Sea kayaking Expedition FULL Northern Patagonia Fiords (6 days)

Note: this trip can be easily combined with Trekking in Torres del Paine (starts and ends very close to Puerto Montt airport, and from there you can fly for 2 hours to Punta Arenas) , if you want we can help with it.


The Area:

Cutting deep into the granite peaks of the coastal Andes, the Quintupeu, Cahuelmó and Comau Fjords that make up the Pumalín National Park provide the most spectacular sea kayaking experience in Northern Patagonia. Hot springs, sea lion and dolphin colonies, lush temperate rainforest and hundreds of cascading waterfalls are all features of our journey.

When the Spanish arrived in Chiloé in the 16th century, they found the islands and continental fjords populated by a seagoing people known as Chonos, who paddled canoes known as dalcas. Fabricated from three sewn boards, these dalcas held 10 or 12 people and were, in according to early chroniclers, the most seaworthy craft in the islands.





OUR TRIP:

This option has been developed especially for those who want to PADDLE COMPLETELY the Northern Patagonia Fjords in Pumalin Park and visit ALL THE HOTSPRINGS in this area, paddling from the beginning in Hornopirén village to the end , where we can find the Porcelana hotsprings.

Our trip starts from Puerto Varas, a city located 1,000 km south of Santiago. We will travel through the Northern Austral Highway, with it's picturesque fishermen's villages and we will cross the Reloncaví Estuary by ferry here at the first fiord of Patagonia. 

To the south of Puerto Montt, Chile breaks up into a number of islands with deep fiords which allow the sea to touch the Andes ”
Magnificent views of the Hornopirén Volcano with the snow covered summits of Yates volcanoe in the background. To the south, breathtaking views from many islands and dense rainforest hanging from steep walls as the Pacific Ocean penetrates deeply into the Andes .



Finally, the Comau Fiord appears in front of us cleared by tall mountains and rugged riversides, the place where we are going to board our kayaks and start the adventure through the Comau, Quintupeu and Cahuelmó fiords, inserting ourselves in the spectacular scenery of the Hornopirén and Pumalin Parks, considered to be the last virgin forests in Southern Chile

...The only way to access these area is by water. 

We will paddle through unforgettable places. Hanging forests, enormous waterfalls that fall directly into the sea, gigantic walls of rock disappearing into the water, fumaroles and natural hot springs, endless cliffs, pioneers and their histories, hidden lagoons, variety of seabirds, dolphins, sea lions and incredible hiking trails crossing rivers to arrive at hidden lagoons...

What makes this holiday different?

* Your trip leader , and owner of the company , will make his best effort to offer the best expefrience possible and safe , certified as a BCU 4Star by the British Canoe Union of England and certified as by the American Canoe Union as a ACA Seakayak Instructor Level 4 with more than 15 years guiding seakayak expeditions in Patagonia and more than 120 trips in the area of the Fjords of Pumalin Park.

* We will have the opportunity to visit ALL THE HOTSPRINGS in the area of the fjords (3 different, 4 days enjoying them)

* Our SMALL group size - maximum of 6 - ensures this is a low impact trip . Our main concern is group safety but also a great respect for the local people we will visit during the trip.

* The trip is totally self-sufficient - meaning that we have to carry all inside the seakayaks, totally loaded, no support boat always close to us, but we have a good network of fishermen friends in the area of the fjords.

* Our guides hold informal talks with groups to inform about and discuss with them all aspects of local life. This helps understanding of the area and appreciation of the people who live there.



Consider also that this is a good opportunity to practice your spanish with our local guides and the local people we will meet during our trips.

* We use locally produced and fresh products as much as possible and always in preference choose local over imported goods.

* We pack out all waste and minimize this by using products with minimum packaging, leaving no litter and keeping all water sources clean.

We are supporting the community by providing books for children of the local school of the Northern Patagonia Fjords , our main destination

We are pioneers in offering self-sufficient sea kayak trips in this region , this means no support boat so all the gear required will be inside the kayaks (food, camping equipment, stove, security equipment, our clothes) offering us freedom of movement and the possibility to vary our program at any given moment. 

