The coast of southern Chile is home to an intricate network of archipelagos, channels, and fjords, comprising countless islands that are a delight to explore by expedition ship.
Our morning plan was to visit the southernmost coast of Chiloe Island. This area has been visited so infrequently that precise charts are lacking – but this does not stop National Geographic Resolution, and our Ice Pilot Johan went ahead in a Zodiac to take depth sounding measurements that ensured our safe passage.
Climate and sea conditions in this remote part of the planet are unpredictable – a dense morning fog and southerly winds meant that, ultimately, we could not safely land in the area. But our experienced captain, expedition leader and staff soon came up with an alternate course – sail on to the Guaitecas Archipelago for an afternoon of Zodiac exploration. This gave us the opportunity to enjoy a fascinating talk on discovering new dinosaur species in Patagonia by Paleontologist Diego Pol.
After lunch, calm seas and sunny conditions were perfect for our new plan, and we lowered our fleet of Zodiacs to explore the coasts, inlets, and channels of the small islands. We enjoyed wonderful sightings of many bird species, southern sea lions, and even two dolphin species!
Photos by Emma Ridley and Diego Pol
