Chile : Cruises : Skorpios Cruises

The Skorpios III sets sail early every Saturday from the city of Puerto Natales, on a 5-day cruise navigating through the canals and fjords that surround the Southern Ice Field in the Chilean Patagonia, considered the third largest fresh water reserve on the planet, and the cradle of the largest and most spectacular glaciers in the southern hemisphere. Discover the Pio XI Glacier, the largest glacier in the southern hemishpere, a real giant at 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) wide and towers above, standing some 75 meters (250 ft) tall, with length of 64 kilometers (40 mi). Get to see the Amalia and Estero Calvo Glaciers, a large sihouette that descends down from the Andes mountain range, a spectacular scene especially with the size and colors in your view. This glacier has a width of approximately 1 kilometer (.62 mi), and a height of 50 meters (165ft) and because of the size and pressure of the glacier, the ice has a crystal appearance because of a lack oxygen within the actual mass of ice.
Price per passenger, sharing a cabin

Day 1: Saturday
Passenger reception at the Puerto Natales airport, and transfer of courtesy to the Skorpios offices. Board at 17:00 PM. Welcome cocktail and dinner on board. At 18:00 PM, set sail from Puerto Natales. Sail through the Patagonian and Morla Vicuña Channels, Kirke Passage, and Union Bay.

Day 2: Sunday
Continue sailing throughout the morning through the Sarmiento, Pitt and Concepción Channels. Arrival to Antrim Fjord at 7:00 PM. Dinner on board. Informal dance.

Day 3: Monday
Arrival at Pío XI Glacier in the morning. Sail by the front side of the Glacier. Set out again at midday and navigate the Eyre Bay, Grappler Channel, and (Paso del Indio) Indian Passage. Arrival at Puerto Edén in the afternoon. Disembark the ship and into boats that will take you to the village located on Wellington Island. At dusk, set out from Puerto Edén, sailing through the Indian Passage and (Paso del Abismo) Abyss Passage.

Day 4: Tuesday
We will visit the Calvo Fjord in the morning where we can admire 4 glaciers of different shapes and sizes. Participate in an excursion aboard the "Hercules" (icebreaker motor boat). The ship will get closer to the Calvo Glacier as long as ice conditions permit. At 1:00 PM, set sail. Navigate the Peel Fjord in the afternoon and visit the Asia and Amalia Fjords. We will reach land around 6:00 PM and dock at Villarrica Wharf. Boatrides are available, weather permitting. Set out once again from Villarrica Wharf at night.

Day 5: Wednesday
Visit the Fjord of the Mountains in the morning, where we will observe 5 small glaciers that hang from the hills and reach out towards the sea. Hike to the Bernal Glacier. Set sail from this Fjord in the afternoon and cross the Kirke Passage to arrive to Seno de Última Esperanza (Last Hope Inlet) and cast anchor for the night. Farewell party and formal dance.

Day 6: Thursday
Navigate the Last Hope Inlet back to the Skorpios terminal in Puerto Natales, arriving around 8:30 AM. Disembark at 10:00 AM and transfer of courtesy to the Puerto Natales Airport.

Included Excursions

Course to the Southern Ice Country.
The M/N Skorpios III, sets out every Sunday from the city of Puerto Natales, to the northwest of Punta Arenas, on a 5-day cruise. From this city, we transport you to the Skorpios terminal in Puerto Natales, beginning the maritime journey across the Angostura Kirke, heading north through the Morla Vicuña, Seno Unión, Collingwood, Sarmiento, Concepción, and Wide Channels, to dock at the beautiful Eyre Cove.

Glaciers and Puerto Edén.
Along with the first rays of light on a Monday morning, the Skorpios III ship nears the Pio XI Glacier, the largest in South America with an extension of 1,263 sq. km. (789 sq. mi) and which is also located in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. After midday, the ship returns through Eyre Cove, Grappler Channel, and Paso del Indio (Indian Passage). Disembarking at Puerto Eden, located 400 km (250 mi) north of Puerto Natales. Situated on Wellington Island, its first settlers correspond to the native tribes of the region, the Kaweskar or Alacalufes.

Sailing through fjords and channels.
The landscape is breathtaking, the mountains melt into a sea plagued with islands, fjords, and waterfalls, in a labyrinth of channels of unparalleled beauty that were explored by legendary navigators like Ladrillero, Darwin and Fitz Roy, among others. The nature in this region appears with a wide variety of flora and fauna. The Skorpios III ship delves into the central part of the Southern Ice Country through the Paso del Abismo (Passage of the Abyss) and the Wide Channel in order to reach the Amalia Glacier. Its white silhouette appears to hang from the abrupt mountains depositing its ice in the waters of the Peel Inlet.

