Bob and Linda, who had traveled with Knowmad to Ecuador and the Galapagos before, knew who to turn to when they decided they wanted to explore Antarctica and combine that visit with an adventure to Southern Patagonia. With such an extreme itinerary, they trusted Knowmad to plan for everything. Considering the weather-related delays they found themselves wrapped up in on their way home from their Antarctica expedition, they were ecstatic that they had booked their voyage through a travel provider and that Knowmad had their backs. “Even before our trip, Knowmad kept us on track pre-travel, so we were well prepared for a 3-week international trip. We were not just forgotten about once we had booked our travels. Twelve hours before one of our flights, Knowmad sent us an email letting us know the airlines had changed our flight and that [they] had rearranged our pick-up time and driver. All we had to do was show up in the lobby. No worries.”
After a fun-filled few nights in Santiago and four nights lodging right outside the majestic Torres del Paine National Park, the duo continued south to Punta Arenas and boarded their ship to Antarctica. “While in Antarctica, we went on zodiac excursions twice a day: sometimes to an island to see penguins or seals or old research cabins/houses; or sometimes we cruised around to look at icebergs, whales, [and] volcanos. One afternoon, we happened to be in a zodiac with a marine biologist as our guide. Lots of ‘ologists’ on staff – geologists, ornithologists, volcanologists. We came upon a mama humpback whale and her calf. [We] followed the pair around, and the marine biologist had us watch as the two would dive and then come back up. He pointed out that the calf was not well, lacking the necessary fat it would need for the winter. It was evident on the calf’s back as it dove. Not only did we see amazing landscapes and animals, we learned so, so much from the staff. That truly enriched our experience. And we had a barbeque on deck one night! Who would have imagined eating outside in Antarctica.”
It was near the end of their voyage that, due to weather conditions, they were told their return to Punta Arenas would be delayed by at least a day. And with regional flights, other hotels, and excursions already booked for after their return to the mainland, Bob and Linda “were initially a bit rattled. We had zero cell phone service. We managed to get an SOS off to Knowmad through a staff member’s laptop. We were completely confident Knowmad would figure out how to rearrange our remaining travel even though we would not be in contact until we landed in South America. We enjoyed our ‘bonus’ day in Antarctica, landed in Punta Arenas a day later than planned and, sure enough, our remaining travel had been rearranged. Knowing that we had Knowmad tracking our travels was invaluable.”
Travel is never guaranteed to be a seamless affair, and booking through a trusted travel provider like Knowmad can often be the difference between a smooth adventure and turmoil. “We had been planning this adventure for many months. We have a small plaque in our house that says, ‘no rain – no rainbows.’ Have to take that literally and figuratively. Once we knew Knowmad was working on rescheduling flights, we simply enjoyed our ‘bonus day’ in Antarctica. That meant two additional zodiac trips to places we never would have seen without the weather delay. No rain – no rainbows!”
Do you want to take an Antarctica expedition and combine that with an adventure in Patagonia? As a top specialist in both Patagonia and Antarctica expeditions, Knowmad is uniquely positioned to help you build your own custom South America adventure, using Punta Arenas, Chile or Ushuaia, Argentina as ideal jumping off points for further adventures. If you’re interested in crafting an adventure combining several regions in Patagonia with Antarctica, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Trip Specialists at 612-394-2894 or [email protected] to begin planning your own adventure today!
Linda and Bob’s Antarctica and Patagonia Adventure:
DAY 01 USA — Santiago
Take an overnight flight from the U.S., arriving in Santiago the following morning.
DAY 02 Santiago
In Santiago, you will be taken to your accommodations by your Knowmad guide.
- No meals – Bidasoa
DAY 03 Santiago
Today you will be taken on a guided half-day exploration of Santiago, visiting the Presidential Palace, the pedestrian streets Huérfanos and Ahumada, and Parque Forestal or Santa Lucía Hill.
- B – Bidasoa
DAY 04 Santiago — Patagonia —Torres del Paine National Park
Transfer with your Spanish-speaking driver to the airport. In Patagonia, take a shared-guest transfer from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine. While at your lodge, enjoy a range of small group excursions, gourmet food and a variety of alcoholic beverages. Guides will explain the excursion options each night to plan your activities for the next day.
- Box B, D – Patagonia Camp
DAYs 05 – 07 Patagonia
Continue enjoying your stay at Patagonia Camp.
- B, L, D – Patagonia Camp
DAY 08 Torres del Paine National Park — Punta Arenas
In the morning, you will be transferred from Patagonia Camp to your accommodations in Punta Arenas.
