INTRODUCTION

 

Trip Highlights  

• Dedicated whale-watching expedition to find, study and photograph Humpback Whales in the Straits of Magellan, southern Patagonia. 

• Discover a rich array of seabirds and marine mammals including penguins, albatrosses, petrels as well as dolphins, sea lions and fur seals. 

• Great chances to find Orca [Killer Whale].

• The dramatic, unknown and pristine habitats of western Patagonia, seldom visited by tourists, which holds a remarkable wildlife, scenery and historic highlights. 

• Great hiking opportunities to see and study the world's southernmost forests and its diversity of birds and plants.

• Interact with mammal scientists and learn about their long-term studies of this whale population.

• Good local food and nature lodges in the remote outskirts of the recently established 'Francisco Coloane' Marine Park. 

This program is operated as a scheduled departure, leaving on a set date.

The Difference of Travelling with FS Expeditions:

• Each of our trips to the Straits of Magellan have a maximum of 10 participants. 

• Great accommodations at conveniently located lodges, meaning shorter driving times to the wildlife sites. 

• Superb dinning cuisine and memorable picnic lunches. 

• Spacious vehicles that ensure a window seat to each trip participant. 

• Each vehicle / vessel and driver we use has been authorized by the Chilean Transportation and Maritime Authority. 

• The service and expertise of a professional local naturalist leader, who will look after every logistical aspect of 'your' holiday. 

• You will receive a free, signed copy of one of our great natural history books for Chile & Patagonia. 

• … plus an useful pre-departure information package. 

 

Whales of the Straits of Magellan can be combined with one of the following optional extensions: 

• Patagonia Photo Safari (8 days, 7 nights), landscape and wildlife photo trip to mythic Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego, led by resident naturalist guides and photographers.

• Patagonia Explorer (9 days, 8 nights), discover the 'best of Patagonia' and explore 'Los Glaciares' National Park and the world-famous 'Perito Moreno' Glacier plus Torres del Paine National and Tierra del Fuego, in Chile.

• Pumas of Torres del Paine (6 days, 5 nights), dedicated private and small-group mammal expedition to find the elusive and lonely hunter of the Andes, Puma.

 

DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

 

Day 1 • Meeting up at Punta Arenas - Afternoon drive to Port Famine (6pm) - Zodiac trip to San Isidro Lodge - Hike to Bahía El Aguila (old whaling station remains) and 'San Isidro' historic lighthouse 

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel during the afternoon (6pm) and immediately will transfer you to the historic site of Port Famine. Founded in 1580, this was the first settlement on the Straits of Magellan. Unhappily, the extreme nature of the climate proved incompatible with human habitation, and the entire population had perished in a short period of time. 250 years later, a British scientific expedition, aboard the 'Beagle' and the 'Adventure', spent several months undertaking extensive exploratory journeys in the Chilean Fjords. It was here where Charles Darwin conducted several field trips.

From here we will take a short zodiac ride (c. 30 minutes) to 'San Isidro' Lodge, our base for the exploration of this branch of the Straits of Magellan. Depending on our arrival time we will make a short hike towards the remains of the whaling station of 'El Aguila' (The Eagle) Bay; this station was fully operational during the early XX century and together with the stations of Antarctica and South Georgia were the responsible of the virtual disappearance of several whale species of the Southern Ocean. Luckily and due to the presence of marine reserves, whales are coming back as we will witness during the following days. This afternoon you will also have the chance of exploring the sheltered and forested shoreline and learn with your guide about the intertidal creatures of this pristine rocky coastline.
Overnight (O/N) San Isidro Lodge, San Isidro Bay (2*)(D)(G).

 

Day 2 • Boat trip to 'Carlos III' Island - Afternoon trip looking for Humpback Whales 

Early in the morning we will board the motor yacht 'Esturion' and start our navigation towards 'Francisco Coloane Marine Park', which protects the marine biodiversity of the western branch of the Straits of Magellan. The journey from our lodge to this great whale-watching spot takes about 7 hours and will be done using a sturdy and comfortable mortor yacht 'Esturion'.

