by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:25 AM ET, Wed April 17, 2024
WHY IT RATES: Add an even
bigger element of adventure to your next vacation with a helicopter-supported
voyage.—Donald Wood, Breaking News Senior Writer.
Quark Expeditions, the global leader in polar adventures,
has blazed a new trail in expedition travel with its inaugural
helicopter-supported voyage through Chilean Patagonia. The polar operator also
confirms that 90 of the 165 passengers (55%) who joined the maiden voyage of
"Essential Patagonia: Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine" in March
2024 were repeat guests of Quark Expeditions.
"Once again we credit our expedition team—recognized as
the best in the polar industry—and our longstanding commitment to innovation
for this highly successful maiden voyage," says Andrew White, President of
Quark Expeditions. "Working closely with local partners, our team created
off-ship experiences unheard of in Patagonia adventure travel. Thanks to our
technologically-advanced ship, Ultramarine, and its two twin-engine helicopters
and fleet of 20 quick-deploy Zodiacs, we made it possible for our guests to see
more, do more and explore more deeply in Patagonia than they could with a
traditional land-based operator."
The 15-day itinerary, which ran March 13 to 27, 2024,
departed Buenos Aires with embarkation from Ushuaia, and included Cape Horn, a
transit through the Beagle Channel, then into Chile's spectacular network of
fjords and channels, featuring helicopter flightseeing and Zodiac cruises along
an enchanting stretch of coastline that's known for some of the most remote and
picturesque landscapes on Earth.
Highlights included:
- Heli flightseeing: Our two H145 helicopters provided
unmatched views of Patagonia's mountain-top glaciers and ice caps—which are not
visible from sea level.
- Heli landing: Ultramarine's helicopters transported guests
to the peaks of Canal de las Montanas (Channel of the Mountains) where they
enjoyed unsurpassable views of the surrounding fjords.
- Immersive cultural experiences: Guests visited an
85,000-hectare estancia (South American ranch) and explored the cultural
heritage of the town of Puerto Natales.
- Unrivalled wildlife: Guests observed a staggering array of
wildlife, including guanacos, the elusive puma, South American sea lions,
Andean foxes and whales.
- Phenomenal bird-watching: Species included Andean condors,
Magellanic penguins, Chilean flamingos, oystercatchers, kingfishers and three
types of Caracaras.
- Hiking and photography tours: Guests choose from guided
photographic adventures and various levels of hikes in Torres del Paine
National Park.
- Paddling and kayaking excursions: Guests observed a variety
of marine life up close, such as mussels, kelp, snails, starfish and krill.
- Journey down Iceberg Alley: From the deck of Ultramarine,
guests witnessed a series of epic ice formations, most notably in the region of
Tierra del Fuego.
"It's a true testament to our expedition team that 55%
of our guests had previously traveled with Quark Expeditions," says White.
"While this was a first-time voyage for us in a new territory, guests
implicitly trusted our team to deliver the same calibre of expedition that they
experienced on their earlier voyages with us."
Quark Expeditions' next departure of Essential Patagonia:
Chilean Fjords and Torres del Paine embarks March 13 to 27, 2025, and March 12
to 26, 2026.
SOURCE: Quark Expeditions
press release.
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