Sea Kayaking & Southern Patagonia

Just arrived in Puerto Montt and wanted to find out if we could do any sea kayaking (beginner kayakers). turns out we are a bit early in the season but we hope we can still arrange something.
we're planning on spending the next 3 days in puerto montt and then heading south on the 23rd of november for punta arenas. we'll be down in southern patagonia for 4 weeks so we have a little time to arrange something. we would be up for a 1 day trip but would prefer a multi day.
does anyone have any suggestions for good guides or companies to use?
Is our timing off for this kind of trip?
is anyone interested in joining up with us for a sea kayaking trip in these areas? we could get a better rate with more people.
thanks for the help...

I know you can rent kayaks in Puerto Natales, but I have no details. Remember the wind is very strong in the region, not easy for beginning kayakers.

I second jaloisio. there is kayaking available in Puerto Natales, probably not sea but around ice kayaking. I will do the tour in mid december must be great! it is recommended in lp as well.

cheers

roman, BA

thanks for the info. ice kayaking was definitely on our list as well! Probably just going to try an arrange something for december in puerto natales... maybe a couple of days in the ice.

so im guessing the wind wont be a problem in this area? or atleast not as much of a problem?
roman... have you already organized your trip with a tour agency or kayak rental? can you recommend? we've emailed and called a few different companies and either havent gotten responses or we're told its not possible. some of the web sites say they dont do anything until dec. 1st.
cheers...

oh... just incase.. heres a least of the companies we've tried so far near puerto montt, chile.
http://www.chiloekayak.com/index.html<BR>http://www.kayakaustral.com/<BR>http://www.yakexpediciones.cl/spa/Home.asp<BR>

Hey I am gonna be in Patagonia with 3 other friends btwn dec 1-16th, no fixed itinerary except we take the navimag ferry from puerto montt to puerto natales.
lets keep in touch
cheers!
r

Nice! we're looking for more people since the kayaking company we're looking at requires 4 to go. there's 2 of us and possibly another couple but nothing is for sure... except the more the better.
Its a bit pricey but the kayaking company, bluegreen, offered a 3 and 6 day excursion that could fit right in with how much time we have for hiking around TDP and Fitz Roy. The email below is from a conversation with the other couple we're trying to arrange things with... read for details...

------------------------------------------------------
forwarded email:
we too have decided to scrap the kayaking idea here. we are taking an "administrative" day to try and do some trip planning while the weather is rotten.
I´ve been looking for glacier kayaking, and found what looks like a pretty good company out of Puerto Natales. They do guided paddles in Torres del Paine and O´Higgins park. They´re a little bit pricey (1300USD) , but at this point we are thinking that it might be worth it. They have a really good looking 6-day trip that includes a lot of paddling and some glacier walking. I just emailed them to check availability, and the website says that the trip goes with a minimum of 4. . .
They also offer a 3-day paddlefor $560USD
What appealed to me was that they´re right there at TDP, and since we´re going to be hiking there anyway, it seemed convenient.
here´s the link if you want to check them out.
http://www.bluegreenadventures.com/sixdaykayak.html<BR>Hope you guys had a safe and pleasant journey south!
We´ll be in Punta Arenas on the night of the 23rd.
Saludos!
k&B
----------------------------------------------------------

we´re looking at the 6th or 7th of december for starting the kayak trip.

Absurdeity, if things dont work out with us... here's a bunch of other web sites we found that you could try. bluegreen was the only one of all of them that had 3 to 6 day trips... the others seemed to be over 10 days and mixed between kayaking, hiking, horse riding, etc., and alot more expensive.

cheers!
Brian

Short Description of URL Content

kokayak
http://www.kokayak.com/</a><BR><a href="http://www.parquepumalin.cl/content/esp/index.htm">http://www.parquepumalin.cl/content/esp/index.htm</a><a href="http://www.extremelypatagonia.com/kayak.html">http://www.extremelypatagonia.com/kayak.html</a><BR><a href="http://www.boundlessjourneys.com/destinations/lamerica/andes.html ">click here
http://www.accesstrips.com/sports/outdoor-sports/</a><BR><a href="http://www.bluegreenadventures.com/kayakingtorres.html">http://www.bluegreenadventures.com/kayakingtorres.html</a>

all of this sounds like a lot of money , rip off
If you come in February you can borrow my canoo for free .
estuary , Rio Palena , check it out

