Come join us for an unforgettable adventure in the magnificent fjords of Comau, Quintupeu and Cahuelmo, on the eastern side of the Gulf of Ancud, where wild mountain cliffs soar out of the dark waters to touch the sky. See stupendous glaciar valleys, primeval temperate rainforests, and numerous kinds of marine wildlife, including dolphins, sea lions, penguins and other sea birds which
confer a special charm to this place. Enjoy fresh salmon steaks, or steamed shellfish
gathered from the cliffs atlow tide, all prepared by our cook in the miniature galley
of our picturesque support vessel. Watch the sunset on the peaks as you relax in
hot pools. Spread your sleeping bag under the diamond stars of the Southern Cross. Words alone simply cannot express the unique beauty and variety of this majestic land, whose calm, protected waters do not require you to have any previous experience with sea kayaks.Then, it's on to the fascinating cultural experience of Chiloé, where Spain once maintained it's last stronghold of colonial power in South America. Today there are still vestiges of the original Araucanian way of life, in harmonious combination with the influences of German immigrants in the late 1800s and of modern-day Chile. On every island we visit, you'll see moss-covered old
wooden churches gracing the seaside, as well as palafitos (stilt houses) that
are 20. Taste "guindao" and try a hearty dish of "porotos con rienda",or a
delicious "curanto" and other typical cuisine dishes to delight your senses. Wander around the local market of Castro, where you may see artisans working on handicrafts that you can buy for surprisingly low prices,and even lower if you're willing to bargain a little. This is the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic adventure that you don't want to miss.
Day 1: After meeting in Puerto Montt, we drive down the Southern Highway, and cross the Reloncaví estuary to Hornopirén. There we board our 50-foot support vessel and head for Los Ciervos Island. After stopping for lunch in a nice cove, we sail on to Llancahué Island, where we climb into our sea kayaks for instruction and
practice. Afterwards, we camp for the night on this island.
Day 2: Now we begin the wild part of our sea kayak adventure. We will start near the entrance to Quintupeu Fjord, where the German battleship Dresden hid out during World War I. The sheer slopes, cut by countless waterfalls tumbling off
the heights, are covered with lush vegetation that hangs over our heads. As we glide along under this lush canopy, we try to catch a glimpse of dolphins jumping near our kayaks. At nightfall, we camp at the end of the fjord.
Day 3: We navigate down to Cahuelmó Fjord, stopping at the entrance to see if there are any sea lions at play. We don't stop for long though, because we want to paddle to the far end of Cahuelmó in time to get up the river, or hike through the wild tidal flats. Finally, we take a relaxing bath in Cahuelmo Hot Springs before turning in for the night.
Day 4: Our goal for today's journey is Porcelana Hot Springs. On the way, we stop at the settlement of Huinay and hike up a glacial valley surrounded by snow capped mountains. From this village we cut straight across Comau Fjord to Porcelana, where we pitch camp in a lush green pasture and head for the tidal pools of hot water surrounded by magnificent scenery.
Day 5: We paddle down to the end of Comau Fjord to Leptepu, passing by stunning snow-capped peaks on our way to a secluded corner in a setting of plunging waterfalls and virgin forests. We also see a lagoon, filled with wildlife, which we can
reach by kayak at high tide. In the afternoon we return to Porcelana and, of course, we don't fail to go for another long soak in our beautiful hot
spring.
Day 6: Early this morning we board our support vessel for the trip down Comau Fjord and around the Huequi Peninsula.. After a hearty lunch, we set sail across the open waters of the Gulf of Ancud, heading for the beautifull Chauques Isles. We arrive in the late afternoon and set up camp on the island of Mechuque. We still have plenty of time to wander around and visit the local people, famous for their warm hospitality.
Day 7: We kayak the waterways among the isles of Mechuque, Voigue, Añihue and Taucolon, visiting villages and churches as we go. We pay special attention to the traditional culture of this area, celebrated in the songs and dances of Chilean folklore. In particular, we watch for palafitos (stilt houses) with brightly coloured
fishing boats tied up in their "basements". We stop for the night in a family-owned guest house in the enchanting village of Mechuque. Our hosts prepare us a banquet with a main course that is none other than the famous "curanto" a legendary
dish in the maritime cuisine of southern Chile.
Day 8: In the morning we set sail for our sea kayaking center near the port of Dalcahue. After lunch at the center, we paddle across Dalcahue Channel to Quinchao Island to visit the lovely San Xavier church and cemetery. On our way back to the center, we stop by the picturesque port of Dalcahue. After a relaxing bath in our hot tub and a memorable dinner, we spend the night there.
Day 9: Today we drive to Castro to visit the handcraft market, with its woollen goods, baskets, and many other typical objects. We also visit several attractions of the city, including the famous San Francisco church. In the early afternoon, we depart for the return trip to Puerto Montt, where some of us will board a plane for home while others can go to visit more of the countless interesting places of
Chile.
Transfers
All transfers are included from the starting point of this program.
Nutritional Regime
Comfortable clothes for high and low temperatures.
Special requirements
This program isn't particularly difficult, and previous kayaking experience is not
required. All you need to know is how to swim, and be in good shape. Please advise us if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.Este programa no es
Special equipment
Comfortable clothes for high and low temperatures.
Period
23- February.2002 -3-March-2002 / 9.- March-.2002 - 17-March-2002 / 23-.March-.2002 - 31-March - 2002
