Day 59

Setting Sail from Lima

After departing from Lima, we sailed south into the vast waters of Chile. The allure of this coast has been exciting for us both as neither of us has ever set foot in this country. The sea birds continue to follow in our wake and in particular the Inca Terns seem to be quite curious about our presence. Our first stop was the quirky coastal town of Iquique. Originally, this town was part of Peru but after the War of the Pacific it was claimed by Chile. Back in the day, this was a saltpeter mining town but today this area is now the world largest producers of Copper. Iquique is unique with it's coastal position backed by soaring cliffs and massive sand dunes, the gateway to the famed Atacama Desert.

Exploring Huasco Salt Flat National Park

Upon arrival in Iquique, we began our ascent of over 13,000 feet to Huasco Salt Flat National Park. This place is a vast expanse of salt flats, dotted with unique wildlife and panoramic views. The purple mountains, pink flamingos, wild donkeys and alpacas literally took our breath away!

Trivia Question? What do you call a group of flamingos? A "flamboyance"!

A shark sighting!

As we sailed from Iquique we were thrilled to see a formidable sight. A large shark fin piercing the water as we sailed from port. Later, one of our expedition leaders would confirm from the photos that we had sighted a 3m Great White Shark.....a first for us both!!! As we continued our journey southward we stopped at beautiful Bahia Tongoy! This picturesque bay is known for its clear and calm waters. Here we spent the day competing in Zodiac races with our fellow passengers until a shifting wind suddenly brought the races to a quick end. Considering what we had witnessed the day before, we were more than fine to get back on board Octantis.

Discovering Valparaiso's Coastal Aquarium

Finally, we arrived in the vibrant city of Valparaiso (Santiago), famed for its colourful houses and rich history. Calum and I met with a Guillermo, a fellow veterinarian who granted us an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a newly developed coastal aquarium. This state-of-the-art facility not only showcased the fascinating marine life of the region but also educated us about the importance of conservation efforts. Here Guillermo and his team hope to develop a rehabilitation program for the recently endangered Humboldt Penguin. For those of you who have never been to this area of Chile, we would highly recommend a visit. The rugged coastline, teaming rock pools and resident sea lions are very reminiscent of Northern California.

Saying Good-bye

Yesterday, we once again had to say good-bye to over 65 crew members who had been sailing with us since day 1 in Nuuk. We were thrilled to have Jose and Mary-Ann join us to cheer on the Jays on their last day before heading home. With that being said, we have a new found excitement with our new crew and passengers as we once again make our way into the polar regions and all the wildlife that this pole will have to offer.