CHILE CRUISES: SKORPIOS I

CRUCLBBAPC5 
4 days / 3 nights - FRIDAY DEPARTURE
5 days / 4 nights - MONDAY DEPARTURE
September to May 
Meeting Point:  Balmaceda Airport

The Skorpios I is the oldest of the Skorpios fleet and operates the new shorter itineraries from the Port of Chacabuco. Built in 1978 At Skorpios own ship-building facilities in Chinquihue, Puerto Montt. With a capacity for 72 passengers in 37 cabins on four decks, Athens, Acropolis, Parthenon, and Olympo, with low beds and bunk beds, all with private bathrooms, intercoms and panelled in fine native woods. Every cabin has a private bathroom, an internal phone system, background music and they are also fully carpeted. It's main dining room can sit 80 people simultaniously and there is a comfortable bar on the Parthanon deck with room for 40 passengers. The ship has a television room, professional video taping equipment and staff. It's kitchen provides international and local cuisine with locally caught fish and locally grown vegetables, with a set menu, served with fine chilean wines, and an open bar policy. 

Technical Specificatios 
Maximum Length 50.00 m - Maximum Beam 8.40 m - Molded Depth 4.10 m  - Draft 3.00 m  - Energy Power 850 hp.  - Maximum Speed 10 - 12 knots - Passenger Capacity 72 - Crew ( T ) 24 - Year of Construction 1978  

An adventure route...
The Aysen Adventure Route, offers the opportunity of visiting the cities and Villages of the XI Region, here you will become acquainted with, Coyhaique, Puerto Aysen, and Puerto Chacabuco. Besides this there are other interesting tourist attractions, that we invite you to become familiar with by taking the optional tours, before or after the cruise. This region has a vast quantity of lakes and natural wonders, which deserve to be visited while you take advantage of your stay in this area. There are excellent hotels, Restaurants and Cafeterias, in which you will be warmly received and treated by the Patagonian People. We invite you to become acquainted with these cities and villages that will thrill you with their charm.

Sailing every Monday and Friday from Puerto Chacabuco, a city located about 1600 kilometers south of Santiago, to the San Rafael Glacier, the majestic relic of the planet's last glaciation, Skorpios takes you on a Dream Cruise of four days and three nights (with the alternative of an additional day in Quitralco for the cruises that sail on Monday). It goes through spectacular channels and archipelagos where an exuberant nature can be seen in all its splendor and where man's activities are nearly imperceptible. You will see islands with unbroken coastlines scattered in the wide seas of this route to the San Rafael Lagoon. Here you will be welcomed by the Glacier, towering more than seventy meters above you, and sail in safe boats among the spectacular multicolored icebergs whose ice is more than 30,000 years old. On the return trip, the Quitralco fjord and its thermal baths will be waiting for us. 

Services on Board
All of the Skorpios services are based on cordial, friendly personal attention. This characteristic of the people of southern Chile has become the trademark of our family, providing a quality service that meets international standards. Aboard the Skorpios even the smallest service details are given priority and importance and the satisfaction of our passengers needs is our daily goal. Amongst the services of the Skorpios: the bar is always open (without additional cost), passengers can visit all areas of the ship without restriction (from the machine room, to the control bridge, even the kitchen). Gastronomical needs are provided for without restriction & menu changes are accepted without additional cost, games and reading rooms, smoking and non-smoking bars, bilingual trip information, simultaneous chat translations, satellite telephone, cable & public TV & and all of the commodities of hotelier that correspond to a luxurious service.

Flora & Fauna
The flora and fauna at these latitudes have a spectacular beauty. The copious rainfall creates a humid austral forest, abundantly rich with a vast quantity of trees, plants and flower species that profoundly impress all visitors. Highlighted amongst these are: the Chilco Flower or Fuchsia, the immense ferns, Cypresses, Cinnamon Tree, Lengas and millennium old Alerce.
The fauna of the Patagonia comes in many varieties. Sea wolves, dolphins, whales, sea lions, vapor ducks, cormorants, swans and Martin Fishers bring delight to the Skorpios passengers. .

Coyhaique - Coyhaique is the capital of the Aisén Region This region is made up of 7,755 km2, beginning in a beautiful valley of low hills that undulating between the Simpson and Coyhaique rivers and the Dividing Hill of the south. Coyhaique is the youngest capital region of Chile. It was founded in October 1929, reaching a renowned and permanent development that is impelled by diverse economic, geographic and historic factors. It has a population of 43,297 and is the urban center where all of the air and land communications are located. For the tourist is possesses all of the basic needs, hotel infrastructure, gastronomy and all other complimentary services. The tourist can participate in diverse recreational activities, cultural and commercial, right within the city. The urban outline of Coyhaique is in the form of the boot of a huaso, its town square is in the form of a pentagon, its airport is located in Balmaceda a city located 60 kms away towards the mountains. Its most important tourist attractions are: Frio, Poullux, Castor and Elizalde Lakes, two monumental lagoons and the Fraile ski center located in Piedra del Indio.

