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Good travel bargains:

Fly-Cruise Antarctica from Chile

One and 2 day flights to Antarctica from Chile

 

Expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula,
South Georgia, Patagonia,
Cape Horn, Falklands
& Tierra Del Fuego


VICTORY ADVENTURE EXPEDITONS LTD.

presents

A VIRTUAL TOUR OF
TIERRA DEL FUEGO

CAPE HORN

CABO DE HORNOS
(In Spanish)
Tierra del Fuego
(In Spanish)

CONTENTS

Introduction


Photo of Puerto Williams, Chile

The Yagan Canoe Indians of
Tierra Del Fuego

Photos of the last of the Yagan Indians,
ona Indian culture

New cruise routes for Cape Horn
and Beagle Channel

Maps of the area

Photo of Tierra Del Fuego glacier
and the Beagle Channel

Itinerary

Cape Horn Tour info

Beagle Channel Screen Saver

Tour of Tierra Del Fuego
(continued)

Tierra del Fuego is a 150 mile long peninsula off the southern tip of South America, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan.

It is divided into Chilean and Argentinean halves, and its principle mountain range, a west-east range known as the Cordillera Darwin, stretches across both halves. The Cordillera is the continuation of the Patagonian Andes, and rises along the southern shore. The range holds beautiful ice-packed and misty mountains, with large glaciers pouring down into the sea.

The range is dominated by two high peaks, both situated in the Chilean southwestern portion of the peninsula, within the boundaries of the Parque Nacional Alberto de Agostini. Impressive peaks, beautiful forests, lakes, glaciers, and abundant bird life are highlights of the park.

Tierra Del Fuego island is vulnerably situated at the point where two of the world's major oceans meet, and is consequently stormy for much of the year.

The town of Puerto Williams is located on the southern edge of the Beagle Channel, and is the southernmost town in the world.

The two dominant peaks of Tierra del Fuego are Monte Darwin (8,163 ft./2,488 m.), the highest and Monte Sarmiento (7,546 ft./2,300 m.).

Introduction:

  • Sail by way of some of the world's narrowest and most spectacularly scenic waterways.  Your cruise in these extraordinary fjords will show you marvellous high cliffs, deeply indented estuaries, thick emerald foliage & rugged mountains. 

  • These number more than all of Scandinavia's, but Chile's magnificent fjords and glaciers of Tierra del Fuego along the Beagle Channel are practically unknown except to a few expedition cruisers and sail boats. 

  • We also have voyages to Antarctica, South Georgia and to Cape Horn.


  • You may accompany us on these history packed voyages aboard the VICTORY and other specially built sailboats.


  • These excursions are by land and sea and mark the same course taken by Charles Darwin's ship the "Beagle."


  • You will recapture Darwin's voyages at the "ends of earth", with it's awesome beauty of glaciers, fjords, waterfalls and wildlife.


  • From both sides of the glacier forged channel not more than 4 miles wide, the ice covered Andes rise up on both sides before us as they come to meet the sea. This is the Darwin mountain range from which are disengaged huge glaciers.


  • During this astounding adventure one also has the opportunity to observe the area's rich flora and different expressions of fauna such as: the world's largest birds; condors and the albatross, giant petrels, Magellanic penguins, Imperial cormorants, Antarctic Terns, wild geese and ducks, large flightless "steamer ducks", red headed woodpeckers, yellow winged finch, Chilean green parrots, kingfishers, seals, sea otters, orkas and sporadically whales.


  • We will navigate glacial etched flat water canals and beautiful fjords outlined by exquisite dense green forests.


  • You may get a close look at these imposing glacier regions and fjords by horseback, foot, rubber boat and/or by sea kayak excursions.


  • This trip will provide you with a rare glimpse at ancient Yagan Indian settlements, artifacts and optionally a tour of the Martin Gusinde Indian Museum in Puerto Williams.


  • You may hike, camp, go trout fishing and have enticing barbecues of Patagonian lamb on the beach along the way.  


  • You may participate in sailing, docking and anchoring during the cruise.


  • Many beautiful pictures of the Beagle Channel and Tierra Del Fuego by one of Victory Expedition's passengers, well known Australian Photographer, Geoff Wise
    • Disclaimer : This voyage is for adventurers only.

    • You may encounter narrower beds than you
      may be accustomed to, wind, cold and other
      unfavorable weather conditions.

