This trip has the perfect mix of exotic wildlife, fascinating culture and breathtaking beauty and is ideal for those travelers looking for a seafaring adventure. Your trip will begin in Chile's cosmopolitan capital city Santiago where you will enjoy a wine tasting at one of its world class wineries and visit the Maipo Canyon. On the second day you will fly south to Puerto Montt and drive to the Island of Chiloé. Chiloé is renowned for its rich folklore, centuries old culture, fantastic wildlife, deep green pastures, misty forests and varied seafood. You will visit the ocean side city of Ancud, one of the cultural and economic centers of the island and have the opportunity to appreciate the varied local arts and crafts (primarily wood and wool products). Also, in the afternoon we will take an excursion to an island penguin colony on the rugged Pacific Coast- the only place in the world where Humbolt and Magallenic penguins live together. A night spent at an antique farmhouse surrounded by gardens and overlooking a scenic bay will give you the opportunity to experience firsthand some of the local culture.

The following five days you will sleep and travel on board the Cahuella where you will navigate through many smaller lush green islands and have the opportunity to interact with more friendly local families. Your activities will include beach barbecues, short walks and enjoying the peaceful majesty of the Chiloé sunset. You will visit places where roads do not exist and the life of the sea is woven into the local culture. This experience is off the tourist trail and offers you the unique opportunity to visit a special part of the world where life follows a different rhythm.

During the last portion of your voyage, you will navigate through the more remote islands on the way to the spectacular grandeur of mainland Patagonia and its channels and fjords. Here you will witness the untouched wilderness of the steep, glacier topped Andes, view innumerable birds and old growth temperate rainforest and visit the numerous hot springs that motivated American Conservationist Douglas Tompkins to preserve over 600,000 acres as South America's most recent and largest private park project.

DAY 01
SANTIAGO
Arrive Santiago in the morning and transfer to Hotel. After lunch depart for community of Pirque for a visit to the Concha y Toro Vineyard for a guided tour. Afterwards, you will drive into the Maipo Canyon, a majestic canyon southeast of Santiago with views of massive 18,000 feet mountains. Early evening return and dinner in colonial Bellavista, a bohemian area of city full of fine restaurants and art galleries.

DAY 02
BIG ISLAND OF CHILOÉ
Morning flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt. You will be greeted at the airport in Puerto Montt by an ARE representative and then depart by land to the island of Chiloé. The trip includes an open air ferry across the Chacao Channel to the big island of Chiloé, renowned as a South American version of Ireland with rolling pastures, mythology and marine life woven into its culture. Passengers can view sea lions and penguins playing in the waters of the Chacao Channel all against the backdrop of snowcapped Andes, complete with at least 5 visible volcanoes stretching southward. Once on the mystical island of Chiloé, we'll visit the bustling city of Ancud and have a tea and kuchen (a traditional German cake) at a cafˇ overlooking the bay. After your guide explain some of the history and culture of the area you will head west through the verdant countryside, past dense forests and rolling hills. Pastures and farms dot the way, where every morning and afternoon tin milk jugs await pickup by the local cheese and yogurt factory. Our destination is the rugged Pacific coast and the island penguin colony of Pu–ihuil. This group of small islands offer the only place in the world where Humbolt and Magallanic penguins coexist. Later in the afternoon we make our way down the eastern coastal road to the village of Quemchi, where we will be greeted by Don Juan Dougnac and his wife. Their lovely antique decorated farmhouse is surrounded by gardens and perched on a hill overlooking the waters of the Quemchi Canal- a perfect place to relax and absorb the beauty of Chiloé. The Dougnacs will prepare a special asado al palo (lamb barbecue) or another special meal accompanied by homemade cheese, bread, and the freshest from their vegetable garden. B,L,D.

