Experience the beauty of Chilean fjords and witness the magnificent Amalia Glacier! Our journey started in Arica and continued southward, visiting several ports along the way. We explored the charming cities of Iquique, Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Castro, and Punta Arenas, our final stop in Chile.
On our approach to Puerto Chacabuco, we received a call from Port Control about fishing nets around the vicinity of Punta Canal in Isla Carmen and Caleta Bluff Lighthouse along Fiordo Aysen – a narrow and curved passage just by the entrance to the harbour. Since Port Control couldn’t give us specific time as to when those nets get cleared, Captain decided to head straight to Punta Arenas and arrived there ahead of schedule instead. Although we missed Puerto Chacabuco, the stunning scenery we encountered during our journey was worth it!
Am pretty sure I’ve been to Puerto Chacabuco before and that was onboard the Black Watch but I can’t remember what the harbor looked like. It could have refreshed my memory if we managed to get there. But anyhow, the sceneries unfolding every inch as we sailed to Punta Arenas were exceedingly beautiful!
From our abort point in Puerto Chacabuco, the ship traversed along Fiordo Aysen, sailed through Canal Darwin, and out to the open sea. We need to go outside 12 nautical miles off from the coast and kept that distance for as long as we had to discharge our accumulated grey water – to comply with MARPOL regulation to protect the marine environment.
We continued our journey back to the Chilean fjords entering Canal Trinidad, one of the major entrances/exits to the Patagonian channels. This channel is a popular shipping route and means of shelter for ships over the years.
Next, we reached Canal Conception, where we had the chance to spot different types of whales, such as Southern right whales, Minke whales, Orca whales, and Sei whales. We could also see the famous bottlenose dolphin, the Commerson’s dolphin, with its striking black and white appearance. The fjords and scenery in this area were simply breathtaking!
I have no time to do the research, but fellow officer 3/O Portia did! She was more than keen and perfectly adept at gathering all this data. Tasked by Captain to do scenic commentaries during the Chilean passage at some points, well, she had to make friends with Google as she needed lots and lots of information for her impromptu speeches. (Lots of thanks to Portia 🙂 🙂 )
Continuing our journey, we entered Canal Andres, leading us to the stunning Amalia Glacier!
Amalia Glacier
Wow – just wow! This is the Amalia Glacier as viewed from the ship. With Chilean pilots (Luis and Eduardo) with us onboard, the ship sailed closer to the glacier but at a safe distance, of course.
Unfortunately, I was already resting by the time the ship arrived at Amalia Glacier so I missed this awesome sight. The ship was scheduled to get there by 7 PM. I planned to visit the bridge just after dinner to be able to see the approach to the glacier but I changed my mind – I preferred going to bed and had myself back on watch by midnight fresh and well-rested.
Thanks to one of our lookouts, Danilo Sano for sharing some photos of Amalia Glacier.
From the scenic Amalia Glacier, we continued sailing towards Punta Arenas following the track along Canal Sarmiento down to Estrecho Collingwood. We then entered Canal Smyth, passing through Paso Summer. At one point, we passed an area with depth indicated on the chart that reads 8.4 meters. At 7.1-meter draft, it’s safe to pass through.
We then entered Canal Mayne and returned to Canal Smyth, leading us to Estrecho de Magallanes. We followed the entire length of the strait until we arrived in Punta Arenas, our final port in Chile.
This journey was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will always treasure. As our journey through the scenic Chilean fjords comes to a close, we are left with memories of breathtaking landscapes, encounters with fascinating wildlife, and the awe-inspiring sight of the Amalia Glacier.
