The mythical Tierra del Fuego has welcomed us in all its glory. Today, we woke up to the views of snowy peaks contrasting with the peculiar green patches of Nothofagus trees. Steel grey skies and a noticeable drop in the air temperature is a reminder of our proximity to the Antarctic.
Tierra del Fuego appears insignificant in any world map, a triangular-shaped island dotted by thousands of smaller islands and islets and the southern tip of South America. However, a closer look at the charts on the bridge offer in detail the multiple and intricate waterways that make this archipelago a fascinating place to navigate. Canal Magdalena opens to the south of the Strait of Magellan, allowing our exploration of southern fjords and bays. Our attention has turned to one sound in particular, Seno Agostini, named after the Italian priest that explored this land in the early 1900s contributing to the knowledge of the indigenous people and to the numerous mountains in the region. Seno Agostini runs for 11 miles offering views of spectacular peaks and impressive tidewater glaciers.
We sail through large quantities of floating ice until our ship comes to a stop at the end of Seno Hyatt, where the imposing Videla glacier is a sight not to miss. Soon, our Zodiacs are ready to take us for a close up inspection of the impressive walls of ice. The scenery is mesmerizing: the stillness is only broken by the cannon shot-like sounds of the glacier calving. Attempts to portrait with our cameras what we witnessed are in vain: it is imprinted in our memories along with the surreal beauty of this place. In silence, our eyes explore for more beyond the ice: there are waterfalls, wild geese calling, minute red flowers standing out on bare rock, southern beech trees growing on the steep slopes almost defying gravity. But the glacier keeps calving and calling for our attention, and we feel compelled to go back and back again one more time.
As we sail away from Seno Hyatt, a large ice floe shows an undisturbed leopard seal resting. Our presence does not inspire any curiosity in this top predator of the ocean, if only a penguin would swim by… A great day can only end with a similar great evening. Our Filipino crew organized a traditional dinner to share with us their culture. Later in the evening, songs were sung and the cheerful atmosphere prompted plenty of us to dance and celebrate another wonderful day.
