TIERRA DEL FUEGO AND THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN:

Expedition on the Yacht Mon Coeur

10 DAYS

8 PEOPLE

3290 EURO

Kateryna Poliarska

GROUP COORDINATOR

More detais

10 days

10.03.2024

—

19.03.2024

Organizing a full-fledged yacht expedition to the famous Tierra del Fuego has been our longtime dream. Tierra del Fuego, or Land of Fire, is one of the most beautiful and least explored corners of our planet. Still many places where no human foot has set foot, because the Tierra del Fuego archipelago (73.7 thousand sq. km.) includes about 40 thousand islands!

For centuries, the mysterious Land of Fire has amazed explorers with its snow-capped mountain peaks, glaciers, unusual forest and steppe, piercing wind and the breath of Antarctica.

The name "Tierra del Fuego" appeared in 1520, when the ships of the expedition of the Portuguese navigator Fernand Magellan (1480-1521) rounded the extreme south of South America. During the night passage through previously unknown territories, Magellan saw many smoke and flickering lights on the shores. Concluding that these were fires of volcanic origin, he named the open area Tierra del Fuego.

Later it turned out that the great navigator was mistaken. The aborigines lit fires at night. Indians with a primitive culture of the Stone Age lived here, who hunted with bows and arrows, walked almost naked or wrapped themselves in skins, caught fish and marine animals with a harpoon, cut fire out of stone, did not know pottery and lived very poorly. The climate of Tierra del Fuego has always been very cool, so the Fire landers actively lit fires to warm themselves somehow.

More than 500 years have passed, but the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego remains as little studied, inaccessible and incredibly beautiful as it was several centuries ago.

Snow-capped mountains and mighty glaciers; dormant forests and crystal clear lakes; thousand islands; fjords; foxes and beavers; birds; whales; penguins; fur seals; fantastically beautiful landscapes; the almost complete absence of people - all these things will make the heart of any traveler who appreciates nature and solitude flutter with joy.

We will be happy to show you this incredibly beautiful corner of pristine nature during our Tierra del Fuego expedition on the Paganel Wind Dancer , a comfortable yacht.

IMPORTANT!

Due to the fact that our expeditions do not include international flights to the starting point of the program, we cannot be held responsible for changes in flight conditions by airlines or airport requirements. Since our travelers fly from many different countries and cities, we never participate in the purchase of air travel and limit ourselves exclusively to advisory services in the selection of flights. Air agents or airlines from which tickets were purchased are responsible for the purchase and technical support.

ITINERARY

Day 1
10.03.2025

Morning arrival in Puerto Williams, the southernmost city on the planet. The city is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel, which was named after the Beagle, a ten-gun brig sloop of the Cherokee type, the second ship of the British Royal Navy to bear this name. It was on this ship that Charles Darwin made his famous voyage, during which the ship circumnavigated South America through a newly discovered strait.

Independent transfer to Afasin marina, where our yachts are located. Getting to know the Paganel fleet, as well as the captains and crew. Accommodation in cabins. Acquaintance with the yacht, a short briefing on setting up yacht life, cabins, using galleys and electricity.

Considering the fact that our expedition is quite intense in terms of distance and time, we need to do many things this day... we do not relax, but immediately after getting to know the captains, crew and members of the expedition, we pour into the preparations for the start of the trip. The crew and you need to issue an exit, finish the purchase of provisions, understanding that we are going to little-explored and completely uninhabited corners of our planet, where apart from the primary nature and wild animals, we will not meet anyone else.

Toward evening we enter the Beagle Strait (its Chilean part), crossing into Ferrari Bay.

We're anchored. We have dinner and an evening of Paganel's acquaintances in a cozy cabin of the yacht. Presentation of expedition name T-shirts and badges.
Rest.

Day 2
11.03.2025

After an extremely delicious breakfast prepared for us by our ship's cooks, we disembark for the first short walk of an hour or two in the Chilean territory. Ferrari Bay is considered a very beautiful place. There used to be a horse farm here, and now there is no one except wild horses, which you and I will try to photograph with our cameras or drones.

We do not stay in one place for a long time and after the teams return from the shore, we raise the anchors, heading further into the Beagle Channel. Transfer to Olla bay, anchoring. Depending on the weather, we either go for a walk right away or wait for tomorrow.

