The fjords of Patagonia

The Chilean fjords are undoubtedly among the greatest wonders of nature. The Chilean fjords of Patagonia extend between the latitudes of Cape Horn (55° S) and the Reloncaví Estuary (42° S). They are located on the southern lands in the extreme south of the South American continent, not far from the Antarctic Peninsula.

One of the last great wild spaces

These fjords are also home to the Kawésqar National Park “Reserva Nacional Alacalufes”, one of the largest in the world. This park is home to vast expanses of archipelagos made up of a mosaic of tropical forests, glaciers, fjords, lakes, valleys, mountain ranges and a whole range of wildlife.

Some wildlife species in the area include the chilla (Patagonian gray fox), culpeo (Magellan fox), puma, huemul (Southern Andean deer), and gato montes (Patagonian wildcat). Offshore, southern Chile’s kelp forests are among the healthiest in the world; they also support colonies of cold-water corals in shallow waters.

The Patagonian Fjords region of Chile is very isolated and very difficult to reach by land, so most visitors come by boat along the coast. It is possible to take an extended expedition by land into this wilderness, or explore the fjords and coves by boat. Some tours start in Argentina, in the port city of Ushuaïa, in the south of the country.

Scenic expedition cruises through the fjords

There are several companies that offer cruises through the fjords of Chile. It is possible to go there from Valparaiso, or from Punta Arenas, or even from Ushuaïa. The Chilean coast, in the South of Chile, is a real maze of sea arms, islets, islands where the fjords enter the land to rub shoulders with the numerous lakes of glacial origin, which can be found under these latitudes.

You will pass through unusual, dizzying places full of history such as the Black Island, Wulaia Bay, the Pia glaciers (one of Chile’s treasures) and Garibaldi, El Brujo and Amalia glaciers, Carlos 3 Island, Cape Horn, the village of Caleta Tortel. Puerto Natales, the White Straits, the Santa Maria Canal, the Gay Canal and many other surprises.

The expedition can start in Ushuaïa in Argentina, then heads towards Chilean waters and Cape Horn. Along the way, we discover the southernmost promontory of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, the “Glaciers alley”, the Beagle Channel, countless glaciers and much more.

One of the activities on land is to take a trip to the Torres del Paine National Park. Other things that can be seen along the way include isolated fishing villages, houses and walkways built on thousands of stilts.

There is also a visit to the Última Esperanza fjord, a descent of the Serrano river, bordered by breathtaking landscapes, along rock walls, dizzying waterfalls and a colony of sea wolves, while having a privileged view of the Tyndall glaciers, Serrano and Balmaceda. The return by the same river reveals superb views of the “Torres del Paine”.

For the more adventurous, one of the best ways to explore the Patagonian fjords is by hiking and kayaking. Bringing us closer to the fjords dotted with icebergs carved from the many glaciers that flow into the sea, and a beautiful way to explore the wilderness with whales and sea lions in the fjords, giant peaks in the forests and the condors circling above.

Chile’s fjords are some of the most remote and breathtaking in the world, and are perfect for an epic expedition!