EXPEDITION 10

YAN KEE WAY EXPLORER EXPEDITION - 10 DAYS - 9 NIGHTS

• FREQUENCY : Daily
• PERSONS  : Minimum 4 persons.
• DURATION : 10 days - 9 nights
• INCLUDED : STANDARD PACKAGE
• GUEST PROVIDES:
• Trekking: comfortable clothes, trekking shoes, backpack, water bottle with water, jockstrap, sunglasses, sunscreen.
• Horseback riding: comfortable clothes, trekking shoes, sunscreen, and jockstrap.
• Rafting/Floating: Able to swim, older than 12 years old, physical condition according to activity, towel and shoes that can get wet.
• Mountain Bike: comfortable clothes, backpack, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Canyoning: Sporting shoes that will get wet, extra pair of shoes for after the activity, warm clothes, rain/wind jacket, bathing suit and towel.  We recommend that you wear long underwear shirts and pants
• Photographic Expedition/Lake Andean Crossing: comfortable clothes, camera, windbreaker, and sunscreen
• REQUEST EXPEDITION #10

Day 1 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & cocktail reception and dinner

You will be greeted in El Tepual, Puerto Montt airport. Transfer to Yan Kee Way Lodge, accommodation in Bungalows - Chalets, welcome cocktail and dinner in our Latitude 42° Restaurant.  Retire for the night.

Day 2 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Horse back Riding Expedition

Breakfast at 9:45 a.m. and departure from Lodge to “The Volcanoes Park”. We will begin the excursion with in the native forest, and then visit the “Piedra Falls Look Out Point”. There we will relax our legs and take pictures.  After that we will continue our ride along sand beds and volcanic rock, with Calbuco Volcano always in front of us and Lake Llanquihue, Osorno Volcano and Lake Todos Los Santos at our backs.  Leaving the horses once again we will begin an exciting trek jumping rocks along the riverbank, arriving finally at “The Caliente Falls”. At the site of this impressive 197 - foot high waterfall, we can relax and swim under the falls or in the temperate pools nearby.  Here also we will share a box - lunch of chocolates, fruit, homemade bread, mineral water, and chocolate milk.  After this well earned rest we‘ll return to our horses and climb before the Caliente River Canyon.  Once on top, we will mount our horses and begin the trip home. Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities. Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 3 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Mountain Bike Expedition

Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m. Departure from Yan Kee Way Lodge to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. In the park, we will travel on trails and routes of medium difficulty. We will visit the outflow from the glaciers on Osorno Volcano that runs off into the Petrohué River. Our expedition will take us to various points of interest along the Petrohue River.  We will travel to the Petrohué water falls.  A part of our expedition will take us along a beautiful trail named ¨Los Enamorados. ” When we arrive at “Carilemu,” we will enjoy the beauty of the temperate rain forest and specimens of local trees including Coigues, Mañios, Arrayanes and a variety of mosses. Our expedition is interspersed with waterfalls, rapids, small lagoons and the flora and fauna of the area.  Our expedition continues along the shore of the Petrohué River until we arrive at Todos Los Santos or Emerald Lake, whose named is derived from the deep green color of its waters. You’ll enjoy your picnic lunch on the lakeshore.  Return to Yan Kee Way Lodge, lunch and free time. Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities.  Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 4  - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Andean Lake Crossing Expedition

Following breakfast, we will depart Yan Kee Way Lodge, at 10:30 a.m., for a 15-minute journey to Vincente Pérez Rosales National Park and the start of our expedition.  We will arrive at Petrohué, situated on the shores of Todo Los Santos Lake.  Petrohué was established as small port on the lake by the early pioneers of this region. Here we will board a catamaran to cross the lake to a pioneer settlement known as Peulla.  Teddy Roosevelt, who crossed this beautiful emerald colored lake, is reputed to have said that it was the most beautiful lake that he had ever seen in the world. During our 22-mile crossing, of approximately 1hour and 45, we will enjoy spectacular views of volcanoes Osorno, Puntiagudo and Mount Tronador.  Tronador is a 12,000-ft volcanic peak, which straddles the Andean boarder between Chile and Argentina. It takes its’ name from the sound of calving glaciers and giant snow slides. Our destination, Peulla, was an historic transfer and lodging point for early day pioneers whom crossed the Andes by watercraft, foot and on horseback. The lake, first discovered by Jesuit Priests in the late 1600’s, was one of a combination of navigable lakes; connected to the relatively low mountain passes on the route between Chile and the Pampas of Argentina. These geographical characteristics made this a natural transportation corridor for the early settlers in Chile to settle in the area now known as San Carlos de Barilochi, Argentina. It was here, at Peulla, that they transferred their goods from the trail to hand built watercraft to complete their journey through the Andes to and from Chile and Argentina. In Peulla you will have the opportunity to eat lunch (optional) and to visit the waterfall “Velo de la Novia” (Bride’s Vail) and enjoy the local area.  At 16:00 p.m. we return on the catamaran to Petrohué. Transfer to Yan Kee Way Lodge. This expedition provides you with a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the natural splendor and appreciate the history and cultural origins of this region while boating through the Andes.  Transfer to Yan Kee Way Lodge.  Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities. Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 5 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Trekking Expedition

Breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and then we depart Yan Kee Way Lodge for the Petrohué area to stage up for our expedition.  From Petrohué we head towards the skirts of Osorno Volcano with a height of 8,730 feet.  On our way up, trekking partly in a canyon, we will experience the amazing rock formation formed by water and melting snow of The Osorno glaciers, as well as interesting lava formations while reaching our  destination, which is the pass between Osorno and Cerro La Picada which has a height of 5,610 feet. While ascending the Osorno, we will observe some of the native trees and fauna of the area, as well as the spectacular vistas of the lake Todos Los Santos and its surroundings. As soon as we’ve attained our goal we’ll enjoy our well-earned picnic lunch at the edge of a beautiful waterfall produced by the melting snow and ice from the volcano and mountaintops.  We will descend towards Playa Larga where we can take a refreshing dip in the lake before heading back towards Petrohué.  Back to Yan Kee Way Lodge. Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities. Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 6 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Rafting Expedition

Following breakfast, we will leave Yan Kee Way Lodge for our departure point on the River Petrohué, following the south shore of Lake Llanquihue. The Petrohue River was the venue for the 1999 Chilean National Rafting Championship and our destination for the white water rafting expedition.  We have spectacular view of Lake Llanquihue and the volcanoes Osorno, Puntiagudo, Tranador and Calbuco.  Passing through the small town of Ensenada, we quickly arrive at the river and the section of rapids we will challenge. We suit up for our expedition in the provided clothing and equipment appropriate for white water rafting including wet suits, spray jackets, life-vest, helmets and paddles. Our expert-guides give us a brief introduction about the section of the river we will run and the necessary instructions in safe practices for our expedition. Following our instruction session, we begin the white-water rafting expedition. The section of the river that we will run is class 3 to 4. Our expedition will take us approximately 10.5 miles down river and approximately one and 1/2 hours to complete. Our adrenaline levels surge as we pass through the breath-taking beauty of the valley through which the Petrohué River flows. Volcanoes and temperate rain forest surround us as we are thrust along by the white foaming power of the rapids.  Many remark on the visual setting and compare it to the jungle-like landscapes of Southeast Asia. It is no wonder that some call this area the cool jungle. During our ride we will encounter native birds such as Cormoranes, Kingfishers, Golondrinas and tiuques; if we are lucky we will catch a glimpse of Huillín (small otters). Return to Yan Kee Way Lodge, lunch in our Latitude 42° Restaurant. Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities.  Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 7 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Photographic Expedition

After our breakfast, we depart Yan Kee Way Lodge and travel through Villa Ensenada to the skirts of Volcano Osorno, to the entrance of Vincente Perez Rosales National Park and the Laguna Verde area. Our expedition takes us along the skirt of the volcano, where we will enjoy the native plant and animal life until we arrive at a location known as “Los Pilleyos”.  We continue into Vincente Perez Rosales National Park to visit an area where we may see the glacial run-off from the volcanoes’ slopes and glaciers, together with other points of interest. We will then proceed to the famous Petrohué waterfalls or “Los Saltos”. The falls were created, first by the enormous lava flows of Osorno Volcano, which cut-off the flow of water between Lake Todo Los Santos and Lago Llanquihue and formed a new outflow from Todo Los Santos, now known as the Petrohué River.  The volcanic flows created a rise in the land that immediately came under attack by the power of the river. The lava was, and is being sculpted into unusual forms by the power of river. The flora and fauna of the temperate rainforest abound in this area. We will take short hikes to “Los enamorados” and “Carrilemu” where we will learn about the different types of rocks, vegetation, and animals that live in this temperate rainforest.  We will complete our expedition with a to visit Todos Los Santos Lake or as it is also known--“Emerald Lake,”--so named for the deep emerald color of its waters. You will want to take photos from the beach while enjoying picnic lunch.  Return to Yan Kee Way Lodge. This is special expedition for the family and for those who love the outdoors and wish to see and photograph the flora and fauna of this area. Return to Yan Kee Way Lodge. Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities.  Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 8 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Canyoning Expedition

