11 Epic Reasons Why You Need to Visit the Chilean Fjords At Least Once Before You Die

Forget about camping out in the cold, because a cruise is the only way to reach these icy and isolated lands. Kick back and relax with a glass of Chilean red after a long day of doing little more than intently watching the stunning scenery as it passes you by.

Most travelers make their way to southern Chile on a stuffy plane or an overnight bus. But on a multi-day cruise through the fjords, there is absolutely no doubt you’ll be arriving in style.

Spotting your favorite flightless bird is all too easy, an experience made all the more enchanting as your wander through an epic colony some 4,000 strong.

These jolly ocean-going creatures flock to the fjords en masse to laze around on its hidden beaches after feasting on an oversized meal.

In December, orcas provide lucky travelers with a fearsome spectacle as they cruise the icy waters on the hunt for hapless seals. Meanwhile, pods of humpback whales can be spotted leaping out from the depths as they migrate through the region from December until May.

Dolphins, on the other hand, are rather fond of the fjords and have decided to stick around. Don’t be surprised to see them playfully jumping up and down alongside the ship at any time of year.

Yet the fjords biggest attraction are its epic glaciers which creak and groan at seemingly every turn. Keep an eye out for mammoth calving icebergs as they breakaway into the sea.

With more individual ice avalanches than your tour guide will care to mention, this monumental glacial region is among the most magnificent frozen sites on earth.

But not everything in these sparse remote lands has frozen solid, for there are plenty of quintessential Patagonian forests and lakes to admire as well.

The more active among us needn’t settle for watching from afar, as opportunities abound to disembark the ship and explore these pristine surroundings on foot.