We began the morning by sailing through the Kirke Narrows. A beautiful sunrise greeted us on our way into Last Hope Sound, home of the port city, Puerto Natales. We had a few immigration surprises upon entry, but the entire team and our wonderful guests recompleted the entry forms before continuing our day on schedule. In the afternoon, one group took a hike on nearby Dorotea Hill, where they enjoyed beautiful views of Puerto Natales and the coast. The other group traveled to a nearby estancia and enjoyed the shores of Lake Sofia.
3/17/2023
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National Geographic Endurance
Seno Martinez and Seno Agostini, Chile
We woke up to a typical overcast and rainy day in Patagonia, Chile. Yet, the glacier carved fjords, Nothafagus beech forest, and waterfalls make every day in Patagonia one to cherish. We started the morning in a small bay in Seno Martinez where we took advantage of the low winds to send out the kayaks for a calm paddle in the soft rain around the bay. Hugging close to the rocks provided us the chance to inspect blue mussels, barnacles, and limpets along with the various foliage and berries hanging over the water. Those who opted for a Zodiac cruise got to explore farther afield and even ran into a few Magellanic penguins. In the afternoon we cruised out of Seno Martinez and into Seno Agostini passing one glacier after another as we transited an exceptionally beautiful part of Patagonia. Arriving to a sheltered bay, the Patagonian wind increased, and the rain continued, however we were up for anything and got dressed in our waterproofs to Zodiac cruise. We splashed through the water hunting for birds, nosing into waterfalls, and getting a view of the Hyatt Glacier in the distance.
