Sea Kayaking Patagonia's Chonos Archipelago - Alumni

Photo by: Oscar Manguy

Previous sea kayaking and backcountry expedition experience are required.

NOLS has been running expeditions in the Aysen region of Chile since the founding of NOLS Patagonia in 1990. This three week trip journeys through the Chonos Archipelago – an area steeped in rich magic and legends.

The Chonos Archipelago is located in the Pacific Ocean in the Aysén Province of Chile, south of the Guaitecas Archipelago. It extends north-south for approximately 120 miles with an average east-west width of approximately 35 miles. The archipelago is made up of more than a thousand islands separated from the mainland on its eastern side by the Moraleda and Costa Channels.

Photo by: Oscar Manguy

This trip is a veritable Patagonian sea kayaking expedition. You will be camping in tents and cooking your own meals alongside your expedition mates. The weather in Patagonia can be harsh and shift dramatically. We may pass through some small coastal towns on our way, but the majority of the expedition is very remote. However, the views can be larger than life and the opportunities for exploration abound.

Weather will dictate travel during this trip. You may spend pleasant days paddling in calm conditions where the miles pass easily. Other days you may find that high winds prohibit onward travel. These days will be spent hiking and exploring the coastal landscape, relaxing in camp and recharging for the travel ahead. We’ve built the trip with weather in consideration, and our itinerary should allow us to reach Isla Kent even with some weather days.

Photo by: Oscar Manguy

Participants will arrive in Coyhaique, the nearest town to the NOLS Patagonia Campus. NOLS will organize a shuttle to the NOLS campus. Here you will meet your team and instructors and begin staging for the expedition. You will spend your first night together as a team at the NOLS campus and head to your drop off point on the morning of day two.

The next three weeks will be spent paddling through the Chonos Archipelago, a system of islands separated from Chile’s mainland by channels. You will stop along the way to camp on islands exploring both land and ocean. This region of Patagonia is rich with coastal vegetation and wildlife. You may see albatross, the world’s southernmost parrot, otters, southern sea lions, dolphins, and possibly Magellanic penguins and whales.

Photo by: Oscar Manguy

The small settlements of Puerto Aguirre, Puerto Gaviota, and Puerto Gala, located within the intricate fjord systems of Chile’s Aysén Region, are hubs of artisanal fishing culture. Our trip through this region offers a rare glimpse into a hardy way of life, contrasted sharply by the modern, industrial reality of salmon farming that utilizes the same waters.

Puerto Aguirre is known as a quaint hidden gem. This village offers immersion into local Patagonian traditions, including artisan craft markets and local gastronomy. It is often a stopping point for travelers seeking a deep connection with the local community, allowing for exchanges with fishermen and their families.

Puerto Gaviota is a remote outpost where, similar to its neighbors, the rhythm of life is set by the tides and the catch. It highlights the traditional, small-scale fishery targeting finfish and macroalgae, which are staples of the local economy.

Puerto Gala is a small, isolated fishing community that embodies the pioneer spirit of the Aysén fjords, providing a quiet, introspective experience of daily life in the channels.

Photo by: Oscar Manguy

Instructors on this trip will provide coaching in sea kayaking skills to help you grow as a paddler, in addition to lessons about expedition planning and execution. Previous sea kayaking experience on this trip is required, so instructors will be able to dive into more technical skills and cater more to individual interests.

This trip is an opportunity to see Patagonia at its best and in grand proportion. You can expect to end this trip with new skills, a cultural understanding of this region of Chile, and a network of adventure partners.

Photo by: Oscar Manguy

The trip will end with a pick up that will take you back to the mainland, a dinner at a local restaurant, and a final night in the field before returning to the NOLS Patagonia campus.

*At a minimum, participants are required to have completed a short sea kayaking expedition with camping to participate. You will be sent a required  “Experience Questionnaire” upon registration. Guests of alumni with expedition kayaking experience will be evaluated in the same manner.

Overall Difficulty*:

*The unpredictable nature of weather conditions, choppy water, and tent camping over multiple weeks provide challenges.