We take you to experience Patagonia by Sea and Land
Navimag ferry Esperanza (Puerto Montt – Puerto Natales)

Navimag ferry Esperanza (Puerto Montt – Puerto Natales)

Duration
4 days
Availability
Available year-round
Departure day and time
Please ask about departure dates. Boarding and arrival times depend on sea and weather conditions and are confirmed for each sailing.
Departs from
Puerto Montt
Difficulty
Easy
Language
Spanish and English

Four days through the Patagonian fjords, the only sea route between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales

There is no road between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales. To cover those 1,500 kilometres you either fly, detour through Argentina, or do what the Ferry Esperanza does: sail for four days through the Patagonian fjords.
It is the only sea route linking the two ports, and you can travel as a foot passenger or with your vehicle on board, which makes it the natural way to continue a long trip through Chile without retracing your steps.
Along the way the ferry follows most of the coast of Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, home to the largest huemul population in South America and to 49 glaciers that are part of the Southern Ice Field. In open sea you may spot humpback, minke and blue whales, as well as Chilean dolphins and seabirds.
This is a ferry, not a cruise: there are no excursions and no scheduled landings. The experience is the voyage itself and the landscape seen from deck.
It is 4 days and 3 nights, subject to sea and weather conditions. Departure and arrival times are not fixed and may change: this trip suits travellers with flexible schedules who do not need to connect with a flight or transfer the same day.

The order and timing of the voyage may vary according to sea and weather conditions.
Price per person in a cabin shared with other passengers, boarding tax included. Please ask about private cabin rates.

Itinerary

Day 1

During check-in, our port staff will receive your luggage for safekeeping, which should be collected by each passenger at the time of boarding. If you are traveling with a vehicle, you will be provided with the necessary information to guide you through the process. Once on board, the crew members will provide passengers with a welcome briefing and some information for a safe and enjoyable navigation. We will then set sail and navigate through the Patagonian Fjords, with the final destination being the city of Puerto Natales. The navigation will begin through the Reloncaví Pass, Gulf de Ancud, and at dusk, we will enter Canal Apiao and later Gulf of Corcovado.

Day 2

You will be greeted by the sunrise as we navigate the southernmost part of Gulf Corcovado. lf weather permits, passengers can see dolphins, sea lions, and wild birds. At nightfall, the ferry begins oceanic navigation in the of north of the Gulf of Penas to enter fully into the open ocean during the night. This crossing lasts approximately 12 hours, It's possible to see Humpback, Minke, and Blue whales.

Day 3

We will awaken sailing between fjords and cross the Messier Channel, which reaches a depth of 1,270 meters. In this Fjord we will also have the opportunity to see the Cargo Ship "Capitán Leonidas," which has been stranded since the 1970s on a submerged islet called "Bajo Cotopaxi." This ship is currently used as a navigation beacon and a point of reference for sailors. Shortly after, we will cross the Angostura Inglesa and reach the town of Puerto Edén, where the last remaining indigenous Kaweskar in Chile reside. Puerto Edén is located on Isla Wellington, one of the largest islands in the country, and is part of the Bernardo O´Higgins National Park.

Day 4

Continuing along the Canal Morla Vicuña, we will reach Paso Kirke, approximately 50 km west of Puerto Natales. This pass is one of the main maritime routes parallel to the Canal Santa María, Angostura White , and the Ocean Route. We will enter the Golfo Almirante Montt and arrive at the city of Puerto Natales.

Included and not included

What's included

  • Accommodation on board in a shared or private cabin, depending on the category booked, and full board throughout the voyage.

Not included

  • Excursions, as the ferry makes no scheduled landings; vehicle passage, quoted separately; and transfers to and from the ports.

Meeting point

Puerto Montt

Cancellation policy

Please ask about Navimag’s cancellation conditions when booking.

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