Explore Southern Chile on board M/V Scorpios II & Discover the Heritage of Easter Island!
CHILE & EASTER ISLAND
January 20 - February 4, 2009

This year, enjoy the Southern Hemisphere summer as we explore Chile from its heartland at Santiago to the spectacular islands, fjords and mountains of Patagonian Chile. Our adventure will culminate in a visit to fabled Easter Island!

Our journey will begin in the historic capital city, Santiago -- Chile’s largest city and one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Santiago lies in the fertile Central Valley, the agricultural heartland of Chile, with the Andes prominently to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. During our visit, we will become acquainted with colonial Santiago, from the flower-filled Plaza de la Constitucion to Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral. We’ll also see the “Cousino Palace,” a beautiful colonial building that is now a
museum of the early history in Chile.

We will explore the extensive collection at the Pre-Columbian Art Museum for an introduction to the early cultures in Chile. The Araucanian Indians lived in what is now the Central Valley of Chile and most of the artifacts are from this group. Descendants of these people still live in the Puerto Montt region and have maintained their language and traditions with dances and colorful woolen designs.

To explore Southern Chile, we will fly to Puerto Montt, a city located 1000 km south of Santiago.

We will then board M/V Scorpios II to explore Chilean Patagonia as we sail south through protected coastal waters to the San Rafael Glacier, a massive tidewater glacier.

For seven days and six nights, we will cruise through channels and archipelagos in Patagonian Chile, visiting isolated and picturesque fishing villages and settlements, including Puerto Aguirre and Queilen, the city of Castro, and Quitralco Fjord with its thermal baths. The highlight will be San Rafael National Park and Glacier, established in 1967, and declared a UNESCO World Biosphere reserve in 1978.

We will return to Santiago and then fly west 2,350 miles to Easter Island, the eastern corner of the Polynesian Triangle. The first European discovery of Easter Island was by the Dutch Captain Jacob Roggeveen on Easter Sunday in 1722. The Polynesians are believed to have settled in the 4th century AD, mostly probably from the Marquesas.

About one thousand 10 to 30 ft tall moais are found on Easter Island, carved out of the volcanic rock in a form of ancestor worship. Many moais can be seen in different stages of production and others have been up righted and placed on platforms facing out to sea. We will explore the island and experience the unique culture of the Polynesian people of Easter Island.

Leading the expedition will be Dr. Peggy Stern, a South American specialist, who has lived in the Andes for more than twenty-five years. Joining Peggy on Easter Island will be Easter Island’s renowned scientist, Dr. Jo Anne Van Tilberg, schedule permitting, or one of her senior staff, who will introduce us to their research site on Easter Island.

2008 Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)