We’ll have an early energy filled breakfast and at 7:45 a.m. we’ll depart Yan Kee Way Lodge for a 15-minute trip to Petrohué.  Petrohué was established as small port by the early pioneers of this region, on the shores of Todo Los Santos Lake. Upon arrival, we assemble on the shoreline and receive a briefing on our expedition and collect our equipment for the Canyoning expedition. We then board our boat and cruise along the shoreline of the lake for approximately 15-min. until we arrive at the beach along side of the River León.  Here we will make a final security check of our equipment and receive the technical and safety instructions. Our expedition really gets underway with the ascent of this steep and exciting canyon and river as we make our way through its’ amazingly crystal clear waters.  The destination and goal of the 1^st half of our expedition is the “Pozon”, with its’ grand waterfall which cascades down from an altitude of more than 131 feet. To attain our goal, we have manage a number of different obstacles including waterfalls, climbs, swimming against the current in several parts of the river, and a variety of jumps into the river to make our way upward. Once we reach the Pozon, we’ll relax to gather our strength and appreciate the special beauty of this temperate rainforest and its expression in this collection of a part of its waters.  The excitement that was building in our ascent will soon be on the rise, as the descent is even more adventurous.  We will be jumping into numerous pools as we make our way back down the river canyon, rappelling across a waterfalls, and floating down many sections of the river, until we arrive at the mouth of the Leon River on the beach of Todo Los Santos Lake. This adventure provides you with an intimate experience with nature in the midst of the flora and fauna of a vast temperate rainforest—a cool Jungle.  After drying off and warming up, we will enjoy our well-earned picnic lunch until the time arrives to take our boat back to Petrohué. Back to Yan Kee Way Lodge and lunch. Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities.  Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 9 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & The Oma House Expedition

Leave Yan Kee Way headed to the “Casa de la Oma.”  On the way, will pass through small towns that are of interest to those who wish to see the settlements of the early residents of Southern Chile.  Surprising to some, the early inhabitants in this region were from Germany and not Spain as is the case with many other Latin American countries. The small towns of Puerto Varas, Llanquihue and Frutillar are the birthplaces of early German colonization

 When we reach our destination, we will find ourselves on the grounds of a functioning small German style farm, typical of the region’s early inhabitants.  We will be greeted by descendents of the colonists who will tell us about the lifestyles, traditions and history.  For guests who speak German, it will be possible to converse in that language with our hosts, as many in the region maintain and preserve the language of their original ethnic roots. We understand that, by way of the accents and dialects, the locations from which these settlers originated in Germany may be discerned.   We’ll visit the main farmhouse that serves as a museum and is furnished in the manner typical of the early colonial days. We will also have our country style lunch on the grounds.

After lunch, we’ll visit the dairy, milking barn and stables.  We’ll also have the opportunity be take a ride in a horse drawn carriage, typically used in the early colonial days. You’ll have time to walk around on the grounds and let your imagination wander back to the mid -1800’s when the first settlers of Southern Chile took their broad axes to the dense forests to make way for the settlements that you have seen on our expedition.  Return to Yan Kee Way.  This expedition is a special opportunity to familiarize yourself with the culture, working environment and traditions of the early German settlers of the Patagonia. Transfer to Yan Kee Way Lodge. Free time to rest, read by the fireplace or take advantage of our spa facilities. Dinner and retire for the night.

Day 10 - Yan Kee Way Lodge & Boating Expedition

Following breakfast, we depart from our beach at 10: a.m. in a boat for a cruise on Lake Llanquihue, which is the third largest natural lake in South America.  Small towns, many of which incorporate the word “Puerto” in their names, surround it. Puerto Varas, founded in 1854 by German colonists in their efforts to colonize this beautiful, verdant but forest covered land. In the years thereafter, additional small towns sprung up around natural ports, using the lake as the only means of transportation in the area.  Yan Kee Way Lodge is located in the South East corner of the Lake, in a small bay or “ensenada” which was once the port of Ensenada, and now is a small village with the same name. Our Lodge location is unique; perhaps the only place in the world like it. Volcano Osorno terminates at the waters’ edge, forming the North Eastern shoreline of the bay. It is one of, it not the only, places in the world where one can see a volcano in a stand alone setting.  The most similar comparisons are Fuji in Japan and Mt. Rainier in Washington State.  Unlike other volcanoes, Osorno is not lost amidst a surrounding mountain range. One can see precisely where this 8,730-foot volcano begins and ends. Our expedition departs from the beach in front of Yan Kee Way lodge.  We will have the opportunity to appreciate the scale of the lake and its surroundings. It’s easy to imagine what the early day colonists must have felt in their small boats as we look at the wooded shore line and contemplate their thoughts as they moved across the expanse of this lake using oars, the wind and, finally, steam for propulsion.  We will enjoy a pleasant trip along the shore of the Lake, were we will see beautiful landscapes near the impressive cone of Osorno Volcano. The lush native vegetation covers the many lava fingers that fan out, reaching out into the lake, creating, a series of small coves along the shoreline. Depending on the day and the season you will spot local wild life along the wooded shoreline.  The waters are clean and clear. One may see through the water, to depths of over 30 feet, to the lake bottom.  During the fall, you may have the opportunity to spot salmon and trout that use the fine bottom sands and underwater springs for their spawning grounds. Return to Yan Kee Way Lodge, lunch and transfer to “El Tepual” airport.