  • CLICK for larger images of the Yacht VICTORY

  • (67KB total)


Back to Contents



For larger photo of Puerto Williams and also of
the trekking circuit of the peaks in background
(60K) Photo by Peter Mulgrew

Puerto Williams, Chile is the world's most Southern Town

 Latitude S 54 deg 56 min, Longitude W 67 deg 37 min


Back to Contents

THE TIERRA DEL FUEGO INDIANS

THE CANOE INDIANS OF FIRELAND

The Yagans were the last representatives of one of the most primitive human beings to live on the earth. They paddled their flimsy Beech bark canoes out as far as the treacherous islands of Cape Horn and beyond. These nomads of the sea had lived there for perhaps 5,000 years or more.

Their shellfish middens may still be seen, some as high as 4 meters, lining the beaches. They had no protection from the Antarctic cold except for seal grease on their skin and a loose fur around their shoulders. They walked barefoot in the snow and then "warmed" their feet in near freezing ocean water. Their blood temperature is said to have been a degree or so higher than white Man. The women skin dived without clothing for their seafood, cared for the canoes and fished. The Yagan men left the swimming and diving to the women and spent most of their time hunting.

The islands, fjords and channels in the area of Tierra del Fuego were their home where archaeological evidence of their ancient culture still abounds. These coasts are still the home of sea lions, seagulls, seals, and skuas, which enjoy a practically untouched habitat.

* Darwin, The voyage of the Beagle , Chapter X, January 22: "We were well clothed, and though sitting close to the fire were far from too warm; yet these naked savages, though further off, were observed, to our great surprise, to be streaming with perspiration at undergoing such a roasting."

  • ANOTHER CRUISE SAILING THE HISTORIC ROUTE THAT DARWIN USED IN ORDER TO VISIT THE YAGAN INDIANS VIA THE MURRAY CHANNEL. THIS  RECENTLY HAS OPENED UP TO VESSELS FLYING THE CHILEAN FLAG.

Charles Darwin has an account of these Indians' dress in an excerpt from his excellent classic, "Voyage of the Beagle"

  • From chapter 10, December 25, 1834: "On the east coast the natives (Onas), as we have seen, have guanaco cloaks, and on the west (Alakaluf) they possess sealskins. Amongst these central tribes (Yagans) the men generally have an otter-skin, or some small scrap about as large as a pocket-handkerchief, which is barely sufficient to cover their backs as low down as their loins."
  • The entire book of "Voyage of the Beagle" may be seen at: http://www.literature.org/Works/Charles-Darwin/voyage/
  • You may also download all of Chapter 10 (about Tierra Del Fuego) at our web site: Darwin's "Voyage Of The Beagle" (87 KB)

Tierra del Fuego's Culture




FELIPE, THE SURVIVOR

He was The Last Of The Pure Yagan Men

(Felipe died of old age in May, 1977)

Photo by Peter Mulgrew, who died in an ANZ crash on Mt Erebus, 28 Nov. 1979

Tierra Del Fuego's Yagan & Ona
Indian's Culture and Photos :
(180K total)

~A very large Photo of Felipe
~The last of the Yagan Women
~Some Yagan girls and words

Back to contents

Please feel free to continue your
Virtual Tour of Tierra Del Fuego:

  • There are many beautiful photos of the area a little further ahead.
  • You will find Tierra Del Fuego to be one of the last places in
    • the world essentially free of air, water and land pollution.

  • Maps of the area

You may experience the "ends of earth", Tierra Del Fuego, with the awesome beauty of glaciers, fjords, waterfalls and wildlife. During this astounding adventure one also has the opportunity to see a rich flora and different expressions of fauna such as: the world's largest birds; condors and the albatross, giant petrels, penguins, cormorants wild geese and ducks, large flightless "steamer ducks", red headed woodpeckers, yellow winged finch, kingfishers, seals, sea otters, orkas and whales. You may see the Darwin Mountain area,Tierra Del Fuego's highest mountain .

We will navigate glacial etched flat water canals and Beautiful fjords outlined by exquisite dense forests. You may get a close look at these imposing glacier regions, mountains, and fjords by, foot, and rubber boat also providing you with a rare glimpse at ancient Yagan Indian settlements.

