Regular Departures
Departures every day from October 15th to April 15th.
7:00 am departure, arriving back approx 11:30 am (weather permitting)
N.B. Please note that the excursion might be cancelled because of weather conditions and safety considerations.
Private Group Departures
We can do it, especially for big groups.
Starting / Finishing Points
Regular Departures
The trip starts at your hotel in Punta Arenas and finishes at this same point.
Included
- All ground transfers indicated in the itinerary
- One expert English/Spanish speaking guide
- Zodiac boat ride indicated in the itinerary
- Snack on board
- Magdalena Island Natural Sanctuary park fee
Excluded
- Transfer from / to Punta Arena’s Airport or other points out of the city
- Voluntary tipping of guides and staff
- Insurance (it’s mandatory to purchase appropriate insurance for this trip)
- Items of personal nature
Group Size & Guiding Staff
Group size is normally 15-20 clients. Guide to passenger ratio: 1:20
Transport
In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia transport is in vans that normally seat from 8 to 14 people.
Weather
As the Magellan Strait is the place where two oceans meet, it has strong currents and high swells mainly around midday - This is why the navigation schedules are for early mornings or late afternoons. The vast unbroken stretch of ocean to the west and south of the South American continent leaves the Magellan Strait very exposed to winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. Also, the strong marine influence and the affect of the Southern Patagonia Ice field make the weather hard to predict. In spring or early summer fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, bringing rain and even snow. Even in summer (December to March) you should come prepared to find strong cold winds (up to 130 km/hr) and rainfall. The summer’s average temperature is 11ºC/52ºF (24ºC max, 2ºC min).
Physical Demands
This trip does not have any demands other than not being prone to seasickness and being able to walk gently over flat terrain on Isla Magdalena.
What You Need to Bring
Waterproof hiking boots, parka, pants and gloves; inner insulating layer (fleece or wool), hat, sun screen, and sunglasses.