In this bay, there is a chance to meet Chilean crab fishermen. Of course, we cannot guarantee this, but if we do meet them, we will try to buy the famous XL snow crabs to cook them for dinner.

Supper. Evening conversations in the cabin company. Rest.

Day 3
12.03.2025

Today we begin a close acquaintance with the harsh and amazing nature of Tierra del Fuego. We have an early rise, breakfast and drop off for trekking.

There are very wild places here and meeting a person is a whole event. At the beginning of 2021, we visited here for the first time, having tried to reach the lake and glacier on several occasions, but each time we encountered impassable swamp and fallen trees.

The next day, after studying satellite images of the area, the brave Paganels still opened the track to the lake on the second attempt and were literally stunned by the landscape they saw.

I hope you understand that the Paganel team is ready to guide you through these protected animal trails and show you the unique places in Tierra del Fuego. When we go to Holanda Glacier, we might also get to know the local beaver family. By the way, local beavers are imported animals.

They were brought for breeding from Canada in 1946, but something went wrong. Beavers scattered, multiplied and now feel great on the terrains of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia. Moreover, the governments of Chile and Argentina are trying to come up with an insidious plan to exterminate all beavers to zero...

Because of a real hunt has been announced for beavers, they are actively hiding from people, but you will have much more chances to meet the famous guanacos in this area, which are the ancestors of domesticated South American llamas.

A trek of about 6 kilometers without significant elevation changes, but with difficult terrain to the beautiful Holanda Glacier and the nearby lake. We will devote the first half of the day to this.

Return of teams from the shore. Dinner. We raise the anchor and set off again to the west. Our second goal for today is to get to one of the arms of the Sinopia Fjord, known for its beauty.

Today's 25 nautical mile crossing is one of the most scenic of our entire route. In this section of the Beagle Channel, it includes several of the most beautiful glaciers. Of course, we stop for scenic photos.

Sinopia Fjord consists of two arms, where we will be able to examine three majestic glaciers and have the opportunity to get very close to one of them by yacht.

You will see how huge ice rocks slide into the emerald waters in mighty ridges, and here begins their new life in the form of icebergs.

After arriving in Sinopia, we are looking for a beautiful, cozy place to spend the night.

We put anchors and stretchers. Supper. Analysis of numerous photos. Rest after a day filled with impressions.

Day 4
13.03.2025

We wake up earlier. We have breakfast. We are starting to explore all the cozy corners of Sinopia Fjord.

We will devote the first half of the day to the largest glacier of Sinopia, from behind which the highest point of Tierra del Fuego – Mount Darwin (2488 m) peeks out.

First, we are looking for a place to drop off. We are going for a walk along the glacier; admire its incredible beauty up close.

When you are so close to the glacier, you forget about everything and literally feel the power of nature with your skin. It is a completely different microclimate here.

The vast permafrost ice cap of this region has a direct influence on the weather. At any moment, it can start snowing, then the sun can come out, it can rain, and then it can snow again. That is why we use all kinds of clothes for the changeable Tierra del Fuego weather.

We take many photos, admire the harsh and at the same time amazingly beautiful and concise landscapes of spring Tierra del Fuego. We return to the yachts and go to a very beautiful glacier in the same arm of the fjord. It is special in that you can get very close to it. Being careful, we sneak as close as the depths and our captains will allow. We will take great photos right from under the blue walls of age-old ice.

Then, after lunch, we go to the second arm of the fjord, where landscapes of incredible beauty will open up to you. This section of the fjord is not always accessible to visitors because two large glaciers flow into a small space at once.

However, in the spring, when the melting of the glaciers is still insignificant, there is a good chance to see everything. We will not guess in advance, but we are almost sure that you will be able to get here.

In the evening, we anchor in a cozy and quiet bay in the fjord with a view of Mount Darwin and the Sinopia glaciers.

Dinner, exchange of impressions, rest.

Day 5
14.03.2025

After a delicious breakfast prepared for us by our brave cooks, we disembark for a walk through the primeval forest to a beautiful lake nearby.

After returning the teams to the yachts, we disembark from the anchor. Ahead of us is a crossing of about 22 miles to another highlight of Tierra del Fuego, the beautiful and majestic Garibaldi Fjord.