This is a true sea kayaking expeditions where our participants will learn exactly what that means. We are going to be paddling in an aerea where the weather plays an important role and the tides and winds are elements that has to considered. This is an active trip where every participant will have to share duties and have a positive attitude.

Weather
Consider that although is spring or summer in Chile...we have to be prepared for the rain. The summer months, middle December , January , February middle March are generally pleasant, although it could rain at any given moment. The temperature of the sea has an average of  12 centigrades.

The area we will be paddling in can have a tide change of up to 6m (18 feet), which implies that the sea may withdraw several thousand meters, offering variable landscapes along the day.  This also requires a very complex logistic to be combined with the wind schedule and steep shores, which involves night or pre-dawn paddling but mainly an adventuroues spirit, possitive attitude and lots of teamwork.

Location
The Ancud Gulf is relatively a small body of water between Chiloé island and the continent, approximately  42°15"S, 73°W. This area makes up the northern part of the Chilean Patagonia. The fiords are along the continental side of the gulf, before the Huequi peninsula, while the islands are found on the east margin of Chiloé. 

What do we offer ?

Our trips not only will take you through an inspiring scenery , but you will go home with fond memories of the time you spend with the local fishing pioneers families getting to meet them in their own surroundings and how they live , plus first hand experience of the local fishing industry. .

Our knowledge of the area of aprox. 13 years with more than 10 trips per season plus a local fishermen radio contact net that can help if we have an emergency give us the safety support to travel totally by our own.... so we offer a self sufficient sea kayaking trip... a real sea kayaking trip through Patagonia... which combines true adventure, security, freedom, challenge and multicultural experiences amongst a spectacular scenery: the Northern Patagonia Fjords. 

" We invite to live the history of this place more than just reading it ".

Itinerary

Day 0 :
(Puerto Varas)

At 20:00 we will meet in the hotel in Puerto Varas town. This is a small and pleasant city 20 km north of Puerto Montt, located next to Llanquihue lake and in front of Osorno Volcano (2652m) and 1,000 km south of Santiago.

The purpose of this meeting is to introduce the members of the group and to receive a complete explanation of the trip, it´s logistics, check the gear, information about the tides and winds and their influence in our navigation, potential hazzards, emergency plans , rescue procedures, isolation, group and personal requirements, team work and answer last minute questions.




... Driving Carretera Austral road to the ara of the Fjords ...





Day 1:
(Puerto Varas - Sea kayak Comau Fjord - LLancahué Hotsprings)

Pick up at your hotel in Puerto Varas at 9AM and drive the Northern Carretera Austral , taking a ferry boat navigating Reloncaví Fjord with nice views of Yates Volcanoe, the first fjord of Patagonia and continue driving to Hornopirén town , close to Hornopirén Volcanoe and Hornopiren National Park.

From this day ahead we will be always paddling in between 3 volcanoes (north: Yates and Hornopirén Volcanoes and south , Michimahuida volcanoe).


Lunch at Hosteria in Hornopirén, safety talk and start paddling the beginning of Comau Fjord always close to the Deer´s Island (Isla de los Ciervos) . Late in the afternoon , if weather allows , if not too late and the group is doing ok , we will arrive to another island where are the Llancahue hotsprings (a basic family hotel with pools) . Some time to relax floating in this hot pools (it´s source comes from under the sea) , enjoy the sunset and the view of the islands in front of us , and then continue paddling for one hour more to have a fresh dinner with a local family of authentic old pioneers . Campsite in their property , in front of the fjord / 4-5 hours paddling aprox. / (L-D)

Day 2:
( Sea Kayaking Comau Fjord & Quintupeu Fjord)

Breakfast with our new friends , a short visit to the children of a small local school , then continue paddling Comau Fjord.

After some hours, the vertical Quintupeu fiord will appear.




