Day 22 – Scenic Cruising of the Chilean Fjords

Conditions were a bit rough last night and this morning as we returned to the Pacific Ocean. Shortly after lunchtime, however, we turned into the Fallos Channel, one of the secondary Patagonian channels in the Chilean Fjords of Patagonia. The channel separates Isla Campana from Isla Prat, and the views of both islands were lovely. Technically, we were in a channel, not a fjord, since a fjord has only one way in and out. Whatever it’s called, the sailing was scenic all afternoon.

Sailing through the Patagonian Channels of the Chilean Fjords

In the morning, Tim and I attended a lecture by Specialist Chris, who spoke about “Majestic Glaciers – How Are These Formed and Are They Disappearing.” Viewing the Chilean glaciers is one of the things I’m most looking forward to on this cruise, and I was surprised to learn that Chile is home to some of the largest and most active glaciers in the world.

Glaciers: Nature's Frozen Giants

Chris asked us to think of glaciers as frozen rivers, a concept that made a lot of sense to me. He further explained that glaciers are massive, persistent bodies of dense ice that constantly move under their own weight. They are also majestic things, particularly tidewater glaciers.

The Two Glaciers We'll Be Visiting in the Next Few Days

The Expedition Team has been keeping us informed about where we are going, what we are seeing, and what to expect. I enjoyed looking at the maps of the Chilean fjords showing the glaciers and national parks we will be seeing.

Maps Showing Glaciers and National Parks We'll Be Seeing

Viking has been gifting us with traditional items from the countries we’ve visited. I previously mentioned the Mayan Vanilla and the Day of the Dead Amaranth Sparkles Skull candy from Mexico. We also received a bag of gourmet coffee beans from Panama, and a bottle of Sabor Andino Sour, a ready-to-serve version of a pisco sour, a cocktail that is traditional to both Peruvian and Chilean cuisine. Thank you, Viking.

Gifts from the Viking Octantis Family

This afternoon, I made a visit to the Explorers’ Lounge, where Dom prepared a special drink for me, his Montenegro Classico. Watching his hand trick as he poured from the can was worth the price of admission. The drink was also quite good.

Dom Mixing My Special Drink - How Does He Do That?

Being in the Explorers’ Lounge reminded me that the best views are often from the bow of the ship. The scenery continued to be wonderful throughout the day and early evening.

More Beautiful Scenery from the Bow

This evening, I attended another excellent lecture by Specialist Loreen, entitled “The Voyage of the HMS Beagle.” We learned that during the Beagle’s circumnavigation of the world, much of the time was spent along the edge of Patagonia, where we are sailing. Charles Darwin was a naturalist on this epic voyage, and his observations of the natural world allowed him to form the foundational theory for understanding how life changes and adapts over time.

The Voyage of the Beagle - The Red Line on the Map Parallels Our Route in Patagonia