In the fjord, there is a good chance to see the local gray sea lions. For this purpose, we are posting an observer to call all inquisitive Paganels who are interested in seeing the life of local marine inhabitants.

Today's location is one of the most picturesque on our entire route. The narrow 18-kilometer Garibaldi Fjord impresses with a variety of landscapes.

Then a transition from the place of our anchorage and we find ourselves in a narrow space, squeezed between mountains, into which a beautiful, majestic glacier flows.

If there is an opportunity, we will walk along it in our inflatable dinghies.

We will photograph ourselves and our yachts from the water level against the background of the eternal Garibaldi ice.

After riding to our heart's content, we look for a cozy place to anchor. The weather here can be different: sun, wind, snow, rain... sometimes all at the same time. The place for sleeping must be protected. However, trust our team, they know their business.

Supper. Communication. Exchange of impressions. Analysis of photos. Rest.

Day 6
15.03.2025

We wake up in a beautiful place, admire the surrounding landscapes. We have breakfast. We get off the anchor.

We go to the exit of the 18-kilometer fjord to get first to the Biglia channel, and from there to the neighboring fjord, the last one in our program. It is also a long narrow intestine ends with a beautiful black and white glacier.

We take the last close-up photos near the Tierra del Fuego glaciers. We try to get closer to the ice field.

We say goodbye to the ice fjords of Chile and move further west. Today we have a big 50-mile crossing before the end of the day.

A little tired, but full of bright sights, we stop for the night in the interesting Silva Bay on Londonderry Island. Why is she interesting? In addition to the subarctic wasteland in this bay, yachts that pass these unique places leave their improvised signs with the names of the yachts, their nationality and the date of visiting these places.

Day 7
16.03.2025

In the morning, after breakfast, we disembark in the bay. We are looking for the Paganel tablet, among dozens of other memorable artifacts that remained here after visiting these places by various yachtsmen from all over the planet.

A short trek to the surrounding beautiful lakes and waterfalls.

Having strolled to our heart's content, we raise anchor and once again embark on the long 55-mile passage to Brecknock Bay. On the transition, we will briefly enter the Pacific Ocean, so it can be a little choppy. If you have a seasick, prepare in advance.

We arrive at the place by the evening. We put the yacht in a beautiful safe place. Supper. Rest.

Day 8
17.03.2025

After breakfast, we disembark our Paganels on the picturesque shore. The weather here is very diverse, but the surrounding landscapes will make you forgive nature for any weather imperfections.

During a walk along the coast, we will explore the coastline with its vertical walls and stone visors. A shining emerald lake is located 10 minutes from our anchorage. We will take a ride on our inflatable dinghies to the lake and waterfalls. The harsh beauty of stone "jungles" and impenetrable primeval forests will make you feel what the pioneers of these unexplored lands felt.

Having walked in the time allotted by the captains, we raise the anchor and continue our way towards the Strait of Magellan. Crossing 50 nautical miles to King's Bay.

We arrive at the place by the evening. We find a narrow "yacht garage" with trees overhanging the water and an overhanging stonewall on the other side. We put the yacht on the anchor and stretchers.

Supper. Rest after a busy day.

Day 9
18.03.2025

In the morning, traditionally, after a tasty and hearty breakfast, we first go for a walk along the shore through the local impenetrable forest. We appreciate live what Darwin wrote about these places and understand that nothing has changed here in several hundred years since the discovery of Tierra del Fuego!

We admire the mesmerizing landscapes, waterfalls, mouths of small rivers. The places here are fabulously beautiful.

Today we do not walk, but explore the small islands and the shores of the bay covered with sleepy forests on our inflatable dinghies.

After walking, we return to our ships. We go on the route. Our way lies to a cozy bay called Baybassin. It is reliably protected from winds and waves from all directions. During the first expedition to these places, we managed to catch and then release young, small king crabs and collect very large mussels.

Parking here is not long, and closer to the evening we will cross the Strait of Magellan to Panorama Bay, from where a stunning view of one of the most beautiful and highest peaks of Tierra del Fuego – Sarmiento Peak – opens up.

Day 10
19.03.2025

In the morning we arrive at the final point of our journey - the city of Punta Arenas.
Today we say goodbye to meet again in the most unique corners of our planet Earth.

In the morning the captains formalize the arrival in the port, get permission to disembark. We pack our things. We say goodbye to our beloved yacht, crew and captains. Tears of parting and sadness that our amazing expedition is over. We dream to meet again and make our future "great" plans for new voyages and expeditions...
Independent transfer to the airport. Departure home.

Please note that this itinerary is preliminary. The weather always has the last word. If necessary, the expedition itinerary, may be changed by the captain depending on external conditions!

YACHTS

Mon Coeur

The yacht «Mon Coeur» (‎My Heart‎‎) is owned by Paganel Studio, which has been organizing and conducting trips around the world since the end of 2011. Since 2014, we have been conducting polar yachting expeditions, which have already become regular for us. Therefore, for these purposes, we have acquired our fleet, consisting of two ice-class yachts.

The two-masted motor-sailing yacht «Mon Coeur» was built in Germany at the shipyard DÜBBEL & JESSE. It has an aluminum hull with a long keel line equipped with an additional trimmer.

Yacht length: 20.40 meters (66.97 feet) Beam: 5.42 m

Draft: 4.0

Sailing rig: Ketch with the top rig.

It has 2 Perkins diesel engines, each with 130 HP/ 95.55 (kW) Extensive renovations were carried out in 2002, 2013, and 2018.

In 2017-18 it was insulated and completely re-equipped for expeditions in cold latitudes.

It has a large fuel supply: 2 tanks of 2000 liters each.

Freshwater supply 2000 liters + a water-maker.

For a comfortable stay of guests and crew on board, there are:

3 toilets with showers;
four independent heaters for heating the interior;
air conditioning system;
television;
modern audio system;
washing machine with dryer;
fully equipped kitchen with fridge and freezer,
microwave and oven;
on-board library.

An autonomous diesel generator, high-capacity batteries, and a powerful inverter provide all the premises of the yacht with 220 volts during long passages. Two 5-seater inflatable boats with outboard motors provide us transportation to and from the shore.

The yacht can comfortably accommodate 12 people: 8 passengers and 4 crew members. We accommodate guests of our yacht in comfortable and cozy cabins for 2 people.

Team composition: professional experienced Captain, First mate, Sailor, Cook.

Plan-scheme "Mon Coeur"

1,2,4,5 - guest cabins
3.6 - crew cabin
7 - cabin company
8 - navigation
9- kitchen
10, 11, 12 - toilet and shower

size of beds:
cabin 1, 2:195 cm headboard, 100 feet
cabin 4 upper berth 200 cm x 80 x 47 lower berth 200 cm x 96 x 50
cabin 5 upper berth 200 cm x 70 x 47 lower berth 195 cm x 80 x 47
cabin 6 upper berth 195 cm x 78 x 60 lower berth 195 cm x 80 x 60

Each will be provided with a duvet, pillow, bed linen, and towel.

A detailed video review of the yacht Mon Coeur can be viewed here:

WHY WITH PAGANEL?

We are unique

For many years, we have been traveling the world to our small planet's most remote and unusual places. We do not use the services of domestic travel agencies. The trips we invent and carry out are always unique and have their unique zest, charm, and adventurous spirit.

Creation

The first thing that interests us is creativity in everything. During the expeditions, we shoot a lot of videos, take pictures, write stories, draw pictures. If you are interested in a creative approach to life and travel, then WELCOME... we are very happy to meet you!

Interest

By joining our team, you join a kind of club family, which already consists of several hundred people who are interested in discovering the world with us.

Since most of the expenses for organizing a trip – air tickets and travel documents for other modes of transportation, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. – are made by us in advance, long before the trip, the prepayment or payment for the trip is non-refundable in the event of cancellation.

Since most of the expenses for the organization of the trip are air tickets and travel documents for other types of transport, accommodation, excursions, services of local companies and guides, etc. are not refundable in case of your cancellation of the trip. We simply have no way to return it.

Please note that this itinerary is tentative. The weather always has the last word. The itinerary is designed to allow sufficient time at the end of the Expedition in case of any weather-related delays. If necessary, the captain can change the expedition route depending on external conditions!

Cherish Life! Love! Travel!