It is here where the Dresden, a 3,600-ton light cruiser, one of the fastest ships in the German Imperial Navy , was hidden during the World War I.

We will be entering to our favorite fiord.....huge waterfalls coming directly to the sea, dense vegetation everywhere, enormous walls dissapearing in the water.At the entrande we will stop for a short hike , walking upstream a river in order to reach the place where the waterfall borns.

 At the end of the fiord there is a river which we will try to explore by kayak, depending on the tide. At night, we will camp with a marvelous view of some Andean glaciers... just in front of us. 
4-5 hours paddling with stops in between / (B-L-D)





Day 3 :
(Sea kayak trip to Cahuelmo Fjord - Cahuelmo Hotsprings)

We will start paddling very early if requiered, because this is the day we will need to paddle for some hours in a section more exposed to the influence of Ancud Gulf .We will paddle close to the coast to enjoy the dense vegetation until the entrance of the next fiord. 

Just as we enter Cahuelmo fiord, a surprise... a colony of sea lions in front of us. We will pass by without making a noise so that we can get close and take pictures without bothering them.

The best of the day is yet to come...since we do not have much further to paddle we will be able to paddle slowly and take advantage of the opportunity to explore the coastline of the fiord.

We will enjoy the view of the mountain's walls falling directly into the sea and later, rewarded with the Cahuelmó hot springs at the end of the fiord.  5-6 hours paddling with stops in between / (B-L-D)







" Imagine arriving to a beach where you can see vapor rising directly from the pools ".

This hotsprings are a A group of pools of different sizes and depths, made in petrified shells.

This will be a moment to relax ourselves and forget about everything...while enjoying the sunset, with a glass of wine and a camera in hand. Campsite. 
(B-L-D)




Day 4 :
(Cahuelmó Hotsprings again and Trekking)
After enjoying our breakfast we will be ready to start the next adventure…..hiking towards Abascal lake….if we can find the trail existing in this thick vegetation.

It will be necessary to cross some branches of the river and walk considering the tides otherwise all that we walk through at the beginning will be covered by the sea. The rewards …..a new perspective of an untouched area where few people have been before. We will return on time for lunch and for a relaxing bath at Cahuelmo Hot springs . Campsite.
(B-L-D)

Day 5:
(Sea kayak Trip to the end of Comau Fjord - Porcelana Hotsprings)
After a very early breakfast we will start paddling before the sunrise ot at night if requiered, navigating towards the main fjord and then turning south paddling to the hot waters of a river known as Porcelana Hot springs, a very particular creek of natural hot water emerging from the temperate rain forest.

This is a long day but we will stop for lunch at Huinay, a small fisherman village, sharing with a family of real pioneers (colonos) , visiting it´s church made of alerce (larsh) and then continue paddling till arriving finally in the afternoon to the hotsprings where we will setup the campsite and invite for dinner a family of colonos. 4-6 hours paddling with stops in between / (B-L-D)

Day 6 :
(Northern Patagonia Fjord navigation - return to Puerto Varas)
Breakfast and fisherman boat navigation to Hornopirén enjoying from a differrent perspective the magnifiscent area of the Patagonia Fjords . Lunch at Hosteria in Hormopirén and return to Puerto Varas late in the afternoon.

*Consider an additional day for your bus , airplane reservations for possible problems with the weather or any situation that could postpone the arrival to Puerto Varas. 

