Journeying through Chile’s Fjords

Patagonia covers a vast area of southern Chile and Argentina. However, I was going to be journeying from the Chilean city of Puerto Montt, covering a few thousand kilometres of navigation, all the way to the Argentinian city of Ushuaia. This complex system of fjords, glaciers and islands is one of the wettest places in the world, and so after pleading with the weather gods, we set sail.

With a lot of water to cover, we headed straight south with a target of reaching Laguna San Rafael. We made a stop at Isla Kent on the way, so that people could enjoy the fine weather we were having and to stretch our legs on shore. However, it was Laguna San Rafael that was our main focus.

This sheltered lagoon, right at the end of a fjord, is a truly magnificent spot with a mighty glacier (with the same name), providing a truly spectacular focus. Some of the boats saw a leopard seal, but most of us were just in awe of the truly remarkable scenery and the beautiful, sculpted pieces of ice.

Our next stop was the isolated community of Caleta Tortel. This boardwalk town oozed history and charm, nestled at the base of stunning hills and surrounded by spectacular forest. This was to be our only cultural day on the entire expedition, so it was great to explore the community and find out what it's like to live in such a remote community.

There were also a few birds flitting through the trees, so I revelled in taking the chance to photograph the resident fire-eyed diucon, tufted tit-tyrant and thorn-tailed rayadito.

From here we, with plenty of distance still to cover, we headed to the largest glacier in Latin America – Pio XI Glacier. Without a doubt, this was one of the most spectacular glaciers anywhere in the world. A towering wall of bright blue ice seemed to stretch for a kilometre in either direction. The weather was exceptional today, and seeing huge chunks of ice calve from this icy wall was absolutely breathtaking.

Of course, it isn’t just about the sight, it sounds like huge claps of thunder as the ice breaks away and crashes into the water below. It was here that the more adventurous souls had the opportunity to take a plunge and dive into the icy waters – a truly invigorating experience.

The next day we were planning on making a landing at Isla Madre de Dios, part of an archipelago with unique limestone geology formations. Using the ship’s Zodiacs, we were able to head ashore and enjoy a walk through this unique landscape, filled with magical trees and remarkable rock formations.

This is one of the most remarkable landscapes I have visited anywhere on Earth, and it was somewhere I could have spent days exploring. We were also able to head out on the water and enjoy a Zodiac cruise.

There was the chance to enjoy one final landing at the Bernal Glacier. It was incredible to be able to walk up alongside the edge of the moraine and get remarkable views of the glacier front. For me though, it was when I was stood in the lagoon, with the forest in front of the ice and the surrounding mountains, that was particularly special.

Most of the wildlife we enjoyed were seabirds, including a close encounter with a black-browed albatross, while giant and white-chinned petrels skipped across the waves and southern fulmars used the ship’s updraft to fly effortlessly off our bow. There were also plenty of flightless steamer ducks and kelp geese, and sea lions would check in on us from time to time.

We awoke on our final morning to a snow-covered landscape all around. The city of Ushuaia was glistening in the golden morning sun. What an adventure. I have never been to an area of the world where I have seen so few people, and such an expanse of wilderness.

If you're looking to see a part of the world few will ever visit, aboard an exceptional vessel with a standout crew, then look no further than our Ultimate Patagonia Wildlife Cruise.

Whether you voyage from the north to south (like I did) or from the south to the north, no experience will be the same. However, you can be sure to experience one of the world’s last true wilderness areas.

If you are inspired by Bret's trip to discover Chilean Patagonia, find out more about our Ultimate Patagonia Wildlife Cruise today! Alternatively, contact our friendly team for further information and advice on your next wildlife adventure.