SKORPIO III
TOURIST INFORMATION

THE PIO X GLACIER

The Pio XI Glacier is located in the North section of the Southern Ice Fields, at the end of the Eyre Inlet. This glacier is the largest glacier in the southern hemisphere, with a surface of 1,242 kms that transforms it into a true colossal of ice. It front is approximately 6 kms wide, its ice towers reach higher than 75 meters and it has a length of 60 kms. It is one of the few glaciers that are found in its maximum neo-glacial position. It has registered advances of up to 10 kilometers during recent years.
The antiquity of the Pio XI Glacier is millenary; it originates in the Southern Ice Fields and has a surface of 13,000 km2 and an extension over the Andes Mountains of more than 35 kilometers. Pio XI is one of the 48 glaciers that originates from this Ice Field. It is here that the M/N Skorpios III closes in on the glacier, navigating through the different sizes and shapes of ice floes, whose colorful ices of blue, light blue and white profoundly impress the visitor.

THE AMALIA GLACIER

Following along the Peel Inlet, we find the Amalia Glacier, situated in the central section of the Ice Fields, its long silhouette appears to be hanging between the peaks of the mountains, to see it is an awesome spectacle, its ice towers, and its colors contrasting with the surroundings, create emotions in all spectators. This glacier is one of the 48 glaciers that composes the Southern Ice Fields, which are considered to be the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world. The Amalia Glacier has a width of approximately 1 kilometer and a height of 40 meters. Its mass of ice is supplied, for the major part, by the intense snowstorms that occur almost throughout the entire year. In this paradise of natural beauty, the M/N Skorpios III sails in close to the face of the glacier and then moves from the south to the north so the passengers can enjoy the entirety of the glaciers spectacular white splendor.

THE FJORDS

The crossing begins in Puerto Natales, sailing through the Kirke Narrows, heading towards the north through the Moral Vicuña, Seno Union, Collingwood, Sarmiento, Concepción and Wide Canals, so as to anchor in the beautiful spot known as Seno Eyre.
While navigating through these canals and fjords we commence to be fascinated with scenery of impressionable contrasts of lights and shades, where the mountains run into a sea that is dotted with Isles; lands furrowed with winds; a region in which the glaciers continue their slow work, pulverizing rocks, plowing out valleys and immense canals, that in past ages were explored by, amongst many others, legendary navigators such as Ladrillero, Darwin and Fitz Roy.

THE CALVO FJORD GLACIER

We furrow through of the Peel Fjord so as to enter the Calvo Fjord, where we visit six glaciers that seed these quiet waters with colorful and multi-shaped ice floes, through which we take a pleasant excursion in motorboats and have a toast with our tradition of whisky on millennium old glacial ice. The navigation amongst the icebergs is a unique Antarctic phenomenon that is difficult to forget. The motorboats move through this paradise, taking time to visit each “ice sculpture”, so that the tourists can take pictures and if possible even touch the icebergs.

CITIES AND VILLAGES

In the Magallanes region, the tourist has the possibility of knowing ancient, and new, Cities and Villages; to visit them is to remember the past. Exploring their streets and places of interest is very agreeable. In the Kaweskar Explorers Route visitors have the possibility of becoming acquainted with Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales and Puerto Eden, besides this there are small villages that also are worthy of taking advantage of as you visit this area. For example, take the opportunity to visit Porvenir, El Turbio, Usuahia, Calafate, as well as many other Argentinean Cities in this zone