Navarino Island tours. On this trip we explore Navarino Island, right on the shores of the Beagle Channel, and the stunning and pristine surroundings of the world’s most southerly village, Puerto Williams. Commencing from Punta Arenas, Chile, we will take a short, scenic flight over the huge and beautiful island of Tierra del Fuego and the Darwin Range, southernmost portion of the Andes. Based at Lakutaia Lodge, we have many activities to carry out, including interpretation trails into the southern beech woodlands, back-horse riding options, hikes to the moors with commanding views of the surrounding waterways and mountain scenery, and short walks to discover the abundant and peculiar birdlife and flora occurring in one of the most southerly island of the American continent. Something you can consider to do is a scenic flight over the feared Cape Horn and the vast Drake Passage extending southwards. Follow the footsteps of many explorers and join us on this adventure of a lifetime. Navarino Island tours.
Navarino Island & Beagle Channel
Epic nature Journey to the End of the Americas
4-day trip from Punta Arenas, Chile or Ushuaia, Argentina
Overview
Itinerary in Brief
Day 1 • Punta Arenas – Flight to Puerto Williams – Excursion to Punta Gusano
Day 2 • Hike to La Bandera Hill
Day 3 • Omora Park – Afternoon excursion options: Kayak or horse-riding
Day 4 • Flight to Punta Arenas – End of the trip
Optional
Sightseeing flight to Cape Horn
Detailed Itinerary and Activities
Note: The following is our suggested itinerary; you have several other excursion options included and provided by Lakutaia Lodge. One optional excursion is the scenic flight to Cape Horn (at extra cost and weather permitting). If you are considering this flight excursion, please let us known in order to make the necessary arrangements to fit with the rest of the itinerary. Navarino Island tours
Our adventure to the end of the Americas starts with a morning flight to world’s most southerly town, Puerto Williams. On this one-hour flight, we will enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the southern Andes, the Darwin Range and the vast archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. We will follow the footsteps of many explorers and learn about the early inhabitants of this remote land, the Fuegians. One we land at Navarino Island, you will be received by your guide and transferred to our base of the following three nights, Lakutaia Lodge. Right after lunch, we will set off on our first excursion, to learn about the birds and the nature found along the sheltered shores of the Beagle Channel. We will check the sandy spit of Punta Gusano (for Worm) and see the most typical birds of the area such as Kelp Goose, Flightless and Flying Steamer Ducks, Crested Duck, Chilean Skua, Dolphin, Brown-hooded and Kelp Gulls and the raucous South American Tern. While inspecting the coastal grasslands and ponds we will look for White-tufted Grebe, Chiloe Wigeon, Red-gartered Coot, South American Snipe and Correndera Pipit. Peale’s Dolphin and South American Sea Lion constantly patrol the beaches and is likely we will see both.
Overnight Lakutaia Lodge, Puerto Williams (Lunch, Dinner)(Guide)
Aerial view of the Darwin Range, Tierra del Fuego, Chile © Bastian Gygli, Far South Expeditions
We will have a great excursion today as we explore part of the world’s most southerly trail system, The Dientes circuit, on Navarino Island. Properly geared with clothing and shoes for a walking in the mountains, We will slowly ascend walking through dense beech woodlands until we reach the alpine zone, roughly at 800 m (2,400 ft) high. Here the vegetation turns into interesting cushions and grasslands; we will learn a lot about the most southerly array of Andean plants and will look also for interesting birds such as White-throated Caracara, White-bellied Seedsnipe and Yellow-bridled Finch. The scenery is simply outstanding from the viewpoint of La Bandera Hill. If you are up to we can continue along the trail towards the “Dientes” (for teeth) and appreciate these vast, remote and inspiring views of the terminal section of the mighty Andes.
Overnight Lakutaia Lodge, Puerto Williams (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide)
Flightless Steamer Duck (Tachyeres pteneres), Beagle Channel © Claudio F. Vidal, Far South Expeditions
Today we have an interesting visit to Omora Ethno-Botanical Park. Omora means “hummingbird” in the language of the “Yagan” tribe, the canoe-people and original inhabitants of the icy waters of the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn. This is a research facility and scientists are conducting long-term studies on the vegetation, birds and exotic species occurring here, at the ends of the world. We will walk the trails and with the help of a hand glass we will discover the huge diversity of the “cryptic” flora, the tiny forms of vegetation in the forms of mosses, liverworts, hornworts and lichen. This region is a world hotspot for this vegetation and is estimated that nearly 10% of the world’s number of species are found in these pristine sub-antarctic ecosystems. On these woodlands we expect to see interesting birds such as Magellanic Woodpecker, Austral Parakeet, Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-thoated Treerunner, Magellanic Tapaculo, Patagonian Sierra-Finch among several others. For the afternoon you can opt from two easy excursions. One is a short horse-riding excursion to Los Bronces waterfall and the other is a enjoyable kayak trip along the sheltered coast of Lauta Cove.
Overnight Lakutaia Lodge, Puerto Williams (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide)
White-bellied Seedsnipe (Attagis malouinus) © Sebastian Saiter, Far South Expeditions
After breakfast, you can enjoy of some independent time to rest or to wander around the town of Puerto Williams. You can consider to explore the interesting local natural history museum or have a brief visit to Villa Ukika where the last descendants of the Yagan live. By noontime you will have your flight back to Punta Arenas, where your trip ends. We will provide a complimentary transfer to Punta Arenas downtown. (Breakfast)
Exploring the trails of Omora Ethno-Botanical Park, Navarino Island © Bastian Gygli, Far South Expeditions
Dates & Rates
Custom Departures
You Choose the Date! (Available from September through May).
This programme is operated as a customized, private trip, with a minimum of 2 participants.
Departures from Punta Arenas, Chile. Optional transfer to/from Ushuaia, Argentina.
The above price is per person in USD, based on double occupancy. All payments are in US Dollars.
Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested.
What the trip includes/excludes
The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, return flights Punta Arenas – Puerto Williams, private ground transportation during the tour, and park entrance fees. Tipping for restaurant service is included.
The trip price excludes: Optional flight to Cape Horn, tipping for drivers and local guides, travel insurance, entrance tax to Chile, excess baggage charges, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.
Tour Registration
To book this tour, please complete our online registration form. We will process your booking form and will send you (within 24 hours) a note with space confirmation and a deposit invoice with payment instructions. The deposit amount is US$ 500 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
NOTE: Inquires received on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will be replied during the following working day.
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.
