KAWESKAR EXPLORERS CRUISE IN CHILE

Skorpios gave this route its name in honour of the “Kaweskar”, the original peoples who sailed this part of the world on their canoes as nomads of the sea, and of which there are only a few descendants left today. This route is operated by M/V Skorpios III, the vessel has a capacity of up to 110 passengers and sails from Puerto Natales twice a week between September and April of each year; the tour lasts from Friday to Monday and Tuesday to Friday. The port is located 2,500 kilometers south of Santiago, and can be reached by air to Punta Arenas, followed by an overland trip by coach. At certain times of the year there are direct flights to the port. Another option is an overland trip through the frontier passes between Chile and Argentina. Cruceros Skorpios has its own port for a
speedy and safe boarding. The trip to Southern Ice Field takes three nights, with 380 miles of navigation, visiting the most important glaciers in the region: Amalia, El Brujo, the Calvo Fjord glaciers, Bernal and Herman. A total of some 15 glaciers to be viewed and observed; we will also be able to trek their base and moraines and sail through multicoloured icebergs on special expedition vessels such as the Capitan Constantino. During the cruise we will be able to view the varied flora and fauna of Patagonia, which remains virgin and wild.

This route will take us to the very end of the American continental territory with its pioneer towns and human settlements located in the depth of our southernmost geography. Our first contact will be with Punta Arenas, the most important Chilean city in Patagonia. Founded in 1848 on the shores of the Straits of Magellan, the channel that joins the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This city has everything a modern tourist might need, ranging from an airport to top level state of the art boutique hotels. Puerto Natales is 250 kilometers north east of Punta Arenas, it was founded in 1911 on the shores of Señoret Fjord and is currently the most vigorous city in the region and an important
tourist centre. The Skorpios Terminal is located 3 kilometers from the town on the road that leads to Torres del Paine; from here we will board M/V Skorpios III to follow the Route of the Kaweskar towards Southern Ice Field, which is the third most important reserve of freshwater – the element that is vital to sustain life – on the planet.

To sail towards the glaciers of Southern Ice Field is a unique and enviable experience. To watch the imposing silhouette of Amalia Glacier as it comes down from the Andes Mountains, with its blue ice towers that can reach a height of up to 100 meters, and colours that contrast with its surroundings, is a breathtaking spectacle. M/V Skorpios III will approach this glacier slowly, facing its front so as to give a full panoramic view of its splendour. Our cruise continues on to Asia Fjord, where we will see El Brujo Glacier, an enormous wall of ice, with one of its sides made of rocks that have been burnished by this icy giant over the years. In order to appreciate this Glacier in all its glory, we will sail to the shore on small boats, landing on a rock that will enable us to walk easily and understand how glaciers move, polishing these rocks over the years. The summits of this natural amphitheatre are always covered with snow and its slopes are covered with a variety of trees.

Calvo Fjord... a temple of nature - This is an amphitheatre of glaciers located in the centre of Southern Ice Field in the Andes Mountains,
and is no doubt one of the most beautiful and untouched places in Patagonia. We will feel all the strength and majesty of this place that is an altar for contemplation, adventure and concentration. And for this reason, our passengers have baptised this place as a praying field. The waters of this huge fjord look peaceful, as if the ice floes that float on it prevented all movement, but our excursion ship, the ice-breaker “Capitan Constantino” sails on, confidently opening her way through these waters strewn with ice. We will visit Fernando Glacier, which
slides slowly down the rock face. Capitan Constantino Glacier will impress us with its size as it flows down the mountain. Then we will go to Alipio Glacier with its distinctive brownish hues, the Piloto Marcelo and Monsalve glaciers, and many others that are at the end of the arm of the fjord. This is where we will toast with a glass of whisky and age-old ice, something that has become a tradition with Skorpios.

Montañas Fjord is located in the southern part of Southern Ice Field, between, the Riesco and Sarmiento mountains. We will find five glaciers here: Zamudio, Alsina, Paredes, Bernal and Herman. In the morning, we will visit Bernal Glacier, a live lesson in glaciology, as we will be able to walk to its base, crossing a lagoon that the melting ice has turned turquoise. This glacier will teach us about the different
stages of life and death of a glacier, it will enable us to walk on its frontal and lateral moraines and watch its melting. We will see how flowers start to colonise the area and trees start to grow. In the afternoon, we will visit the last glacier in this cruise, Herman Glacier, on the end of a small fjord, between huge cliffs surrounded by colourful vegetation and abundant fauna, the most distinctive of which is the Royal Cormorant. As this glacier is small we can sail between its floes and appreciate its incredibly blue colour.

The M/V Skorpios III has 49 cabins and a capacity for up to 110 passengers and possesses the most advanced telecommunication technology and satellite navigation. The spacious acclimatized cabins, vested in fine native woods, include Master Suites, Junior Suites, Double Bed Suites, Double A, Double B and Single Suites. All equipped with low beds, luxurious and ample private bathrooms,
Plasma TV, fridge-bar without cost, multifunctional communications system, two music channels, two TV channels and two Video channels with stereo sound, professional digital recording system and video exhibition through internal channels. The Zeus bar (smoking), English style and the Apolo Lounge (non-smoking), Classic style, provide a warm ambient to share with your traveling companions.

On board the M/V Skorpios III, personnel with ample experience in gastronomy, and faithful to the traditional hospitality of the Kochifas family, delight the passengers with the best gastronomy of the Patagonia, carefully selecting the most exclusive meat products, horticulture products, and sea foods such as spider crabs, oysters and mussels, all prepared according to the culinary tradition of the Skorpios.
Besides this, passengers can enjoy the best meals of the area, such as Magellan lamb, all accompanied with a vast variety of fine Chilean
wines that have been exclusively selected for the route, as well as an Open Bar Service, without additional cost.

