Chiloe Island, Chile, 10/29/2024, National Geographic Resolution
Aboard the
National Geographic Resolution
Patagonia
It is a beautiful morning for exploring Chiloe. Ashore we became three groups with distinct missions, exploring the town of Castro, bird watching, or hiking at Chiloe National Park. I went to the park. We expected lots of mud in this wet area, but surprise, surprise there is a brand-new boardwalk, no mud! The center of the park is a thickly vegetated area known as tepual, named for the dominant shrub tepú (Tepualia stipularis) in the myrtle family which makes it difficult to take comprehensive pictures. After hiking we returned to Castro for a traditional Chiloe meal.
Dennis has spent more than half of his life working with Lindblad Expeditions. He first studied biology in the Sonoran Desert. It was his work with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum that brought him into contact with Sven Lindblad. Dennis was working ...
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Our first morning aboard National Geographic Resolution was truly breathtaking. As dawn broke, we sailed through the picturesque Estero Comau, a narrow fjord along the western edge of Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park. The stunning scenery set the perfect tone for the day. We gathered in the ice lounge to be introduced to our knowledgeable expedition team, including two visiting scientists and our National Geographic photographer. Gerardo, one of our local guides, enlightened us about the vital conservation efforts shaping Chilean Patagonia, highlighting the pioneering work of the Tompkins Conservation and rewilding foundations in both Chile and Argentina. After lunch, we disembarked in the small town of Chaitén, nestled at the foot of its namesake volcano. Memories of its dramatic 2008 eruption linger, but today we ventured into the lush embrace of Pumalín Douglas Tompkins National Park. Hiking through ancient temperate forests, we marveled at cascading waterfalls and the majestic alerces, some over 2,000 years old. Back onboard, we gathered for Captain Heidi's welcome cocktails and dinner. As the sun set, we caught the last glimpses of the stunning landscapes around us, filled with anticipation for the adventures that lay ahead.
Waking in the protected harbor of San Juan de Salvamento, we began our operations for the day in true Patagonia weather: a bit cloudy with strong winds. We took our Zodiacs to the landing to visit the “Lighthouse at the End of the World.” After a winding hike through low southern beech trees, we crested the top and were treated to a view of the cliffs below and an ever-present fog hanging just above our heads. After lunch, we sailed back to pick up a few researchers we had dropped off in Isla de los Estados a few days prior. The conditions looked favorable, so we were able to make a short Zodiac cruise to see steep cliffs with nesting rockhopper penguins.