Punta Arenas Whale Watching Full Day

Operated between December to April

Subject to local weather conditions

FULL REFUND IF TRIP CANNOT BE OPERATED

Note: We offer this activity to be built into your main itinerary and not as a standalone.

An Introduction to Punta Arenas Whale Watching Full Day Excursion

Remote

You may, as a result of travel logistics, find yourself in Punta Arenas. Consequently, our Punta Arenas Whale Watching Full Day excursion would be a good way to see a marvel of nature. For example, if you have two nights available to stay over in Punta Arenas, then a whale watching trip is a great experience to add to the many others you will enjoy during your time in Patagonia. However, this is a very long, full day excursion that will take you into one of the remotest, pristine places on Earth at the southern-most tip of the American continent. Moreover, you will enter the “Francisco Coloane” marine park, whereupon an amazing variety of marine and bird life is to be found. For example, Humpback whales, sealions, cormorants, dolphins; native forests; glaciers and clean air!

Francisco Coloane Marine Park

The area of sea that contains the feeding ground for the Humpback whales is called “Francisco Coloane” Marine Park. Above all, this channel of water is home to a large biodiversity of marine live.  The parks creation was as a consequence of a decision to study whales from a base located on Carlos III Island. The marine scientists needed a reliable place to study the whales, which required protecting them. As a result, this area of water was formally allocated the status of a marine park in 2003. And now it is also a tourist destination.

The marine park covers 67,000 hectares of sea and is southeast of Carlos III Island. Most importantly, this island is located in the Strait of Magellan, on the Pacific side of the Chilean coast not too far west from Punta Arenas. Most importantly, because of its remote location the area is totally pristine, wild and natural where Patagonia can be experienced in its true form: raw. That is to say, that within this part of the world are many native, forested islands and hanging glaciers. On the other hand, there are large glaciers that come down from the peaks to meet the sea. Moreover, there are narrow channels and plenty of marine fauna, including Humpback whales, and on occasion Sei and Mink whales, as well as dolphins.

Patagonian Weather

It is a place where the wind can howl, mist touches the low-level mountain tops, clean, fresh air enters the lungs, dolphins pass by to say “hello”, the chirp of birds break the natural silence, ancient trees cling to steep island sides and diving whales gently break the water’s surface. Consequently, if this is what you would like to experience, let us include this magical activity in your Patagonia itinerary.

Request here: request@experiencechile.org

Punta Arenas Whale Watching Full Day

Logistics

Considering that the navigation to the marine park takes several hours, plus time there, and several hours to return it is a long day. For example, the full day will last between 12 to 14hrs, and pick-up is at the unsociable hour of 04:00hrs. Therefore, you need a previous good night’s sleep.

The excursion starts from a centrally located office in the center of Punta Arenas, two blocks from the central plaza of the city. Most importantly, we will book you in to a hotel close to the check-in office. However, after check-in you will be taken by bus to the embarkation point, which is about 50km (1hr) west of Punta Arenas, whereupon boarding is at around 06:00hrs. Moreover, this is also the time of the sunrise over the Tierra del Fuego – which is a beautiful sight.  Following the sunrise, the navigation will be along the western end of the Magellan Stretch, passing an historic Chilean fort called Bulnes, which was also the location of the first settlement of Punta Arenas (Sandy Point).

Cape Froward

Approximately two hours after the boat “sets sail”, that is to say between 07:30hrs to 08:30hrs you will pass the southern-most point of continental South America called Cape Froward. As a result you will see the lighthouse, which marks the spot. In addition, you will see native flora and forests coming down to the sea, hanging glaciers and generally beautiful landscapes. In other words, what you see is pretty much what the first explorers saw too, not much has changed.

Then between 10:00hrs to 13:00hrs the boat will enter the marine park called “Francisco Coloane” within which are Humpback Whales diving for food. Moreover, there are Magellan penguins, austral dolphins, sealions and sea elephants in the water (or on coastal rocks); cormorants and albatros among the variety of sea birds.

After a long day at approximately between 17:00hrs to 19:00hrs the trip ends back in Punta Arenas.

Photos

Did you know that each Humpback whale has its own, distinct markings on its tail fin? For example, like a human with fingerprints, the individual markings on the tail enable researchers to identify the different whales. Consequently, there are many pictures of the tails of Humpback whales as they dive for food. Most importantly, make sure you are ready to snap your own iconic picture of a whale as it dives for food and flips its huge tail in the air!

Above all, the excursion will involve a long time on board a fast speed, covered zodiac into the marine park. Therefore, you will need to stay the previous night and the night after the excursion in Punta Arenas. For this reason, we will include two nights in your Patagonia itinerary and also book your hotel.

Included

Within the cost of this excursion will be included the return road transfers, the navigation, guide, breakfast and lunch. However, it is worth noting that meals will be served when on the boat, therefore if you suffer from sea sickness this may not be the excursion for you.

Clothes to Bring

Considering that in Patagonia there are “four seasons in one day”, in other words the weather constantly changes, you need to be prepared. For example, you will need to have a warm, waterproof jacket, warm under garment like a fleece, then an under garment, gloves, warm hat, lip balm, sunglasses, sun block cream, waterproof trekking pants and trekking shoes or boots. In conclusion, the same clothes you will need for any Patagonia activity. In addition, because you are on the water, the temperature may feel colder than it you were on land.

Summary of the Itinerary

05:00hrs – Check-in at the office, located at José Nogueira #1255, Punta Arenas

05:15hrs – Transfer to the Carrera Bay for embarkation. This is arounf 50km south from Punta Arenas.

06:00hrs – The boat “sets sail” for the first part of the navigation along the legendary Strait of Magellan, observing the beauty of Tierra del Fuego, passing by Fort Bulnes and then the Light House “Faro San Isidro”.

07:30hrs – We pass by Cape Froward, the southern-most point of the American continent and, effectively, the point where the Pacific meets the Atlantic.

10:00hrs – 15:00hrs – Will be when our boat will be in the “Francisco Coloane” marine park, whereupon, if we are fortunate, we expect to see whales, penguins, cormorants, petreles, sea lions, sea elephants, albatros’s and maybe some orcas. Also, there will be a visit to see the glaciers on the Santa Ines Island.

15:05hrs – 18:00 – We will be returning to Punta Arenas.

Request here: request@experiencechile.org