In the Chilean Patagonian.
There are many glaciers in this region that flow towards the Pacific Ocean at a very slow, but unyielding pace, transforming and forming the landscape throughout the centuries. The M/N Skorpios III anchors in Villarrica Cove to enjoy the experience. Later, it continues through the Peel Fjord and enters the Calvo Inlet, where you can observe 6 glaciers and colorful iceberg formations in the still waters. Here you can also participate in motorboat excursions, and later make a toast with the traditional whisky beverage on the rocks using ice from the age-old glaciers. At night, while the ship is on its course back to Puerto Natales, the captain invites you to a formal dinner to end the cruise.

Optional Excursions

Torres del Paine and Milodón Cave (Cueva del Milodón)
Skorpios offers accommodations on board the Skorpios III ship for Friday, the day before the start of the Program, as an additional service to passengers. This includes: pre-meal drink, dinner, breakfast, and a courtesy tour on Saturday throughout the Torres del Paine National Park and the Cave of the Milodon. The following is a description of the program:

Friday
Passengers board in Puerto Natales at 18:00 PM. Welcome cocktail and dinner on board.

Saturday
Bus leaves at 9:00 AM from the Skorpios terminal in Puerto Natales. Arrive at the Cave of the Milodon and visit the area for an hour. Continue tour towards Torres del Paine National Park. Visit Amarga Lagoon for a great view of the Torres del Paine. Arrive to the Paine River waterfall and then to the Nordenskjold lookout point to see the magnificent Cuernos del Paine (Horns of Paine). Later, visit the lookout point by Pehoe Lake for another view of the Cuernos del Paine. Return to Puerto Natales, traveling by Sarmiento
Lake. Arrive at 16:00 PM. This excursion includes a picnic lunch. Arrival at Skorpios Terminal in Puerto Natales at 18:30 PM. Dinner on board.
Additional night: USD$ 210, per person.

Optional Transfer: USD$ 75, per person.
Transfer Punta Arenas airport/ Skorpios facilities, Puerto Natales / Punta Arenas airport.

For more information about these circuits, please contact us at tours@gotolatin.com

The M/N Skorpios III was built in the Skorpios company's shipyards between the years 1994-1995, under Chilean and international ship regulations, such as SOLAS, IMO, Classification ABS (American Bureau of Shipping), and AI Hielo, granting it a high degree of reliability and security. It is equipped with the most advanced naval engineering system and navigation equipment (echosounder, radar, GPS, GMDSS, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System), security and salvage systems, fire stations, smoke sensors, sprinklers, Carbon Dioxide extinguishers, etc. In addition, it counts on a global satellite telephone service, for passenger use, according to the current rates.

Characteristics

Cabins of the Skorpios III

Junior Suite	Master Suite
Double A Acropolis	Double A Parthenon
Matrimonial Double	Double B

Decks of the Skorpios

Athos Deck
Olympus Deck
Parthenon Deck
Acropolis Deck
Athens Deck

The program includes

• Bar (always open, no additional cost)
• Access to all the ship's quarters without restriction (from the machine room to the control bridge, even the kitchen)
• Food without restrictions and menu variations without cost
• Game room and reading room, smoking and non-smoking bars
• Bilingual travel information, conversation translation
• Satellite telephone, cable TV, open TV
• All the comforts of a luxury service hotel.

Notes

• Children between 1 and 5 years old: free, sharing bed
• SKORPIOS may postpone departure as late as 24 hours due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Past said period and if circumstances that caused delay persist, the company may cancel the trip, returning the amount paid, without any other compensation or payment to the passenger.
• Fares are subject to change without notice.
• The Embarkation boarding tax USD$ 14, per person and it's NOT included.

Departures

Seasons

Low Season: September 2008, April 2009 and May 2009.
Middle Season: From October 04 to December 13, 2008. And from February 28 to March 28, 2009.
High Season: From December 20, 2008 to February 21, 2009.

Rates

Rates per passenger can change without any previous notice

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be written, specifying the cause and assuming responsibility of the corresponding penalty. Once the reservation has been confirmed by Gotolatin, the following charges will apply for cancellations made by the passenger, according to the program departure date:

• Between 45 and 30 working days before the beginning of the cruise:
  40% of total program value per passenger.
• Between 30 and 15 working days before the beginning of the cruise:
  70% of total program value per passenger.
• Between 15 and 0 working days before the beginning of the program: No refund.
• There are no refunds for portions of the program not used, hotel accommodations, etc.
• We recommend considering Travel Insurance for any reason.