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Santiago & San Rafael Glacier Cruise II

( Oct - April )
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Day 1. SANTIAGO
Arrival in Santiago de Chile, reception and transfer to the 5* Park Plaza Hotel. Accommodation in a superior club room.

Day 2. SANTIAGO
After breakfast, a half day city tour of Santiago including a visit to the Museo Chileno de Arte Precolombino. This museum offers a thorough overview of 4500 years of pre-Columbian civilization throughout Central and South America. At the Main Square (Plaza de Armas) view the beautiful Cathedral, Post Office and National Museum. Continue along the main avenue called "Alameda" to admire the San Francisco Church and the National Library. You shall also see the Mercado Central which is one of Santiago’s most colourful markets.
A visit to Cerro Santa Lucia, where Santiago was founded in 1541and where you can take the aerial cable car, to its summit at 485m for excellent views of the city. Lunch at Pinpilinpausha, one of the finest restaurants in Chile.
In the afternoon, a visit via the Maipo Canyon and up to Las Vertientes, a popular resort at the foothills of the Andes, with a view of the winding Maipo River. We continue towards Pirque, a picturesque village and the Concha y Toro winery, one of the largest exporters of fine wines in Chile. Founded in 1883 by the Marquis of Casa Concha, he appointed French oenologist M. de Labouchere to bring the finest stock vine from France and to have it planted in the Maipo River Valley. Since then, Concha y Toro has been the leader adopting new techniques. The tour will end with some wine tasting before returning to Santiago.
  
Day 3 (Saturday). SANTIAGO - PUERTO MONTT
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Puerto Montt. Transfer to the harbour terminal for the boarding of the Skorpios II vessel. Departure from the Skorpios Terminal, we will sail through the Llanquihue archipelago, Gulf of Ancud, Chiloé archipelago, and cross the Gulf of Corcovado. We will traverse through spectacular channels and archipelagos and visit isolated and picturesque fishing villages and settlements, such as Puerto Aguirre and Queilen, the city of Castro, Quitralco fjord with its thermal baths and the San Rafael National Park, which was declared a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1978. On board the M/V Skorpios II, you will find a friendly, personalized service, always with the exceptional hospitality provided by the Kochifas family. You will have an enjoyable gastronomic experience, alternating between international cuisine with the best culinary traditions of southern Chile, where the most outstanding are Chilean Kingcrab, giant mussels (Mitilus), mussels, oysters, sea urchins, barnacles, salmon, croaker, sea pike and kingclip. There shall be red and white meats and the juicy and delicious Curanto, which will always be accompanied by the best Chilean wines and exclusive alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the traditional open Bar.

Day 4 (Sunday).
Navigation through the channels Moraleda and Ferronave before arriving at Puerto Aguirre. Departure and set sail though the channels of Ferronave, Pilcomayo, Costa Channel, before casting anchor at Punta Leopardos, some twenty miles from the San Rafael Glacier.

Day 5 (Monday).
Today we will cut through the San Rafael bay, Témpanos channel and Lagoon, dropping anchor two kilometers from the Glacier. Excursions in motorboats between the multicolored glaciers, weather permitting. In the afternoon, the vessel will move closer to the Glacier. In the evening, departure to Quitralco Fjord.

Day 6 (Tuesday).
Arrival at Quitralco Fjord, where you will be able to enjoy the indoor and outdoor thermal pools, along with excursions in motorboats in the fjords. In the evening, departure to Chiloé through the channels of Moraleda and Pérez Norte.

Day 7 (Wednesday).
Today we will sail through the Leucayec channel, the Chonos archipelago, and across the Corcovado Gulf before arriving to Queilen. We will then sail through the Yal channel, the Castro estuary before finally arriving to the capital of Chiloe Island.

Day 8 (Thursday).
In Castro, we will visit the handicrafts market, the Museum and the Church. An optional excursion to Chonchi. Departure at midday down the Castro estuary, Lemuy channel, Dalcahue, Quicaví and Calbuco. Gala Dinner before arrival back to Puerto Montt.

Day 8 (Friday).
Arrival to the Skorpios Terminal in time for breakfast and transfer to the airport for the return flight to Santiago and your connecting flight home.