Chile : Cruises : Skorpios Cruises

Skorpios II: Classic Cruise towards the San Rafael Lagoon

On board the M/V Skorpios II, you will find a friendly, personalized service, always with the exceptional hospitality provided by the Kochifas family and their experienced and well-trained crews who will offer warmth and efficiency in a unique and unforgettable cruise.  Sailing every Saturday from Puerto Montt, a city located 1.000 kilometers south of Santiago, to the San Rafael Glacier, the majestic relic of the planet’s last glaciations, Skorpios carries you on a cream cruise of seven days and six nights.  Its goes through spectacular channels and archipelagos, where an exuberant nature stands out in all its splendor and man’s presence in barely perceptible and where softly shaped islands are scattered in the ocean.  We will visit isolated and picturesque fishing villages and settlements, such as Puerto Aguirre, the city of Castro, the Quitralco Fjord with its thermal baths and the San Rafael National Park, which was declared world biosphere reserve by the UNESCO with its Glacier of magical and spectacular 30.000 years old ice that rises in multicolored towers to a height of more than seventy meters and then sinks into the ocean.

Day 1: Saturday
11:00 am. Depart from the Skorpios-Puerto Montt Terminal. Sail across the Llanquihue Archipelago.

Day 2: Sunday
At 08:00 am, navigate through the Moraleda and Ferronave Channels. Arrival to Puerto Aguirre at 11:00 am. At 12:30 pm, sail through the Ferronave, Pilcomayo and Costa Channels. Dock at approximately 9:30 pm in Caleta Hualas or Punta Leopardos, 20 miles from the San Rafael Glacier.

Day 3: Monday
At 07:30 am, the M/N Skorpios II passes through the San Rafael Bay and Témpanos Channel. At 09: 00 am, the ship enters the Lagoon and anchors only 2 km (1.25 mi) away from the Glacier. At 3:30 pm, we will approach the Glacier, and later at 5:00 pm we set out again towards the Quitralco Fjord.

Day 4: Tuesday
At 08:00 am the ship will dock at the Quitralco pier. At 7:00 pm we set out for Chiloé.

Day 5: Wednesday
At 08:00 am, sail the Leucayec Channel. At 9:00 pm, we will arrive at the Castro Inlet.

Day 6: Thursday
At 08:30 am, you can participate in tours and excursions throughout the city of Castro. At 12:45 pm, return to the ship to depart at 1:00 pm. At 9:00 pm we will enjoy a final dinnr. At 11:00 pm we arrive to Puerto Montt.

Day 7: Friday
At 08:00 am, dock at the Tenglo Channel Terminal pier. From 08:00 to 09:00 am, breakfast, disembark, and passenger transfer.

Included Excursions

Course to the Chilean Patagonia.
The M/N Skorpios II sets out every Saturday from Puerto Montt, city located 1,000 kms (625 mi) south of Santiago, on a course to the San Rafael Glacier, majestic ruin of Earth's last glacial period. The excursion passes through the Llanquihue Archipelago. It is possible to see the city of Calbuco from here. We continue through the Ancud Gulf, the archipelago of Chiloé, and we cross the Corcovado Gulf at midnight.
On the second day, the cruise continues its navigation through the Moraleda and Ferronave Channels. At 11:00 am we arrive to Puerto Aguirre, a small fishermen village located in the archipelago of the "Huichas" or "Chonos". One of the main attractions of this village, are the children, who have become guides to the Skorpios passengers who visit this island every Sunday. Walking to the overlook to get a glimpse of the landscape's beauty that blends into the grandeur of this archipelago is a must! Our visit in the village will last only one hour and a half. We then continue our sail through the Ferronave, Pilcomayo, and Costa Channels. We anchor at approximately 9:30 pm in Caleta Hualas or Punto Leopardos, 20 miles from the San Rafael Glacier.

San Rafael Lagoon and Glacier.
On a Monday, the third day of our journey, the M/N Skorpios II passes through the San Rafael Bay, the Témpanos and Laguna Channels, arriving only 2 km (1.25 mi) from the Glacier. Weather permitting, we can participate in motorboat rides among the surrounding multicolored icebergs. Later, the ship approaches the San Rafael Glacier. This area was discovered four centuries ago by a Spanish explorer, and has now become one of Chile's most important natural wonders as well as an international marvel. The San Rafael Glacier dates back more then 300,000 years. It is 2 km (1.25 mi) wide and its towers reach heights of more then 70 m (229.6 ft). It's depth measures 230 m (754.4 ft) below sea level. It is 15 km (9.3 mi) long and it originates from the snow-capped peak of San Valentin, in the Southern Ice Field of the Andes Mountain Chain.