Puerto Aysen - This is the capital of the Aysen province., in the Aysen region of General Carlos Ibañez del Campo. It is located on the banks of the Aysen River. The city is built along traditional lines, with ancient trees and antique buildings. Currently all of the principal service activities of the territory are concentrated in this city. This city was originally a Port, founded in 1914 as a dock and warehouse for the enterprise Ganadera SIA; during the decade of the 20’s the population consisted of those involved in activities connected to this enterprise. In the 60’s many public buildings were constructed, to this day they still stand and are well known for their solidity. During the same epoch the port began to silt-up due to the sediments bore by the river, eventually this port became unusable; from that moment until now it has been replaced by Puerto Chacabuco, which is a terminal for transport ships and anchoring port for larger vessels. It is located 14 km to the south of the mouth of the Aysen River in the fjord of the same name. Today Puerto Aysen has a population of 1,762 and is connected to the rest of Chile by the Austral Highway. Its major attraction is its suspension bridge over the Simpson River. Passengers must cross over this bridge to reach the Chacabuco Port from which the M/N Skorpios I sails.

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 dates 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 15 kms 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
Quitralco, that means "waters of fire" in the Mapuche language, is a fjord with large, snowcovered mountains and impenetrable vegetation, where the flora surges spontaneously, wild and colored with ferns and tall trees with thick foliage, forming a unique and exuberant vegetation in a temperate microclimate beside a calm and transparent sea. Here Skorpios owns a wonderful place where its passengers can rest in both covered and outdoor pools, with thermal waters at 32 and 38 degrees Centigrade, an open fire they can sit around, widespread parklands and paths that can be followed to appreciate nature in all its strength and splendor. The excursions that are made in the clear, tranquil waters of the fjord, in safe motorboats, show us a rich marine fauna such as the banks of mussels and the playful southern dolphins. Undoubtedly, the Quitralco Fjord, where sports fishing can also be practiced, is the paradise we've dreamed of. In 1996 the Mountains and Parks Council of Chile declared this location a Natural Sanctuary.

SKORPIOS 1 ROUTE OF NAVIGATION  -  4 DAYS/3 NIGHTS (FROM FRIDAY TO MONDAY)

Day 1: Friday: 
Reception at Balmaceda airport. Transfer by bus to Coyhaique passing by natural attractions such as the Salto de Agua de la Virgen and Cascada Velo de la Novia (Water falls), and the bridge over the Aysén River and the Simpson River. Transfer to Puerto Chacabuco. 18:00 hrs. To get on board M/V Skorpios I and set sail towards San Rafael Glacier at 20:30 hrs. Navigation through the Aysén Bay, Punta Tortuga, Elena Island, Costa Channel, Elephants Estuary, anchoring at Punta Leopardos (20 miles away from San Rafael Glacier) at midnight. 

Day 2: Saturday:
08:00 hrs. Enter to San Rafael Glacier by Témpanos River’s Channel, anchoring two kilometers from the glacier. Excursions are done in “Hércules” motorboats surrounding the multicolored icebergs. Traditional whisky with millenary ice. The ship moves closer to the glacier in the afternoon. Set sail to Quitralco Fjord in the evening. 

Day 3: Sunday: 
Once the ship has docked at Quitralco pier, passengers can take thermal baths in indoor and/or outdoor pools. Excursions in motorboats around the fjord are done during the morning. Lunch at the Fogón Criollo based on grill assorted meat (Barbecue). Set sail to Puerto Chacabuco at midnight. 

Day 4 : Monday: 
06:00 hrs. Dock at Puerto Chacabuco pier. 07:00 hrs. Breakfast. 08:00 hrs. Transfer to Balmaceda airport. End of the cruise.

SKORPIOS 1 ROUTE OF NAVIGATION  -  5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS (FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY)

Day 1: Monday: 
Reception at Balmaceda airport. Transfer by bus to Coyhaique passing by natural attractions such as the Salto de Agua de la Virgen and Cascada Velo de la Novia (Water falls), and the bridge over the Aysén River and the Simpson River. Transfer to Puerto Chacabuco at 18:00 hrs. to get on board M/V Skorpios I and set sail towards Quitralco Fjord at 20:30 hrs. Navigation through the Aysén Bay, Punta Tortuga, Elena Island and Costa Channel. 

Day 2: Tuesday:
Docked at Quitralco pier, passengers can take thermal baths in indoor and/or outdoor pools, do excursions in motorboats around the fjord, walk around the virgin forest and take optional fishing tours (Passengers must take their own fishing equipment with them). Lunch at the Fogón Criollo based on grill assorted meat (Barbecue). 

Day 3: Wednesday: 
During the morning passengers can enjoy thermal and/or steam baths. At 14:00 hrs. M/V Skorpios I sets sail towards San Rafael Glacier, sailing through Costa Channel, Elephants Estuary and Punta Leopardos. 21:00 hrs. The motorvessel anchors 15 miles away from the Glacier. 

Day 4 : Thursday: 
09:00 hrs. Enter to San Rafael Glacier by Témpanos River’s Channel, anchoring two kilometers from the glacier. Excursions are done in “Hércules” motorboats surrounding the multicolored icebergs. Traditional whisky with millenary ice. The ship moves closer to the glacier in the afternoon. 16:30 hrs. Set sail to Puerto Chacabuco. 

Day 5 : Friday: 
06:00 hrs. Dock at Puerto Chacabuco pier. 07:00 hrs. Breakfast. 08:00 hrs. Transfer to Balmaceda airport. End of the cruise.t

Included:

Not Included:

PLEASE NOTE: All tours are usually presented as LAND ONLY (no airfare is included) and best airfare from your departing city will be included at time of departure. All tour programs are subject to your acceptance of our Terms and Conditions, which is understood when you progress into the reservation. Please review Terms & Conditions

INSURANCE NOTE: Cancellation policies are strictly enforced! We highly recommend to protect your travel investment should you need to cancel your trip. We have designed an exclusive insurance plan to provide broad protection!