 

The VICTORY at the
Garibaldi Glaciers

The Beagle Channel
during summer with
ice capped Andes mountains

  • See large photos of The yacht VICTORY
    anchored at the
    Garibaldi Glaciers ~
    the Beagle Channe    l (55K total)

Back to Contents

Glaciers Tour, The
Tierra Del Fuego Fjords
along the Beagle Channel
and Cape Horn

  •  CAPE HORN (55°50'S / 67°18'W) "The classic aspect of Cape Horn is the cliff face to the southern headland. Well below its summit, the old lighthouse I saw burning back in 1977, still stands, but shines no more below the clouds. On exposed rocks, a mile offshore, the sea breaks heavily even on a calm day, as the rollers coming in from the Southern Ocean pile up on shelf water, 75 miles away to the south-west." (Skip Novak: 'Cape Horn cloaked in mystery')
  • On a calmer day, it is possible to go
  • onshore and explore the "Cabo De Hornos" island,
  • visit the Navy base and see the Cape Horn Monument. A certificate of "Rounding The Horn" available
  • for a small fee from the Navy in Puerto Williams. Cape Horn is the steep headland on Horn Island,
  • part of TIERRA DEL FUEGO, in southern Chile. It is the last point of South America extending into the DRAKE PASSAGE, gateway to Antarctica which lies 600 miles farther South.
    Cape of the ultimate challenge - many destinies and catastrophes have taken place here - symbol for the end of the world. - visit to the island: Chilean navy control post - passport stamps and post - chapel - monument - wildlife - deep tussock gras  DAY FOUR 
  • CALETA MARTIAL (55°40'S / 67°25'W) We get a bit of rest - we can make a beautiful long trekking along the coast - Yamana Indians have lived here with their open canoes: they had no clothing, rowed in open canoes with an open fire in the middle, the women dived for king Crab, the coast was full of mussel heaps, they ate the 'Pan dos Indios' - we head up north again towards Puerto Williams going around the East end of
  • Navarino Island. DAY FIVE BAHIA SCOURFIELD (55°45'S / 67°20'W) - We may anchor at Bahia Scourfield, Wollaston Group, and do some trekking to an inland lake. Early in the morning we can watch the sea otters before we weigh anchor.
  • DAY SIX PUERTO TORO (55°05'S / 67°06'W) Puerto Toro is the most southern settlement of the world - 50 inhabitants where one can deal 10 lbs of flour for  a couple of buckets full of King Crabs - . . DAY SEVEN PUERTO WILLIAMS (54°56'S / 67°36'W) Sailing back to the yacht club at 'Seno Lauro', the best natural harbor of this region. (The wreck of the 'Micalvi' is our jetty and provides at the same time all harbor facilities: yacht club and shower) There are a handful of boats tied off here, getting ready for Antarctica or just coming down from the Chilean Channels.
  •  -On a calmer day, it is possible to go onshore and
    explore the "Cabo De Hornos" island, visit the Navy base and
    see the Cape Horn Monument.

    -A certificate of "Rounding The Horn" available for a small
    fee from the Navy in Puerto Williams.
    Cape Horn is the steep headland on Horn Island, part of
    TIERRA DEL FUEGO, in southern Chile.

    This is the last point of South America extending into the DRAKE
    PASSAGE, gateway to Antarctica which lies 600 miles farther
    South.


  • Things to see in Puerto Williams:
  •  Martin Gusinde Museum-
  • Omora botanical park- 
  • Teeth of Navarino-
  • Yamana Indians -

You may use your credit card or make an interbank transfer to make a firm booking.

 



Make Reservations Early

CAPE HORN

Puerto Williams -> 70 miles to the North

Closer look at Cape Horn & Albatross sculpture
DARWIN ON THE YAGAN INDIAN SETTLEMENTS

    The inhabitants, living chiefly upon shellfish, are obliged constantly to change their place of residence; but they return at intervals to the same spots, as is evident from the piles of old shells, which must often amount to many tons in freight. These heaps can be distinguished at a long distance by the bright green color of certain plants, which invariably grow on them.

    Among these may be enumerated the wild celery and scurvy grass, two very serviceable plants, the use of which has not been discovered by the natives. The Fuegian wigwam resembles, in size and dimensions, a haycock. It merely consists of a few broken branches stuck in the ground, and very imperfectly thatched on one side with a few tufts of grass and rushes. The whole cannot be the work of an hour, and it is only used for a few days.

To Contents




Screen Savers - Desk Top Photos
Click on photo to Download
free quality images of
Tierra Del Fuego (88K),
"Sunrise on the Beagle Channel"
and nice screen saver images of:
The Yacht "Victory" and

"A Sunset on the Beagle Channel"

Don't miss the Continuation of
The Tour of Tierra Del Fuego

only 74 KB

(with many, many more

scenic photos of the area)

Look also at our Cruise expeditions to:

Antarctica and South Georgia 

and our Cruiser to Cape Horn

 For more information, Contact:

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