- B – Dreams Hotel
DAY 09 Punta Arenas
Enjoy a guided exploration of the Magallanes National Reserve. Stop at the visitors center to get an introduction to the zone before continuing on to explore the reserve. You will enjoy a beautiful hike along one of the many trails offered through the native coigüe and lenga forests. Enjoy the panoramic views possibly overlooking the colorful Punta Arenas, Tierra del Fuego Island, or the Strait of Magellan. Learn about some of the wildlife including the different protected native species of Chile’s southernmost region. In the afternoon, meet the Quark representative at your hotel for luggage weighing and tagging, and in the evening you will be briefed about preparing for your embarkation day.
- B, D – Dreams Hotel
DAY 10 Punta Arenas — King George Island
Take a charter flight from Punta Arenas to Antarctica and meet your ship at King George Island. After landing, make your way to the shore, before being transferred by zodiac to your ship to set sail for the Antarctic Peninsula.
- B, L, D, – Ocean Adventurer, Main Deck Window Cabin
DAYs 11 – 14 Antarctic Peninsula
Enjoy your adventure in Antarctica, always keeping a lookout for whales and seabirds alongside your ship. Your team of expert presenters will deepen your experience with explanations of the glaciology, history and wildlife of the region, and presentations on photography. Even more exciting are your daily excursions, like walking on a shore inhabited by thousands of penguins, cruising in search of whales and icebergs, hiking to a penguin rookery, and more. From the booming sound of a calving glacier to the thrill of spotting apex predators like leopard seals and orcas in action, each day will be a new experience.
- B, L, D – Ocean Adventurer
DAY 15 King George Island — Punta Arenas
After your days of exploration, you’ll say goodbye to Antarctica and disembark at King George Island and return by charter flight to Punta Arenas. After your group transfers to the hotel, you are free to explore and enjoy an evening on your own.
- B – Dreams Hotel
DAYs 16 Punta Arenas — Puerto Montt — Puerto Varas
In the morning, you will be transferred to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward flight to Puerto Montt (Spanish-speaking driver). In Puerto Montt, transfer with your Knowmad guide to Puerto Varas. Walk along Lake Llanquihue or discover the charming German influences on the city.
DAY 17 Llanquihue Province
Enjoy an exploration of the culture and beauty surrounding Lago Llanquihue. First you will drive along the picturesque shores of the wooded lake to the village of Ensenada. Soak in the incredible views of the Lake District below and the majestic Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. Descending from this viewpoint, arrive at the El Solitario trailhead in Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park and hike through beautiful forests and lava formations. Enjoy views of the volcano and lake as you climb and descend with the varied landscape. At the end of your hike continue to the beautiful Petrohué falls, a frothy waterfall through a volcanic rock canyon in Chile’s first national park.
Hiking details: approximately 3.5 miles with 2 hours on volcanic sand terrain
- B, box L – Cumbres Puerto Varas
DAY 18 Reloncaví Fjord
Today you will be transferred along the shores of Lake Llanquihue to reach the Reloncaví fjord, the northernmost fjord of Chile. Please note that this transfer and excursion is on a small group basis. With your guide and small group you will embark on the water in sea kayaks and paddle for approximately 2 hours in front of the Yates and Hornopirén volcanoes until reaching the beautiful farm of Señora Yolanda. Immerse yourself in rural Chilean culture as you enjoy lunch, maté tea, and stories from the countryside. After lunch continue on in your kayak and paddle south until reaching the town of Cochamó.
- B, box L – Cumbres Puerto Varas
DAY 19 Petrohué River
Today you will be transferred (Spanish-speaking driver) and taken for a half-day rafting trip on the class III Petrohué River. Please note that this excursion is on a small group basis. With your guide, raft through Chile’s first national park, filled with exhilarating rapids, beautiful turquoise waters, and views of multiple volcanoes throughout your 13 kilometers on the river. A small snack is also included to keep your energy up as you paddle.
- B, snack – Cumbres Puerto Varas
DAY 20 Puerto Varas — Puerto Montt—Santiago — USA
Transfer with your Spanish-speaking driver to the Puerto Montt airport. In Santiago, you will be responsible for grabbing your luggage and checking in for your international, overnight flight home.
- B
DAY 21 USA
Arrive home.
Ready to plan your own Antarctica and Patagonia expedition? Reach out to our Trip Specialists at 612-315-2894 or [email protected] to begin planning your trip today!
Adiós,
Luke
Luke is an Operations Specialist at Knowmad Adventures, a company dedicated to creating unique, private and custom trips in South America. Luke has traveled extensively throughout South America and loves exploring new and amazing locations around the world and delving into the heart of the cultures that live there. He loves experiencing new cultures and cuisines, meeting people from all over the world and learning about their lives, and having incredible adventures along the way. Knowmad allows him to do that while working amongst kindred spirits. Read Luke’s biography and more about the Knowmad team.