Includes

• SMALL EXPEDITION GROUPS, maximum of 6 (safety and respect for the local people we visit) 
• Intense interaction with the habitants of the area. 
• Safety-talk before departure, about paddling and rescue maneuvers.
  Transportation in our van from Puerto Varas (close to Puerto Montt airport) , traveling the northern Carretera Austral until the point where we will initiate our adventure at Comau Fiord and return to Puerto Varas.
• Reloncaví Fiord navigation (ferry boat).
• Food during the trip according to program (from lunch Day 1 till lunch Day 6)
  Lunch Day 1 and Day 6 at Hostería.
  During the trip (B: breakfast ; L: lunch (sandwich, fruits, or trail food) ; D: Dinner)
• Navigation Equipment: Single and double sea Kayaks imported from the USA and Germany, expedition models, with original rudder, spray skirt, paddles, life jackets, paddling jackets.
• Cooking equipment and Group Tarp.
• Hike during Day 4 and Day 5.
• Visit ALL the hotsprings in the area of the fjords (4 days enjoying 3 different hotsprings during the trip: LLancahue, Cahuelmó and Porcelana hotsprings).
• Local fishing boat , just for returning to the put in (day 6)
• Group safety equipment: Satellite telephone, Marine VHF Radio tide table and satellite photo.
• Guide: Juan Zuazo - Director of YAK EXPEDICIONES , certify by the British Canoe Union as BCU 4 STAR Sea Award , english speaking, first aid and rescue knowledge (NOLS trainning and Wilderness First Responder certification.).
  
• Limited insurance while seakayaking (chilean company)

Requirements

• Swimming expertise.
• Read carefully the section Terms and Conditions below (mainly the section " About our Trips and what we expect from our Participants "
  
• Positive attitude people and team players on adventures. 
  
  
• Don’t expect everything to be perfect or predictable, but do expect to have a great time! 
  Always try to do your share of the work in a group.
• You'll find your trip even more enjoyable if you remember to bring flexibility and a sense of humor with you.
  
  
• Physical state and health compatible with the activity to be performed. 
• LEVEL: adventurous travellers , previous experience in kayaking (bracing and rescue), camping experience required , we will also use double seakayaks for safety reasons and if someone is less experienced. NOTE: probably you will have to demonstrate your skills (strokes and rescue) before start paddling.
• Previous indication of any illness or health problem (send complete the Resewrvation and Medical Form by email , send the Release Form signed by fax). Team members should have the mindset that they are responsible for themselves and the other members of the team while in the backcountry and around camp.
  Understand that we will travel using weather windows meaning that sometimes we will have to paddle at night for calmer conditions but also consider that while paddling conditions can change, or , considering always the safety of the group not paddle and wait modifying the program.
• Previous indication of any illness or health problem 
• Positive mental attitude in front of unexpected situations
• Understand that this trip requiered a lot of team work and the participation of each person at each stage is fundamental.  
• Understand that all activities performed in nature can indicate some risk. 
• The program could be modified at any stage due to weather conditions , guide decision that could affect the safety of the group 
  
  HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRIP ?
  
  
• Before the trip you must send scanned and signed the Release of Liability Form that appears in this link.
• To have read and have a clear understanding of the Terms and Conditions section existing in our web site.
• Every participant must send the Reservation and Medical Form that appears after you press this button.
  
• Pay the trip
  
  Kayak Trip Calendar
  Special Discount !!! if you bring a group of minimum 4 person.
   

Observations

This kayak trip has been planned with the consideration of those with previous experience BUT before we begin our trip we will have a general safety talk covering rescue techniques so that our participants feel more comfortable during the trip and can really enjoy the beautiful views that they encounter. Please read our Conditions Section about "What we expected from our participants" , Cancellation,Modification and Evacuation protocols. To improve the enjoyment of our customers, we use both double (fiberglass) and single kayaks (rotomolded).  Our kayaks are expedition models from USA , Germany and Canada , very comfortable and stable , alll of them with rudder.. As an average we will paddle 5 hours/day with some stops.. Expected paddling speed: 3-3.5 miles/hour (5.5 - 6.5 km/hr) Hospitals and Professional First Aid Care are very far from the place where we will be navigating. Evacuations are very slowly and participantes must be healthy and in good physical conditions You have chosen Patagonia , a place where the weather is unpredicatble, so we can have sun but also rainny days , very relaxing days but also windy conditions....so if it rains we get wet , smile ,and keep enjoying as one of the few lucky persons that had visited this area. We provide what is included in the section " Included" in the program you choose.