Franklin Bay, our first stop in the morning, proved to be too much for us to make a landing. Winds gusting to 50 knots are regular in these latitudes and we had to go to plan B. Cánepa Bay proved to be well-protected from the “furious fifties” and we explored this magnificent fjord system for several hours. In the afternoon our plans to visit another location were interrupted by a group of killer whales that was prowling the rocky coasts where several hundred South American fur seals were resting, afraid of getting into the water. After an hour of quiet observation, the whales finally decided to catch one of the seals, right under our bow! The day ended on the sheltered waters of Puerto Cook, our intended destination for tomorrow morning.
11/10/2024
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Garibaldi Glacier, Romanche Fjord, and Beagle Channel
The first rays light up the northwestern branch of the Beagle Channel. In the distance mountains glow in pale yellows and oranges as well as the water’s many birds, including a flock of hundreds of sooty shearwaters as they search for food. By breakfast we are at the entrance of the Garibaldi Fjord, steep gray rock walls on either side, and at the end the beautiful eponymous glacier. We head out on Zodiac cruises to get closer views of the tortured rocks, beautiful waterfalls, stunted forests, and of course wait for the glacier to calve. It obliges us many times. During the afternoon, we nose into the Romanche Fjord and then head out to sail along the Beagle Channel. Along the way we encounter many seabirds. Before dinner we attend the captain’s farewell cocktails and enjoy the guest slideshow before heading down to our special asado dinner! Our remarkable expedition through the Chilean Fjords is coming to an end. We have all witnessed some amazing wildlife encounters and marveled at the beauty of the Torres del Paine Massif. Memories we have aplenty, which will be cherished for many a year.
