Chile : Cruises : Patagonia Connection

The Puyuhuapi Hot Spring Hotel & SPA , is located in the Patagonian fjords, surrounded by the nature in its original state. Walk through the cold jungle in the Queulat National Park to admire the impressive hanging glacier, navigate by kayak, meeting of dolphins and sea lions, or practice fly fishing in exceptional conditions. These are just some examples of the activities you will find here. This unforgettable experience will allow you to navigate through the fjords on board a Patagonia Express Catamaran to the San Rafael Lagoon and it’s thousand year old glacier, where it is possible to feel the movement of the glacier with the rustling of it’s frozen mass, and to hear the deafening sound of huge pieces of ice detaching themselves from the glacier and falling into the lagoon.

Day 1 / Balmaceda - Puyuhuapi
Reception in the Balmaceda airport. Begin tour through the Aysen region, crossing 45 min. of Patagonian pampas to reach the city of Coyhaique. Along the way we are likely to spot pairs of caiquenes(wild goose) and flocks of bandurrias (storks) through the tall grasses. The vast remains of burned over forest are vestiges of the region’s recent colonization period. Short visit to the city, and then we continue along the Carretera Austral to the Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa (5 hrs). Much of the trip is along a gravel road that passes through extraordinary landscapes of dense forests between mountains and cliffs. In the afternoon we arrive at the Lodge’s pier and then cross the Puyuhuapi Channel by motorboat in just 10 minutes. Welcome!

Day 2, 3 and 4 / Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa
Surrounded by lush vegetation, and accessible only by sea, this unique Lodge is where understated luxury and a well planned simplicity combine to create a unique atmosphere. The Lodge offers a variety of fascinating excursions in the cold rainforest and the Queulat National Park, after which one can wind down in the outdoor hotspring pools at the edge of the sea or in the wonderful Spa. The Spa´s facilities are complete. Enjoy its large hydro massage pool, jacuzzis, spring-water fountain, and steam sauna, and then reap the benefits of thalassotherapy sessions, relaxation massages, and facial treatments.

Day 5 / Puyuhuapi - San Rafael Lagoon - Chacabuco or Coyhaique
Our day begins early. At 7:00 am., we board the PATAGONIA EXPRESS catamaran and begin our journey through the austral fjords on our way to the San Rafael lagoon. The 7- hour route is a sheer delight to the senses: the transparency of the waters, the majesty of to the Andes Mountains wrapped in lush forests, the play of light interwoven through the clouds, and sometimes… encounters with playful dolphins. Sailing through a number of channels, we finally reach the Tempanos River, which leads us to the San Rafael Lagoon, home to a millenarian glacier. Experience it ! After a visit of approximately 2 hours, we begin our return trip, arriving in Puerto Chacabuco around 10:30 pm., where we will be transferred to the hotel in Puerto Chacabuco or Coyhaique.

Day 6 / Chacabuco or Coyhaique - Balmaceda
After breakfast, bus drive to the airport in Balmaceda. Bon Voyage & Hasta la Vista!

Included Excursions

On the Southern Highway.
We begin the tour through the Patagonian grasslands of the Aysén region which are now simply burned remains of what were once forests, due to the region's colonization. Among the platforms of broom sedge it is common to see numerous geese and flocks of ibis. In approximately 45 minutes we will see the city of Coyhaique where we will enjoy a brief visit of the area and then continue the trip on the Southern Highway towards the Termas de Puyuhuapi, Hotel & Spa (5 hours). A major part of the road is gravel which will allow us to slowly make our way through beautiful landscapes of dense forests, cliffs, and mountains. In the afternoon, we will arrive to the Union River dock and from there it will only take us about 10 more minutes to cross over to the hotel by boat.

Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa.
The cozy hotel offers outdoor thermal pools along the shores of the sea, trails that are equipped for hiking through the cold forest, visits to the Queulat National Park and the Hanging Glacier, bike rides on the Southern Highway, or if you so desire, a tour through the Dorita Bay in boats or kayaks. The Spa itself offers a large hydromassage pool, jacuzzies with thermal or sea water, a spring water pool, and a steam sauna which are the antecedents for benefiting from thalassotherapy sessions, relaxation massages and facial treatments, etc. More information about the hotel.

San Rafael Lagoon
At 07:00 am, we will begin our journey through the southern fjords aboard the Patagonia Express Catamaran and find ourselves in the San Rafael Lagoon. During the course of this 7 hour trip, our senses will rejoice at the lovely transparent waters, the majesty of the Andes mountains blanketed with luxuriant forests, the rays of light that entangle themselves among the clouds, and on playful occasions, encounters with dolphins.
The navigation route tours various channels until finally coming upon the San Rafael Lagoon through the Tempanos River. The Lagoon is home to the famous San Rafael Glacier, thousands of years old. After staying approximately 2 hours, we will return to Chacabuco, and arrive around 10:30 pm. Passengers will then be taken to the hotel in that port.
Finally, we will travel by bus on the road that borders the Simpson River from Chacabuco to Coyhaique and later continue on to the Balmaceda Airport.

The Patagonia Express Catamaran was designed and built especially for navigating the waters of the Patagonia at the southern end of the world. It offers safe and comfortable traveling for all its guests. Its crew possesses vast experience in sailing the channels of the region and they place emphasis on making sure the trip aboard the boat is an unforgettable one for all those who take part.

The program includes

• Land transportation.
• Sailing on board the Patagonia Express Catamaran.
• 2 nights accommodations in the Hotel & SPA Termas de Puyuhuapi.
• 1 night accommodations in Chacabuco.
• Complete board and beverages, beer, or house wine with all meals.
• All alcoholic drinks on board the Patagonia Express Catamaran.
• Use of the SPA and of the exterior thermal pools.
• Use of kayaks, canoes, and bicycles.
• Hikes through the rain forest.
• Visit to the town of Puyuhuapi and the Queulat National Park.

Not Included

• The program does not include plane tickets.
• Does not include thalassotherapy treatments and massages.

Departures

• Departures take place on Thursdays.

Seasons

Low Season: October 09 to November 12, 2008 // March 19 to April 30, 2009.
High Season:November 13, 2008 to March 18, 2009.

Rates

Rates per passenger.