Tierra del Fuego Explorer |

We will drive along the coast of the huge embayment known as Useless Bay (Bahia Inutil, in Spanish). This name was given by the first commander of the HMS Beagle expedition, Pringle Stokes.

On route we should see large herds of Guanaco, the wild ancestor of the llama and one of the few land mammals which were able to occupy Tierra del Fuego when it was still connected to mainland some 11,000 years ago. This vast grassland area is also known as Patagonian steppe and has been suitable for over a century for the main economic activity of the area, sheep farming. We will see several ranches (or estancias), big and small as we drive in a southerly direction towards the forests and lakes of Tierra del Fuego.

Pampa Guanaco is the gateway to a truly scenic area comprising the recently established Karukinka Park. Dense Lenga (Nothofagus pumilio) forests will receive us as we approach Lago Deseado and the delightful Deseado Lodge, our base for the following three nights.

Distance to be traveled: 290 km / 180 miles.

Overnight Deseado Lodge, Tierra del Fuego (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide)

Today we will explore the Andes and fjords of Tierra del Fuego, enjoying its staggering and wild landscapes. The diverse habitats of Karukinka Park, both on land and at sea, are well preserved and maintained by the staff and rangers of Wildlife Conservation Society. We will traverse a scenic mountain pass in order to get to Caleta Maria, located on the shores of Almirantazgo Sound, in the Far South of the Isla Grande (Big Island). We will have the whole day to explore this remote and pristine region.

Our boat trip will take us to Jackson Bay where there is a small breeding rookery of one of the world’s largest pinnipeds, Southern Elephant Seal. We will circumnavigate the Albatross Islet where over a hundred Black-browed Albatrosses nest. We will try to see other mammals like Chilean and Peale’s dolphins; the rare and local Southern River Otter, locally known as Huillin also occurs here. The icy waters of the remote Parry Fjord have an extraordinary beauty as we can see the summits of the Darwin Range which is the southernmost projection of the Andes. On a clear day we can see Mt. Darwin, which was named in honor to the great naturalist during the HMS Beagle expedition. We will concentrate in inspecting the ice-floes searching for Leopard Seal.

We will be back to the lodge in time to do some birdwatching around the forests looking for Magellanic Woodpecker, Austral Parakeet and Andean Condor.

Distance to be traveled: 104 km / 65 miles.

Overnight Deseado Lodge, Tierra del Fuego (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide)

We will have the whole morning to explore the surroundings of the lodge enjoying the landscapes and studying its flora and fauna. There are lush and pristine southern beech forests here; during the summer months we can see an interesting array of flowering plants including several endemic ground orchids. Our fall trip (April) is ideal to capture the dramatic and rich autumn foliage colors. We will take a boat ride to explore the narrow Deseado Lake. We will walk in the area, traversing peat bogs and silent forests. One of the highlights of the day is the outstanding view of a secluded waterfall which will provide excellent photographic opportunities. Noisy flocks of Austral Parakeets are often stalked by Chilean Hawk; this is also the home for herds of Guanaco and the southernmost land predator of the Americas, the Culpeo Fox.

The Lodge Deseado is a wonderful base for our exploration of this remote area. We will gather every evening in one of the cozy common areas of the lodge, to talk about the wildlife, history and scenery of this espectacular and pristine region of the world.

Overnight Deseado Lodge, Tierra del Fuego (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide)

We will leave Lake Deseado during the early morning. We will have the time to do several stops for wildlife viewing at places such as Pampa Guanaco, Lago Blanco and Cameron, on our journey back to Useless Bay.

It’s time now to visit the King Penguin colony. At Pingüino Rey Nature Reserve, nearly 100 King Penguins are forming the only breeding colony of the South American continent.

After this visit, we will head back to the small town of Porvenir, again at the cozy Yendegaia House.

Overnight Yendegaia House, Porvenir (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide)

We will take a ferry back to Punta Arenas, on the mainland side of the Magellan Straits. You will have spectacular views of Isla Grande as well as of the Straits; the whole Patagonian region was, and still is, modeled by the massive ongoing glacial action. This will be the finale of a great natural history expedition to Tierra del Fuego, Magellan’s Land of Fire, at the very end of the South American continent.

(Breakfast, Lunch)(Guide)

You choose the date! (Available from September through May). Ask for rates!

The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, round-trip ferry tickets Porvenir-Punta Arenas, and park entrance fees. Tipping for restaurants and porters is also included.

The trip price excludes: Domestic flights to/from Punta Arenas, tipping for drivers and local guide, travel insurance, entrance tax to Chile (applies for some countries), excess baggage charges, private excursions, a la carte dishes, snacks, alcoholic drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.