2025-26 Oosterdam, Puerto Chacabuco, Chile...

Even though we had a late arrival into Puerto Chacabuco, I was out on deck two hours before arrival to capture sailing alongside the Chilean fjords.  We were on the first tender and picked up by our driver/guide Diego for our tour of the area.  Puerto Chacabuco is a small village; the main draws are the port and the stunning Patagonian nature in the Aysen Region. Our drive began through the rugged scenery of Northern Chilean Patagonia. Following the Aysen River...our first stop was the Los Coipos Lagoon and then we made a stop to walk over the Aysen River on the iconic a wooden suspension bridge…it has been painted orange since our last visit to the area. We entered the Rio Simpson National Reserve, where we stopped for a roadside picnic and stunning views of the river and valley below.  This area is called the arm of the Andes Mountains and has breathtaking views. Driving back towards Puerto Chacabuco we stopped at the Blessed Virgin Mary Shrine, adjacent waterfall and the unspoiled pine forests along the banks of the Simpson River.  Prior to returning to the ship, we stopped the town of Puerto Aysen visiting the original port and the President Ibañez Bridge, famous for being the longest suspension bridge in Chile.  For the entire day the scenery was breathtaking, and the weather cooperated very nicely.  We had a lovely day!