This magnificent area encloses 'Carlos III' Island, which possesses a vast and unique biological diversity, due in part, to the mixing of the two oceans (Pacific and Atlantic), productive upwellings, the strong winds, the presence of glaciers and the dismembered coastline. This park hold a summer population of humpback whales (and occasionally Sei whale and Orca), which use these waters as feeding grounds. We will spend this night in the biological station, at very comfortable twin-bedded domes. We will have shared bathroom facilities at this location.
O/N Eco-Camp 'Carlos III', 'Carlos III' Island (B,L,D)(G). 

 

Day 3 • 'Carlos III' Island

This morning we will have another full-day whale-watching session aboard the zodiac boats and if we are lucky, we may see the endemic and scarce Chilean Dolphin while sailing these waters. We will also visit large breeding colonies of sea lions, fur seals and Magellanic Penguin. We will be given a lecture by the scientists working on long-term population studies on these whales, and we will learn about several marking and identification techniques. We will have the whole afternoon to see these whales at close quarters and with no other visitors in the surroundings. This intimate experience will be enriched by visiting 'Santa Ines' Glacier and we will be stunned by the beautiful mountains, glaciers and pristine forests that surround this protected area.
O/N Eco-Camp 'Carlos III', 'Carlos III' Island (B,L,D)(G).

 

Day 4 • Faro San Isidro Lodge - Punta Arenas 

We will have another morning trip to learn from the diversity of marine mammals and seabirds of this park, and will have lunch at the 'Camp'. During the afternoon we will make our journey back to Punta Arenas. Along the route we will discover the rich seabird diversity of these seaways; we will observe Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrels, Chilean Skuas and cormorants as well as pods of Peale’s Dolphins and the ubiquitous South American Sea Lions. During the afternoon we will be transferred back to Punta Arenas where our trip ends.

Codes: B=Breakfast; L=Lunch/Box-lunch; D=Dinner; G=Guide; *=Hotel Category

MAP

DATES & PRICING

 

2011-2012 Rates: US$ 1,200 per person (based in double accommodation).

 

2011-2012 Dates:

Available from December 2011 through April 2012.

Meet / Depart: Punta Arenas, Chile.

4 days, 3 nights
December	2011	-	-	-	15	19	23	27	31
January	2012	04	08	12	16	20	24	28
February	2012	01	05	9	13	17	21	25	29
March	2012	04	08	12	16	20	24	28	-
April	2012	01	05	09	-	-	-	-	-

 

Notes:

The above prices are per person in US$, based on double occupancy in comfortable dome-tents.

The above price is per person in US$, based on double occupancy.

 

Do you want us to arrange your flights from Santiago (SCL) to Punta Arenas (PUQ)?

Domestic flights Santiago - Punta Arenas - Santiago (from US$ 300 per person).

Duration of the flight: 3 hours (direct) / 4 hours (with a stop-over in Puerto Montt)

 

What the trip includes/excludes

Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested.

The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and local guide services as stated in the itinerary, private transfers to San Juan Bay, boat trips to Carlos III Island, zodiac trips around Carlos III Island in search of whales and other wildlife, plus park entrance fees.

The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.

 

Tour Registration:

To register for this tour, complete the FS Expeditions registration form and return it (by fax or email) with a deposit of US$ 500 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

 

Cancellation Policy:

Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.

 

Refunds are made according to the following schedule:

If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 200 is refundable.

If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.

If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.

This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.

 

LODGES

 

San Isidro Lodge, Magellan Straits

See gallery of the lodge here:

 

Eco-Camp 'Carlos III' Island, Magellan Straits

See gallery of the lodge here:

 

VESSEL

 

Motor Yacht 'Esturion'

See gallery of the 'Esturion' here:

 

PHOTOS

 

Check out our photo gallery gallery with images from our recent whale-watching and nature trips to the Straits of Magellan & 'Francisco Coloane' Marine Park

 

CHECKLIST

Birds and mammals possible to be seen during this expedition

Compiled by Claudio F. Vidal, FS Expeditions

 

BIRDS

  

Penguins | Spheniscidae

Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus

Grebes | Podicipedidae

White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland

Great Grebe Podiceps major

 

Albatrosses | Diomedeidae

Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris

Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma

 

Shearwaters & Petrels | Procellariidae

Antarctic Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus

Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides

Cape Petrel Daption capense

White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis

Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus

 

Storm-Petrels | Hydrobatidae

Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Diving-Petrels | Pelecanoididae

