Expedition Itinerary
This journey has been designed so that you can discover this remote territory alongside our expert exploration team. This is a location where highways don't exist, services are scarce, and there are still native people who arrived decades ago to colonize a pristine territory.
Day 1: Welcome
Meet at the Yegua Loca Hotel in Punta Arenas. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore the beautiful city of Punta Arenas while we prepare for the evening. This evening, meet the exploration team and enjoy dinner together.
Day 2 – Strait of Magellan and Pampa
Rise at dawn and enjoy breakfast, and prepare to depart across the Strait of Magellan, the most important natural passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Feel the cold air as you witness this passage from the deck of the boat. When explorer Ferdinand Magellan discovered the island of Tierra del Fuego, he named it after the large bonfires he saw from the sea, which were likely made by the indigenous Selk’nam people who inhabited the area. Arrive at the port of Porvenir, where we briefly tour the city to understand its history and culture. Your journey continues as you cross vast extensions of Pampa and several estancias, with a stop to marvel at the island’s only reserve of King Penguins.
Enjoy lunch, connect with the culture of Tierra del Fuego, and finally, arrive at our first accommodation in a local estancia.*
*This first accommodation only has single rooms.
Day 3 – Transition to Patagonian Forest
Today you cross the border from the vast plains of Pampas and enter the beginning of the forests of Tierra del Fuego. Arrive at Karukinka Park, a private natural reserve of 300,000 hectares that seeks to preserve the natural environment and raise awareness about the island’s biodiversity.
Take a 7-kilometer hike to Cerro Pietro Grande to admire this part of the island, its diverse ecosystems, and the effect of beavers on its forests.
End the day arriving at your accommodation, where we spend the night near Lake Fagnano. The Genkowsky family welcomes us upon arrival. This family is known for being the last settlers’ on the island, who opened roads and settled against all odds to live in this part of the planet. We will learn part of their history and their life firsthand.*
*Select cabins have outdoor bathrooms.
Day 4 – Navigation and Patagonian Fjords
This morning, rise for an early breakfast. Head to Caleta María, a bay that could only be accessed by sea for many years and in the last 10 years offers a land route (2014). Embark on the boat that takes you to navigate to Parry Fjord. Then, you will cross the Almirantazgo Sound (Tierra del Fuego’s first protected marine area).
Enjoy a moderate hike along the fjord’s edge through forests overlooking the glaciers. In the afternoon, return to the protected area of the Almirantazgo Sound where we find sea elephants, leopard seals, black-browed albatrosses, among other species. Disembark in Caleta Maria and return to your cabin at Estancia Fagnano to have dinner and rest.
Day 5 – Mountain and Forests
Today we take a full-day hike of advanced intensity through irregular terrain, around high-altitude lagoons in Yendegaia National Park.
This park is closed to visitors, but Explora has special access to explore a part of this wonderful park at the end of the world.
Day 6 – Andean Treeline
On our last day for exploration, we return to the extreme south-east side of Karukinka Park for a moderate walk along the tree line.
At the highest part of this walk, take in incredible views of the mountains, valleys and an ecosystem that presents the greatest richness of plants in all of Karukinka, in addition to the largest number of endemic plant species.
In some cases, we experience snow in the area, so exploring in snowshoes may be necessary. Return to the cabins this evening for a farewell dinner with fellow travelers.
Day 7 – Flight to Punta Arenas
Today, we finish this marvelous journey and prepare to return home. The day begins with a journey to Pampa Guanacoto, where a flight awaits to take you to Punta Arenas. The flight duration is approximately 30 minutes.
The flight is operated by Aerolíneas DAP with a maximum capacity of 15 people.
Expedition Itinerary Map