Thomas Verster

Hey Brian No promises as I am lost in the maze of Patagonia before I have touched it shores;but I will send you my whereabouts as and when i can!
Have Fun!
more later
cheers
r

hi bbc1126 and all,
seriously 1300USD is ridiculous, thats 4000 pesos argentinos! seems like tourism has definetely arrived in arg/chile. for that money you can buy your own boat, invite a guide and than sell it again and live like a king, not to imagine if 4 are going in a group 16000 pesos argentinos: you can buy a little plane for+ pilot;) keept the money and send one of you to antarctica instead (2500 USD).

see u there my ship leaves the day after tomorrow!

roman, ushuaia

Well... we finally heard back from the bluegreen adventures place and they quoted us 1090 for the two of us for a 6 day kayaking trip. if you look at all of the different companies above... all of there rates are similar. we'll certainly look at the price of a nice new/used kayak but i suspect it'll be a bigger pain to organize than its worth.
be sure to let us know if you find a better deal...
take it easy,
brian

Hi - I am currently travelling south towards Ushuai and have been looking into Kayaking trips. I was keen to do a 5 or 6 day trip between 2nd Dec - 9th Dec. Not sure if this fits in with your plans, but as I am travelling solo I too needed to find others to go with.

I have heard good things about this company:
http://www.indomitapatagonia.com/index.php?op=int<BR><BR>but I am waiting to hear back on availability and prices.

Cheers Mark

Mark...
we emailed indomita and they were a bit more expensive than the others. the prices are listed below. if we can get the timing right we´de be up for joining up. we plan on starting the kayaking trip on the 7th, 8th, or 9th. we´re in puerto natales right now and were going to hit up a few kayaking companies and make our arrangements tomorrow. well post before we leave for TDP.
brian

<hr>TextINDOMITA PRICES

Kayak Prices/tarifas 2007-2008:

Important:

Prices in US Dollars are only indicative, and must be calculated on the basis of the current exchange rate.

Los precios en dólares US son puramente indicativos, y se calcularán en base al tipo de cambio vigente ese día.

Ultima Esperanza ½ day

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $37.000 U$74

3-5 pax: $35.000 U$70

6-10 pax: $25.000 U$50

Colonist Route 1 day

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $75.000 U$150

3-5 pax: $60.000 U$120

6-10 pax: $50.000 U$100



Patagonian Pioneers 1 day (with horse riding)

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $85.000 U$170

3-5 pax: $75.000 U$150

6-10 pax: $70.000 U$140


Glaciers of Balmaceda (2 days)

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $245.000 U$490

3-5 pax: $230.000 U$460

6-10 pax: $210.000 U$420

Drifting in Patagonia (3 days)

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $360.000 U$720

3-5 pax: $318.000 U$635

6-10 pax: $295.000 U$590



Colours of Tyndall (4 days)

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $450.000 U$900

3-5 pax: $400.000 U$800

6-10 pax: $345.000 U$690

Patagonian Mermaids (4 days) Whale watching

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $795.000 U$1590

3-8 pax: $690.000 U$1380


Paddling Blue (5 days)

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $510.000 U$1020

3-5 pax: $475.000 U$950

6-10 pax: $460.000 U$920


Expedition Canal de las Montanas (10 days)

No. of people Pesos chilenos (con IVA) U$ dollars

2 pax: $1.485.000 U$2.970

3-5 pax: $1.085.000 U$2.165

6-10 pax: $ 880.000 U$1.765

Precios incluyen IVA – Prices include tax

Brian

Thanks for the info particularly as i still havent heard back from this company. Unfortunately I have to be in Ushuai on the 9th Dec so I would looking to do the Kayaking earlier in Dec finishing on the 7th. May not work with your plans, but would love to hear how you get on with information and maybe we can work something out.

Keep in touch
Mark

I have kind of similar question-
going to be in TDP/Puerta Natales area in late December, and would like to do kayaking among the icebergs (3-6 hours, not a multiple days). What is the best place for this activity and can somebody recommend tour companies/guides there?
Thank you.

Brian

Just wondering if you had any luck with the kayaking trips for Patagonia. I am arriving in Punto Arenas on Monday and can do more research, but I suspect I will just follow in your footsteps. I will be leaving Punto Arenas on the morning of the 10th for Ushuai on the basis that the bus arrives in Ushuai in the evening.
Cheers Mark

If you want a well organized kayak trip with good and safe gear and a profesional guide you will have to pay for it especially in these regions where there is no space for improvisation. One mistake could be dangerous!