Cruise 1
Sails on Tuesdays / disembarkation is on Fridays

Optional additional night for U$280.- per person, on Monday, lodging on board. Tuesday excursion to Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave (includes dinner, buffet breakfast and tour).

Tuesday: From 16.00 hrs. on, passenger's check in. Between 17.00 hrs. and 18.00 hrs. weigh anchor from Skorpios Terminal in Puerto Natales, sailing through the patagonian channels, Kirke Narrowness, Morla Vicuña, Union, Collinwood, Sarmiento.

Wednesday: 08.00 hrs Arrival at the Amalia Glacier, the ship gets closer to the Glacier. Panoramic view from the ship. 09.15 hrs Sailing towards El Brujo Glacier. 11.00 hrs Arrival to El Brujo Glacier, if the weather conditions allows to, disembarkation on a rock to observe the Glacier. 12.30 hrs. set sail to the Calvo Fjord. 14.30 hrs. Reach port at the Calvo Fjord, were excursion will be done in a special motor boat, named Capitan Constantino, visiting Fernando, Capitan Constantino and Alipio Glaciers, among others. 18.30 hrs. set sail to the Montañas Fjord.

Thursday: 09.00 hrs. visit to the Montañas Fjord, were five glaciers, that slide down from the Sarmiento Mountains to the sea, will be seen. 10.00 hrs. visit to the Bernal Glacier, were a soft hiking can be done to the base of the Glacier and visit to the Herman Glacier to sail in its bay and admire the beauty of the area and multicolored icebergs (this will depend on the tide). After this, we will visit the Alsina and Paredes Glacier. 17.00 hrs. set sail from the Montañas Fjord, Kirke Narrowness crossing. 21.00 hrs. Farewell Party, Captain's Dinner, dance. 22.30 hrs. reach port at the Skorpios Terminal in Puerto Natales.

Friday: Between 08.00 hrs. and 09.30 hrs. passenger's disembarkation. Transfer to the Punta Arenas airport, for those passengers who have hired this service (ask for rates).

Cruise 2
Sails on Fridays / disembarkation is on Mondays

Optional additional night for U$280.- per person, on Thursday, lodging at Remota Hotel or similar. Thursday excursion to Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave (includes buffet breakfast and tour).

Friday: From 16.00 hrs. on, passenger's check in. Between 17.00 hrs. and 18.00 hrs. weigh anchor from Skorpios Terminal in Puerto Natales, sailing through the patagonian channels, Kirke Narrowness, Morla Vicuña, Union, Collinwood, Sarmiento.

Saturday: 08.00 hrs Arrival at the Amalia Glacier, the ship gets closer to the Glacier. Panoramic view from the ship. 09.15 hrs Sailing towards El Brujo Glacier. 11.00 hrs Arrival to El Brujo Glacier, if the weather conditions allows to, disembarkation on a rock to observe the Glacier. 12.30 hrs. set sail to the Calvo Fjord. 14.30 hrs. Reach port at the Calvo Fjord, were excursion will be done in a special motor boat, named Capitan Constantino, visiting Fernando, Capitan Constantino and Alipio Glaciers, among others. 18.30 hrs. set sail to the Montañas Fjord.

Sunday: 09.00 hrs. visit to the Montañas Fjord, were five glaciers, that slide down from the Sarmiento Mountains to the sea, will be seen. 10.00 hrs. visit to the Bernal Glacier, were a soft hiking can be done to the base of the Glacier and visit to the Herman Glacier to sail in its bay and admire the beauty of the area and multicolored icebergs (this will depend on the tide). After this, we will visit the Alsina and Paredes Glacier. 17.00 hrs. set sail from the Montañas Fjord, Kirke Narrowness crossing. 21.00 hrs. Farewell Party, Captain's Dinner, dance. 22.30 hrs. reach port at the Skorpios Terminal in Puerto Natales.

Monday: Between 08.00 hrs. and 09.30 hrs. passenger's disembarkation. Transfer to the Punta Arenas airport, for those passengers who have hired this service (ask for rates).

Note : Itinerary subject to changes according to navigation and climate conditions.

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 service, providing a quality service that meets international standards. Even the smallest service details are given priority and importance, aboard the Skorpios. The satisfaction of our passengers needs is our daily goal.

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.

The nature of this area is manifested through an immense variety of flora and fauna. The Lilly Ducks, Chilean Ducks, tuna, comates, cypresses, lengas, native wood forests, ferns etc. astound those who view the world from an ecological point of view. During the crossing of the cruise vessel one can view many different species of birds, on the cliffs of the island and in the forests. Likewise tuna and dolphins can be viewed swimming alongside the ship. All of the fauna at these latitudes are in their natural wild state, for which reason we solicit that all of our passengers exercise extra care and in no way upset this magnificent scenery.

Sailing Dates for 2011-2012 season:
Low Season: Dec. 6,9.13, March 2,6,9,13,16,20,23,27,30, April 3,6,10,13,17,20,24,27
High Season: Dec. 16,20,23,27,30, Jan. 3,6,10,1317,20,24,27,31, Feb. 3,7,10,1417,21,24,28

Children's rates: from 1-5 years old = free when sharing bed.
Payment : 50% deposit, balance due 60 days before departure.
Boarding Tax: $12 per person
Transfers: Transfers corresponding to the embarkation days (tuesdays and fridays) and disembarkation days (mondays and fridays),
to and from the Airport in Punta Arenas, will have an additional cost, which will be informed to the passenger upon reservation of the cruise.

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