ABOUT US
Enrique Couve, Roberto Donoso, Gabriel Quilahuilque, Víctor Hernández, Héctor Ilnao, Cecilia Vargas, Mónica Méndez and Claudio Vidal
OUR NATURE TRAVEL COMPANY
Fantástico Sur is an entirely Chilean enterprise based in the vast and mythic southernmost region of South America known as Patagonia. Since 1994, it remains a pioneer in setting up expeditions for naturalists, birders and nature photographers who are visiting the most beautiful and pristine corners of Chile and Patagonia and offering world-class accommodation and services for hikers in Patagonia’s premier trekking destination, Torres del Paine National Park.
OUR GOAL
Our goal is very simple. We want to introduce you to our country’s environs by combining a unique educational travel experience, with very high levels of professional service and a focus in wildlife conservation. This is granted by
the passion of a team of experts, strongly attached to the land and wildlife of this world’s region. Our carefully planned logistics, together with our strong operational capacity and the quality of our guides, has allowed us to attract and establish the confidence of some of the most important specialized tour operators of the US and the UK, and as a result we are now responsible for the planning and operation of their trips to our country.
We cordially invite you to enjoy the first hand experience of the country we proudly call home. Our natives are friendly, the wine flows freely, and the many sights and sounds will linger long in your memory. This is our promise and pledge to you.
OUR NATURE AND BIRDING TOURS
For the year 2008 we have prepared an interesting and diverse calendar of expeditions that combine all the of the best that our country and the adjacent regions can offer the traveler whose interest lies in the natural world. Our itineraries offer the best locations, the most opportune dates, accommodation of high quality, and the guidance and advice of the most experienced and knowledgeable local guides. Our trips visit such contrasting and beautiful locations as the Atacama Desert, the High Andes and the Altiplano, the fascinating Easter Island and Juan Fernandez Archipelago, and south to the impressive fjörds, mountains and glaciers of Patagonia and the windswept steppes and forests of Tierra del Fuego.
THE WAY WE TRAVEL
In order to create a memorable journey for you, we always privilege to travel in small groups, led by an expert naturalist guide; our party sizes does not exceed 10 participants; even in some of them, our photo safaris for example, our groups has a maximum size of 6 guests. We use spacious vehicles and we guarantee a window seat for each of our guests. We are very proud to offer an impeccably planned operation of your holiday. Your expectations and further level of satisfaction are really encouraging for us.
The Fantastico Sur Leaders
The leaders should not just be great naturalists but also great organizers. This is “your” holiday and our guides will do their best in avoiding anything that can spoil the experience. Our trips have a strong educational component and our guides are truly passionate of the natural world; they will be delighted to find you new bird and mammal species, discover for you the most rare orchid in a botanical trip, or to take you to the best spot, with the right light for your landscape or wildlife photography. You will take the most of the experience by sharing it with the eyes of your local, experienced leader.
Enrique Couve, Claudio Vidal, Dr Jaime Jiménez, Claudio Seguel, Damián Fernández, Claudia Guerrido, Roberto Donoso, Claudio Giri, Jordi Plana and Christian Walter
The Places We Stay
The places we stay are very special. We have known them since they started and we are constantly evaluating the quality of their services provided to our guests. Some of them are located in cities but we always privilege to offer you the opportunity of staying amid the magnificent scenery of Chile, in world-class accommodations. In remote locations, we use simple, cozy lodges; we feel that those are the most difficult places to leave sometimes. All these locations will surprise us with fine, high-standard cuisine, enriched by local flavors and the world-famous Chilean wine.
Gardens of Hotel O'tai (Easter Island); Lounge of Hostería Las Torres (Torres del Paine); Suite of Hacienda Tres Lagos (Aisén) and Yankee Way Lodge (Lake District)
The Vessels We Use
We explore the complex geography of the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic, using the best available vessels, with state-of-the-art navigational and communication equipment, but above all that, we are in the hands of the most experienced master crew and expedition staff. To travel the mythic seaways of Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn, we use Mare and Via Australis, both recently built, expedition cruise vessels. In the Chilean Fjörds, a new way of extreme fly-fishing and ecotourism is revolving the known standards of service and expedition cruising – this is the exclusive Atmosphere experience. And for the Antarctic Peninsula, we will be discoverers aboard the Antarctic Dream, a comfortable platform with the most extraordinary, pioneering expedition staff. The other Antarctic adventure we offer you is an innovative way to exploring the last continent, by combining a flight over the feared Drake Passage and an in-depth expedition cruise aboard the 40-passenger Grigoriy Mikheev.
M/V Via Australis (Tierra del Fuego); M/VGrigoriy Mikheev and M/V Antarctic Dream (Antarctic Peninsula) and M/V Atmosphere (Chilean Fjords and Patagonia)