Magellanic Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides magellani

Cormorants | Phalacrocoracidae

Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus

Rock Shag Phalacrocorax magellanicus

Imperial Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps

 

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns | Ardeidae

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

 

Ibises & Spoonbills | Threskiornithidae

Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis

 

Flamingos | Phoenicopteridae

Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis

 

Ducks, Geese & Swans | Anatidae

Black-necked Swan Cygnus melanocorypha

Upland Goose Chloephaga picta

Kelp Goose Chloephaga hybrida

Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala

Flightless Steamerduck Tachyeres pteneres

Flying Steamerduck Tachyeres patachonicus

Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix

Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris

Spectacled Duck Anas specularis

Crested Duck Anas specularioides

Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica

Red Shoveler Anas platalea

 

New World Vultures | Cathartidae

Andean Condor Vultur gryphus

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura

 

Hawks, Eagles & Kites | Accipitridae

Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus

Chilean Hawk Accipiter chilensis

Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus

Rufous-tailed Hawk Buteo ventralis

 

Falcons & Caracaras | Falconidae

Southern Crested Caracara Caracara plancus

Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango

Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis

American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Aplomado Falcon Falco femoralis

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

 

Rails, Gallinules & Coots | Rallidae

Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus

Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata

 

Oystercatchers | Haematopodidae

Magellanic Oystercatcher Haematopus leucopodus

Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater

 

Plovers & Lapwings | Charadriidae

Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis

Two-banded Plover Charadrius falklandicus

Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus

 

Sandpipers & Allies | Scolopacidae

South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae

Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii

 

Seedsnipes | Thinocoridae

White-bellied Seedsnipe Attagis malouinus

Least Seedsnipe Thinocorus rumicivorus

 

Sheathbills | Chionidae

Snowy Sheathbill Chionis alba

 

Skuas & Jaegers | Stercoraridae

Chilean Skua Stercorarius chilensis

 

Gulls | Laridae

Dolphin Gull Larus scoresbii

Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus

Brown-hooded Gull Larus maculipennis

South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea

 

Doves & Pigeons | Columbidae

Rock Dove Columba livia

Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata

 

Parrots, Macaws & Allies | Psittacidae

Austral Parakeet Enicognathus ferrugineus

 

Typical Owls | Strigidae

Magellanic Horned Owl Bubo magellanicus

Austral Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium nanum

 

Hummingbirds | Trochilidae

Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes

 

Kingfishers | Alcedinidae

Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata

 

Woodpeckers & Allies | Picidae

Magellanic Woodpecker Campephilus magellanicus

 

Ovenbirds | Furnariidae

Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus

Gray-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti

Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus

Blackish Cinclodes Cinclodes antarcticus

Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda

White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis

 

Tapaculos | Rhinocryptidae

Magellanic Tapaculo Scytalopus magellanicus

 

Tyrant Flycatchers | Tyrannidae

White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps

Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus

Patagonian Tyrant Colorhamphus parvirostris

Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope

Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola macloviana

Austral Negrito Lessonia rufa

 

Swallows | Hirundinidae

Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni

 

Wagtails & Pipits | Motacillidae

Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera

 

Wrens | Troglodytidae

House Wren Troglodytes aedon

Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis

 

Thrushes & Allies | Turdidae

Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii

 

Old World Sparrows | Passeridae

House Sparrow ( I ) Passer domesticus

 

Siskins, Crossbills & Allies | Fringillidae

Black-chinned Siskin Carduelis barbata

 

Buntings, Sparrows & Allies | Emberizidae

Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch Phrygilus gayi

Patagonian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus patagonicus

Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis

 

Troupials & Allies | Icteridae

Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca

Austral Blackbird Curaeus curaeus

 

MAMMALS

Otters

Marine otter Lontra felina

 

Foxes

Culpeo Fox Pseudalopex culpaeus

 

Eared Seals

South American Sea Lion Otaria flavescens

South American Fur Seal Arctocephalus australis

 

True Seals

Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina

 

Dolphins

Commerson's Dolphin Cephalorhynchus commersonii

Chilean Dolphin Cephalorhynchus eutropia

Peale's Dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis

Dusky Dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus

Orca or Killer Whale Orcinus orca

 

Whales

Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae