Exploring the
Chilean Fjords
An expedition cruise aboard Le Boreal
5th to 22nd November 2014
The southern tip of Latin America is an area ideally suited
to exploration by sea. Our voyage from Valparaiso to
Buenos Aires is without doubt one of the most scenically
stunning cruises imaginable. An epic journey in every sense;
a southern wilderness of glaciers, fjords, towering snowcapped mountains, rivers and waterfalls, uninhabited islands,
a variety of wildlife and pioneering history.
Valparaiso
Buenos Aires
Santiago
U R U G U AY
A R GE NTINA
CHIL E
Puerto Montt
Castro
Every day of this voyage will be an adventure, offering unique
travel experiences. Our small ship will navigate through a
Tortel
series of channels and fjords, where the variety of hues changes
with each sunrise and sunset. From icy blues and fiery reds to
Puerto Natales
lush greens, the kaleidoscope of Chile’s natural beauty envelops
The Beagle Channel
us. The flora and fauna is rich and vibrant, as are the people who
Cape Horn
inhabit these remote locales. Marvel at the wildlife which abounds
here. The skies are filled with the cries of seabirds, albatross and
petrels wheel overhead and sea lions bark from their rocky outcrops.
Look out for black necked swans, flamingos and the soaring Andean condor.
Torres del Paine National Park
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Volcano Osorno, Puerto Montt
Castro, Chiloe Island
The Itinerary
Day 1 - London to Santiago. Fly by
indirect scheduled flight.
Day 2 - Santiago. Arrive this
morning and transfer to your
hotel for an overnight stay. This
afternoon is free to explore
independently or relax and enjoy
the hotel’s facilities. Enjoy a
welcome dinner this evening in
a local restaurant.
Sea Lions, Beagle Channel
styles. Continue to the Parque
Forestal which was modelled on
the Champs Elysee in Paris, the
Fine Arts Museum and Santa Lucia
Hill where the city was founded in
1541. We end at the bohemian area
of Bellavista. After a local lunch we
will continue to Valparaiso where
we embark Le Boreal this afternoon
and sail this evening.
Day 4 - At sea. Enjoy a relaxing
day at sea as we sail the
Chilean coast.
Day 3 - Santiago to Valparaiso.
After breakfast in the hotel we will
enjoy a city tour. We will see the
neoclassical Moneda Palace, the
Plaza de Armas with its cathedral,
the Museum of National History
and the Central Post Office, all
with very different architectural
Day 5 - Castro, Chiloe Island. To
the north of the Magellan Strait
is the large island of Chiloe which
is very different from the rest of
the country, not just because
of the gentler countryside but
also its mixed cultural heritage.
We arrive in Castro, the capital,
home to around 150 churches
that are famous for their striking
architecture and of which 16 are
registered as a UNESCO World
Heritage site. You may choose
to explore independently or join
an optional excursion which will
include the “palafitos”, wooden
houses built on stilts above the
water on the Gamboa River, the
Vilipulli church and Chonchi, the
“three-story town” with its houses
arranged in steps on the hillside.
We will also visit the San Francisco
church which was built in 1906,
and have time to stroll around the
main plaza and colourful handicraft
market of Castro.
Day 6 - Puerto Montt. Located on
latitude 40o south, this lovely region
is a natural garden and boasts an
incredible concentration of volcanic
cones. There will be a choice of
optional excursions today; you may
wish to enjoy the sites of Puerto
Montt, the capital of the Lake
District, and also the nearby towns
of Puerto Varas which overlooks
Lake Llanquihue and Frutillar, a
town founded in 1856 by German
settlers and known for its alpine
style architecture. Alternatively join
an optional full day tour into the
Vincente Perez Rosales National
Park which will include a cruise on
the Todos Los Santos Lake with
views of beautiful forests and the
Osorno, Puntiagudo and Tronador
volcanoes. Continue to the
Petrohue Falls for a walk through
the forest to reach emerald green
rapids before lunch in a local
restaurant and returning to the
ship via Puerto Varas.
Day 7 - At sea.
Day 8 - Tortel. This small
Patagonian village with its curious
architecture including houses on
stilts is linked by a maze of piers,
walkways and endless steps.
The village clings to a hillside
in total isolation amidst the
glaciers, lakes, forests and
mountains. This is a unique
opportunity to meet the locals
who are always very welcoming
to Le Boreal passengers.
Days 9-11 - Cruising the
Chilean Fjords. Discover the
Chilean Channels at the foot of
the Darwin Cordillera mountain
range and venture right into the
heart of this maze of fjords to see
the glaciers which tumble into
the sea. Sea lions, fur seals and
dolphins are completely at home in
the unspoiled grandiose nature of
this region. Our days will be flexible
and in the hands of our Captain
and Expedition Leaders. Where
possible the Zodiacs will
be launched to get closer to
the action.
Day 12 - Puerto Natales. After
the Patagonia channels, Puerto
Natales appears at the end of
the Ultima Esperanza Sound.
An ideal point from which to
cross the Andes, the town is in
the heart of the Torres del Paine
National Park and the Andean
scenery here is breathtaking.
On our optional excursion we
will explore the lagoons, lakes,
birdlife and flora that make up
this 242,000-hectares national
Plaza de Armas, Santiago
+44 (0)20 7752 0000 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk
park. We will stop at Sarmiento
Lake and the Nordenskojd Lake
which lead into the impressive
Salto Grande waterfall. We will
enjoy a lunch near the Serrano
River before our scenic drive back
to the ship.
Days 13 & 14 - Cape Horn
and Beagle Channel. Your first
contact with this land at the end
of the world will be Cape Horn,
a promontory that in 2005 was
declared a UNESCO Biosphere
Reserve. Known to sailors simply
as “the Horn”, the summit of this
spectacular cliff has a sculpture
in the shape of an albatross to
honour all those who have perished
trying to sail round it. A unique
experience awaits you as we cruise
through the Beagle Channel
exploring the magnificent scenery
of the Tierra del Fuego (literally
“land of fire”) National Park.
Salto Grande Waterfall
Day 15 - At sea.
Torres del
Paine is one
of the most
spectacular
places on
earth. A vast
uninhabited
wilderness of
glacier-draped
mountains,
windswept
pampas,
turquoise
glacial lakes
and verdant
valleys.
Flamingos
Prices per person
Based on double occupancy. Tour Code: SCBO051114
Category
Deck Price
Superior Stateroom
3
£6295
Deluxe Stateroom
3
£6795
Day 16 - Ushuaia to Buenos
Aires. Disembark this morning
Prestige Stateroom
4
£6995
Prestige Stateroom
5
£7495
and transfer to the airport for our
specially chartered flight to Buenos
Aires. On arrival transfer to your
hotel and enjoy an afternoon at
leisure to explore independently.
This evening meet for dinner and a
tango show at a local restaurant.
Prestige Stateroom
6
£7695
Deluxe Suite
6
£8795
Prestige Suite
5
£9695
Prestige Suite
6
£9995
Owner’s Suite
6
£14995
Superior Stateroom for sole use
3
£7495
Deluxe stateroom for sole use
3
£9995
Day 17 - Buenos Aires to London.
Price Includes: Economy class scheduled international air travel, chartered
flight between Ushuaia and Buenos Aires, 13 nights aboard Le Boreal on
full board basis including house wine with lunch and dinner, expedition
team, Zodiac excursions, gratuities to crew, transfers, port taxes, airport
taxes, overnight accommodation in Santiago and Buenos Aires on bed and
breakfast basis, city tour in Santiago, lunch on day 3, dinner on days 2 and
16.
Not Included: Travel Insurance, visas, shore excursions shown as optional.
NB. Ports subject to change. Weather conditions may affect itinerary.
Puerto Natales
Transfer to the airport today for
our scheduled indirect flight
to London.
Day 18 - London. Arrive this
morning.
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Le Boreal
O
perated by our French
associates, Ponant Cruises,
Le Boreal offers a subtle
blend of sophistication combined
with casual comfort creating the
feeling of being on a private yacht.
A sleek silhouette softened by
elegantly smooth contours and
large, arched windows opening up
to the sea and the light; so many
features come together to give
Le Boreal her distinctive shape.
Built by the Italian Fincantieri
shipyard she has an air of French
sophistication as interpreted by
designer Jean-Phillippe Nuel.
This 132-cabin yacht allows us to
explore with ease and our visits
ashore will be plentiful. After a
day of exploration, you can return
to personalised comfort and
luxurious surroundings as well as
high quality cuisine.
Your Cabin/Suite
Your Dining
Staterooms and suites are spread
over four decks and include superior
staterooms measuring 226 square
feet, deluxe and prestige staterooms
which measure 200 square feet,
deluxe suites which measure 290
square feet, prestige suites which
measure 398 square feet and the
owner’s suite which measures 484
square feet. All have a private
balcony (with the exception of the
superior staterooms which have a
picture window), en-suite facilities
including a shower (the owner’s
suite has a bathtub), individually
controlled air-conditioning, desk with
stationery, minibar, flat screen satellite
television, video on demand, DVD
player, CD and Ipod players, security
safe, hairdryer, direct dial telephone,
internet access with WiFi, bathrobes
and bath products. In addition the
larger suites have a sitting area.
Loyal to the great French tradition,
cuisine on board is worthy of
the finest restaurants, where
discreet, attentive service is
standard. The two single-sitting
restaurants welcome you for
breakfast, lunch and dinner. The
Gastronomic Restaurant, with
a capacity of 268 persons, is
situated on Le Liberté Deck and
serves French and international
cuisine accompanied by fine
wine. At the Grill Restaurant, you
will have the opportunity to eat
outside and enjoy buffet lunch
and themed dinners. There is also
24 hour room service available.
Reception
Your Space
Whether you want to join other
guests in the theatre or games
area or relax on your own in a quiet
corner of the library, Le Boreal
has been designed to meet the
needs of every guest. There is a
large lounge, lecture theatre, a
Panoramic Lounge which leads
out onto a terrace, library and
internet corner. Outside deck
areas are spacious and feature
comfortable deck furniture as
well as a heated pool and on
the top deck you will find the
open-air bar. A lift serves all decks.
Fitted with the latest equipment,
such as a Kinesis Wall, running
machines and in partnership
with the famous Sothys™ brand,
the Fitness and Beauty Centre
on Le Boreal welcomes you for
some unforgettable moments
of energising, relaxation and
pampering including beauty
treatments, hairdressing, massage,
a hammam and balneotherapy.
Dress code is casual in the daytime
and slightly smarter in the evening,
although black tie is not required.
For the Captain’s welcome and
farewell dinner, you may wish to
bring something more formal.
For Your Comfort,
Safety and Security
With a 1C ice class and stabilisers,
Le Boreal meets the highest
safety specifications. The ship is
equipped with a GMDSS emergency
communication system and a satellite
weather system, receiving real-time
satellite images of weather and ice
conditions in the area. A crew of 140
will ensure the best possible service.
There is also a doctor onboard.
Deluxe Suite
+44 (0)20 7752 0000 www.noble-caledonia.co.uk
Deck Plan
Deck 6
Deck 5
Deck 4
Technical Information
Deck 3
Deck 2
This cruise visits out of the way destinations. You will be accompanied by
an expedition team and some landings ashore will be made by Zodiac
landing craft. Cruises such as this will appeal to the more adventurous
and those who enjoy the natural world.
Life Onboard
Aboard Le Boreal, the atmosphere
is akin to being on your own private
yacht. The independence and space
of each guest has been considered
in the design of the vessel and
therefore you will find plenty of
places to sit and relax in solitude, as
well as areas for social gatherings
and to meet fellow guests.
The Captain, his officers and the
hotel management are European
and all crew members are fully
bilingual. Ponant Cruises are
marketed internationally and the
majority of passengers onboard will
be French speaking. The ambience
onboard Le Boreal will appeal to
those who enjoy a relaxed and
sociable style of cruising. The
vessel is equipped with a fleet of
Zodiac landing craft which will be
used for some excursions and on
occasion to transport you ashore.
Bar
Lounge
Restaurant
On Deck
2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE
+44 (0)20 7752 0000 | [email protected] | www.noble-caledonia.co.uk
Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request.