Quitralco Fjord.
On Tuesday, the ship docks at 08:00 am at the Quitralco pier. Here we will come to the Skorpios Hot Springs, with their warm, pure waters of volcanic origin. Passengers can take a relaxing bath in these thermal waters that boast temperatures like 96.8°, 89.6°, and 86° F, or bathe in the indoor and outdoor pools. And weather permitting, you can participate in motorboat excursions through the interior of the Fjord. At sunset, the M/N Skorpios II sets out on its course to the island of Chiloé, sailing through the Moraleda and North Perez Channels.

Island of Chiloé.
On the fifth day of the cruise, passing through the Leucayec Channel, we may be able to see some of Melinka in the Chonos archipelago, an island that long ago, used to be a place of refuge for terrible pirates. Later we will cross the Corcovado Gulf to continue sailing along the eastern coast of Chiloé. If the weather cooperates we may be able to see Quellón or Queilen, and then continue sailing through the Yal Channel and Castro Inlet, arriving finally at night to the beautiful city of Castro. Once we have arrived, after breakfast, we can visit the craft fair, the museum, the church, and the streets of this precious city. Excursions to the city of Chonchi are optional. We make our return trip through the Castro Inlet, and the Lemuy, Dalcahue, Quicavi, and Calbuco Channels.
A final dinner will take place at 9:00 pm. And we will arrive in Puerto Montt at 11:00 pm.

The ship was built in the company's shipyards in 1988, and cost about USD $10,000,000. The main dining room can seat up to 160 passengers at a time. In addition, it holds two bars, San Rafael and Quitralco (smoking/non-smoking), each one with the capacity for 60 passengers. The international cuisine on board is based mostly on shellfish and fish, with a fixed menu and open bar service.

Characteristics

Cabins of the Skorpios II

It has 55 cabins with a capacity for 110 passengers, based on double rooms, that can be expanded to 130 passengers when considering triple and quadruple cabin space. It also has matrimonial cabins and richly adorned suites. All the cabins have private bathrooms, telephone, music, and closed-circuit television.

Triple/Quadruple Acropolis and Parthenon Deck	Junior Suite
Master Suite

Decks of the Skorpios II

Athos Deck
Olympus Deck
Parthenon Deck
Acropolis Deck
Athens Deck

The program includes

• Bar (no additional cost)
• Access to all the ship's quarters without restrictions (from the machine room to the control bridge, even the kitchen)
• No restrictions on cuisine and menu variation without cost
• Game rooms and lecture rooms, smoking and non-smoking bars
• Bilingual travel information, simultaneous conversation translation
• Satellite telephone, cable TV, open TV
• All the comforts of a luxury service hotel.

Additional Accommodation Services for Friday Night
According to the program itinerary, the cruise begins at 11:00 am on Saturday morning. Passengers must be on board one hour before departure. At an additional cost, SKORPIOS offers accommodations (Friday night) on board the ship, Skorpios II, which includes appetizer, complete dinner, and breakfast on Saturday morning.
Additional night: USD$ 130, per person.

Storage of Vehicles
This service is free during your stay in Puerto Montt.

Notes

• Children between 1 and 5 years old: free, sharing bed
• Minors between 6 and 11 years old: 50% discount, sharing a cabin with parents
• The issued rates can be modified if the shipowner so determines
• SKORPIOS can postpone departure up to 24 hours, due to bad weather or unforeseen circumstances. Past said period and if circumstances that caused delay persist, the company can cancel the cruise, returning the full amount paid, without any other compensation or payment to the passenger
• The Embarkation boarding tax is $14 and it's NOT included.

Departures

The ship sets sail on Saturdays and returns Fridays.

Seasons

Low Season: September 2009, April 2010 and May 2010.
Middle Season: From October 03 to December 05, 2009. And from February 27 to March 27, 2010.
High Season: From December 19, 2009 to February 20, 2010.

Rates

Rates per passenger can change without any previous notice

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be written, specifying the cause and assuming responsibility of the corresponding penalty. Once the reservation has been confirmed by Gotolatin, the following charges will apply for cancellations made by the passenger, according to the program departure date:

• Between 45 and 30 working days before the beginning of the cruise:
  40% of total program value per passenger.
• Between 30 and 15 working days before the beginning of the cruise:
  70% of total program value per passenger.
• Between 15 and 0 working days before the beginning of the program: No refund.
• There are no refunds for portions of the program not used, hotel accommodations, etc.
• We recommend considering Travel Insurance for any reason.

The program includes

Notes

Departures