Horseback & estancias
Gaucho Day at a Patagonian Estancia
Cross the fjord from Puerto Natales to a family estancia: ride with gauchos or walk to a waterfall, then share a campfire lunch.
Full day
Wildlife · Patagonia
Whale Watching in Francisco Coloane Marine Park
At a glance
A 13-hour boat day from Punta Arenas past Cape Froward to look for humpback whales in Francisco Coloane and see two Santa Inés glaciers.
~13 hoursDuration
- Duration
- About 13 hours
- Level
- Easy; no physical effort, but a long day on a boat
- Group
- 1–12
- Season
- December–April
- Start
- Pickup at your hotel in Punta Arenas, confirmed when you book (check-in 04:00, boat sails 05:00; from elsewhere on request)
Overview
The Francisco Coloane protected area covers 66,833 hectares of the Strait of Magellan and the channels around Isla Carlos III, including a 1,506-hectare marine park. Chile created it in 2003, and it was Chile's first marine park. It protects the feeding grounds of humpback whales, breeding areas of Magellanic penguins, colonies of South American sea lions and the kelp forests that line the coast.
This is a long day on the water. Check-in in Punta Arenas is at 04:00 and the boat sails at 05:00, heading south along the strait. On the way you pass Cape Froward, the southernmost point of mainland South America, with the Cruz de los Mares on its hill. In the Francisco Coloane sector you spend time looking for humpback whales where they feed, with cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses and sea lions around. The route continues to two glaciers on Santa Inés Island before the long navigation back to Punta Arenas. Condors and dolphins are also seen on this trip.
Breakfast, lunch and coffee service are on board, and a bilingual guide helps you spot wildlife and explains what you are seeing. Transfers within Punta Arenas are included. The excursion lasts about 13 hours and runs from December to April. Like every trip in the strait, it depends on weather and sea conditions.
Highlights
- Look for humpback whales in their feeding grounds inside a protected marine area
- Pass Cape Froward and the Cruz de los Mares, the southern tip of mainland South America
- Two glaciers on Santa Inés Island
- Sea lions, albatrosses, petrels and cormorants along the route
- Breakfast, lunch and coffee service on board
The day
04:00
Pickup and check-in in Punta Arenas
Pickup at your hotel in Punta Arenas, confirmed when you book, for check-in at the boat operator's office at 04:00. A transfer then takes you to the boarding pier.
05:00
Departure
The boat sets sail for the Francisco Coloane Marine Park. Breakfast and coffee are served on board.
Cape Froward
Navigation past Cape Froward, the southernmost point of mainland South America, with views of the Cruz de los Mares on the hill above the cape.
Whale watching in Francisco Coloane
Time on the water in the marine park sector, looking for humpback whales where they come to feed. Your guide watches for blows and points out cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses and sea lions.
Glaciers of Santa Inés Island
The boat continues to two glaciers on Santa Inés Island for a closer look from the deck. Lunch is served on board.
Return to Punta Arenas
The long navigation back to Punta Arenas. Drop-off at your hotel in Punta Arenas, confirmed when you book, about 13 hours after the day began.
Included and not included
Included
- Transfers within Punta Arenas (from elsewhere, on request)
- Boat guide
- Lunch
- Coffee service
- Breakfast
Not included
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance
What to bring and who it's for
What to bring
- Warm, waterproof clothing
- A hat with ear flaps and gloves for time on deck
- Sun protection
- Comfortable shoes
- A small backpack with a plastic bag to keep your camera dry
- Binoculars, and seasickness medication if you usually need it
Who it's for
Open to all travelers. No physical effort is needed, but the day is long, about 13 hours with a 04:00 check-in, so it suits travelers who are comfortable spending a full day on a boat.
Good to know
- The trip depends on weather and sea conditions; the maritime authority and the captain can suspend a departure for safety.
- Whales are wild animals. The area is a known humpback feeding ground, but sightings are never guaranteed.
- Expect a very early start: check-in is at 04:00 and the boat sails at 05:00.
- Transfers are included within Punta Arenas; from other towns they can be arranged on request.
Where it happens
The map loads from Esri when you open it.
- Punta ArenasCheck-in at our boat partner's office in Punta Arenas.
- Cape FrowardThe boat passes Cape Froward on the way.
- Francisco Coloane Marine ParkWhale watching around Carlos III Island.
- Santa Inés IslandGlaciers falling to the sea.
- Punta ArenasBack in Punta Arenas in the evening.
Make it part of a trip
Combine it with other days in a trip designed around you.
Plan a tailor-made trip
Wildlife
Magdalena Island Penguin Colony
A morning boat trip from Punta Arenas to walk through the Magdalena Island penguin colony and circle Marta Island's sea lions, October to March.
Half day
Hiking
Day Hike to Base of the Towers
A guided full-day hike in Torres del Paine to the lagoon at the foot of the three granite towers: about 22 km round trip, +1,400 m.
Full day
Ready to go?
FAQs
About 13 hours. Check-in is at 04:00 in Punta Arenas, the boat sails at 05:00, and almost all of the day is spent on the water before the return to Punta Arenas.
The boat sails from Punta Arenas along the Strait of Magellan, past Cape Froward and the Cruz de los Mares, into the Francisco Coloane Marine Park to look for humpback whales, then on to two glaciers on Santa Inés Island before heading back.
We run this trip from December to April, during the southern summer. The protected area was created to protect the humpback whales' feeding grounds, and the departures are timed to that season.
No. Francisco Coloane is a feeding area for humpback whales, which is why the trip goes there, but they are wild animals and no sighting can be promised. Weather and sea conditions also affect where the boat can go.
Along the route you can see sea lions, cormorants, skuas, petrels, albatrosses, condors and dolphins. The protected area is also a breeding area for Magellanic penguins.
Yes, weather permitting. The route includes two glaciers on Santa Inés Island, seen from the boat.
Breakfast, lunch and coffee service are included on board.
The trip starts in Punta Arenas, with transfers included within the city. Transfers from Puerto Natales or other towns can be arranged on request; with a 04:00 check-in, plan to spend the night before in Punta Arenas.
SOURCES · Vertic field notes · en.wikipedia.org · mma.gob.cl