoy the hospitality of the southern people or only have access to the services of the major cities, hotels, restaurants and shopping centers, etc.
Cities and villages that will marvel you with their charm.

PUERTO MONTT
Puerto Montt, capital of the Lakes Region (X Region), located in front of the Reloncavi Inlet; this is an inlet that is protected on the west side by the Isle of Tenglo. Founded on the 12th of February 1853 by Don Vincent Pérez Rosales, located near the Melipulli (Four Hills) Shipyard. Its current name was given in honor of the government official of that epoch, Don Manuel Montt. The habitants of this zone are principally dedicated to the exploitation of Alerce, one of the native woods of this area. According the 2001 census Puerto Montt has a population of 175,000. Puerto Montt, as the capital of the X region is a link with the General Carlos Ibañez regions (XI Region) and Magellans ( XII Region). Because of its strategic location this city is, in general, the point of departure to tourist attraction areas in the south, besides this it is the maritime port for the more southerly regions. Its international airport “El Tepual”, is connected to all of the principal terminals of Chile. Since 1985 the Salmon Farming industry has produced an explosive growth as well as significant number of service industries.
Angelmo Cove is a small port next to Puerto Montt, today it is the center of the fishing industry of this zone as well as the place where there is a major center of handicrafts made of wool and wood, plus its exceptional sea products and vegetable market.
Today it offers the appropriate infrastructure for tourists who choose this areas as their destination, there are modern hotels, restaurants and commercial centers. Besides this it is the sdeparture point of the M/N SkorpiosII Cruises to the San Rafael Glacier in the Southern Ice Fields.

CASTRO
Was founded on the 12th of February 1567 by Captain Martín Ruiz de Gamboa, and belongs to the province of Chiloé, in the Lakes Region.
Castro is located in the central-east part of the island, on the banks of a fjord. The principal economic activities are fishing, complemented by agriculture, whose production is destined for local consumption. Captain Martín Ruiz de Gamboa founded it on The 12th of February 1567.
It is important to highlight the architecture that is based on the homes that are constructed over the water, on what are called stilts, such as the San Francisco Church (1906), declared to be a national monument and which was built from woods of the area.
The principal economic activities are fishing, complemented by agriculture, whose production is destined for local consumption. At the end of the XIX Century and the beginning of the XX Century the lumber industry was developed, this provided a new impulse to the economy of Castro.

QUEILEN
Is located of the South-East Bank of the Big Island of Chiloé, this community unites all of the tradition and typical nature of Chiloé.
Queilen became known in the XVII Century (whose toponymy means colored Cyprus). This “place of the Turkeys”, so called by its original indigenous inhabitants, was inhabited very slowly, by such as: Jesuit Missionaries and Spaniards who established themselves in these lands thanks to the commissions granted by Spain.
Today this community is made up of more than 5,000 habitants, which are spread out over 22 localities. The community center is Queilen, which is located on a long and narrow peninsula of only 67 kms from Castro. Due to its isolation al, to which it has been submitted all of its history, the community provides attractive natural and cultural resources that have remained intact for years.
Visitors to this area must not miss climbing up to the Panoramic Lookout, that provides a spectacular view of the village, its only Sand Point and in the distance the imposing snow covered mountain summits. Visit the Cultural Center located on the shore, along side of the Pedestrian Dock. You can also enjoy the beaches that have given fame to Queilen. If you want to observe the ocean front activities you must go to the Rampa; or walk towards the town square where the church, Nuestra Señora del Transito, is located.

PUERTO AGUIRRE
Is a small fishing village, located on the Huichas or Chonos archipelago: name of the ancient indigenous people that inhabited these latitudes. The habitants, currently 1,500, live off fishing. The narrow streets hanging on the sides of the island and the colorful wooden homes place a unique seal upon this place. In general Tourists can count of street lighting, which is produced by an electric generator, the public services are basic and commerce is only for local use.
One of the principal attractions to these villages are the children, who have become guides for the passengers of Skorpios, which every Sunday visits their Island. It is indispensable for the visitor to walk to the lookout where the beauty of the scenery is lost in the immensity of this archipelago.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

RIPIO TURISMO - Incoming Tour Operator Argentina & Chile- Leg. 10.687 Secretaría de Turismo de la Nación Argentina.
info@ripioturismo.com.ar

Ripio Turismo Website: www.ripioturismo.com.ar
Argentina-Guide.com.ar is a website of Ripio Turismo EVT - www.argentina-guide.com.ar

Design & General Idea: Nuevas Ideas© Consultora Turística - 1999-2005