DAY 03
CHILOÉ BY THE SEA
After an early breakfast of fresh baked breads, homemade jam and local yogurt, we will make our way to the colorful wharf of Quemchi where we will find the lovely Cahuella at anchor. After a brief introduction and being shown your cabin, we will set sail out of the canal and into Chiloé Archipelago. Numerous islands will fill the foreground, shimmering green amidst the blue waters, while the snowcapped peaks of the Andes complete the background. We will drop anchor in the protected bay of Mechuque Island, where traditional palafitos (wooden houses built on stilts with boat parking underneath) and the quaint village make for a wonderful afternoon walk. We will visit a nearby family and their small seafood farm nestled among the inlets of the canal. In the evening, you will have the opportunity to taste an expertly made pisco sour (the national drink) and enjoy two new wonders: the Chiloé sunset and the wonders of the gourmet cuisine your chef creates from the freshest local produce and seafood. B,L,D

DAY 04
ARCHIPELAGO
After a breakfast of fresh fruit, bread, jams, yogurt and more, we will continue cruising amidst the numerous islands of the Gulf of Ancud. Today's navigation will take us to the bustling island town of Achao, whose exquisitely crafted 270 year-old wooden church is the oldest in the region, a national monument and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll continue our cruise through the emerald isles of the archipelago where we will drop anchor in one of the remote islands of the Archipelago to prepare for the following day's early departure. B,L,D

DAY 05
PUMALIN PARK AND RAINFOREST HIKE
After an early breakfast of fresh homemade specialties, we will set out across the Gulf of Ancud towards the glacier topped Andes to the East. Accompanied by a wide variety of sea birds, dolphins and sea lions, we will cruise to the Comao Fjord and the virgin beauty of the Pumalin Park Project- the brainchild of American Conservationist Douglas Tompkins. The night will most likely be spent below the steep walls of the Quintupeu Fjord, whose misty green walls rise over 1500 meters (4500 ft) out of the deep ocean. A perfect place to relax, take the zodiac exploring up the river or simply absorb the quiet majesty of life on the shore of a Patagonian fjord. B,L,D

DAY 06
HEART OF PUMALIN PARK - HOT SPRINGS
After a wonderful night's sleep we will continue our exploration of this remote corner of Pumalin Park. Depending on the weather and your interests, we may go for a walk up a nearby valley visiting some of the area's original settlers. The setting is truly breathtaking: dense forest and snowcapped mountains overheard. Massive old-growth forest, pristine clear rivers, endless birdlife and the raw beauty of mother nature. By early evening we will visit one of the area's hidden volcanic treasures; a spectacular river of hot water that runs through the rainforest with numerous pools amidst the ferns. This hot spring offers travelers wonderful natural hot baths where travelers can soak and relax all while enjoying the views and the serenity. B,L,D

DAY 07
HORNOPIR N-DESPIDEDA (GOODBYE)
In the morning we will cruise up the Cholgo Canal towards the perfect forested cone of the Hornopirˇn Volcano (4800ft, 1572 meters), at the base of which lies the town of the same name. We will finish our Patagonian cruise at the ferry ramp, where the crew will join you for a farewell lunch before bidding you goodbye. Transport will take you up and over the mountains on the lovely journey back to Puerto Montt, a four-hour drive amidst the rugged beauty of the Carretera Austral. B,L

01 US$ 1,600

TRIP DIFFICULTY: Journey requires moderate walking along trails and sufficient mobility to board small boats in variable land and sea conditions.

INCLUDES:  All transport from Puerto Montt, all lodging, berth in a double cabin on Cahuella, all gourmet meals and snacks prepared by chef using the freshest the region has to offer, all excursions, hot springs, expert bilingual guides, and wine (during meals). : B=Breakfast; L= Lunch; D=Dinner.

NOT INCLUDED:  International airfares, flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt (approximately $200), airport departure taxes or visa fees, meals not specified, tips and gratuities, excess baggage charges, alcoholic beverages, insurance of any kind.

INSURANCE: ARE highly recommends that our travelers take out insurance. We offer travel insurance to our clients.