This subpolar territory, located south of Chile and Argentina, was once inhabited solely by the Yagán people. It forms a haven of islands, fjords, snow-capped peaks, giant glaciers, and pristine forests. Wild and difficult to access, these islands are home to archaeological, biological, and broader landscape heritage, where the purest natural freshwater on our planet flows.

Since 2005, and with the aim of preserving this marvel of our planet, most of the islands south of the Beagle Channel (Onashaga) have been part of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, managed by UNESCO, the Chilean National Forestry Corporation (CONAF), and the Chilean Navy.

Karukinka is a non-profit association, and all sailing activities organized by our association are reserved for our members and require an annual membership fee. This fee covers contributions toward maintenance, insurance, administration, vessel use (food, fuel, etc.), and the funding of projects supporting the region’s native peoples.

During our expeditions to the far reaches of South America (departing from Ushuaia or Puerto Williams), the sailboat Milagro is our comfortable floating base camp for exploring this part of the world, accessible only by sea. If the weather is optimal, we do not miss the opportunity to round Cape Horn (Loköshpi in the Yagan language, Cabo de Hornos in Spanish) before visiting the neighboring islands (L’Hermite and Wollaston islands) and heading north toward the Beagle Channel (Onashaga) and the stunning locations around Gordon Island and south of Tierra del Fuego. Among these are Seno Garibaldi and Pia Fjord, both offering breathtaking views of the glaciers of the Darwin Range (Tierra del Fuego).

We try to alternate, depending on the project, between water-based and land-based activities so that each day spent together allows us to discover the many facets of the region. To achieve this, we complement sailing with shore excursions (adapted to the group’s wishes and level) and fishing with rod and trap (the famous centolla, but also salmon, hake, seafood, etc.). Sometimes, we even sail under the Southern Cross and neighboring constellations, if conditions permit, to experience the magical sensation of the Milky Way within reach, far from any light pollution.

An Experienced and Professional Crew

Throughout all our expeditions, we sail with passionate volunteer professionals who love the polar regions:

• Damien, sailing instructor (French State Certificate) and professional skipper (Captain 200 Sail of the French Merchant Navy). He has taught cruising for 20 years and has solid offshore and polar navigation experience, gained during expeditions north of Norway and on Greenland’s east coast.

• Lauriane, first mate (Merchant Navy mechanical engineer) and scientist. She has studied the far south of Patagonia since 2011, dedicated her doctoral thesis to it, and led several expeditions there in all seasons. Her deep knowledge of the region and commitment to revealing what lies behind these landscapes make our navigation through the Patagonian channels an experience far beyond a simple sailing adventure.

• José Germán, artisanal fishing captain and former president of the Yagan community of Chile. He was navigating the Patagonian channels with his parents, brother, and sister before he could even walk, so there’s no need to dwell on his knowledge of the area… For him, Cape Horn is like the corner of the street for us, with a touch of cumbia music to set the mood. His kindness and determination to safeguard his ancestors’ heritage led him to become an honorary member of our association and godfather of the Milagro, which he also watches over at Micalvi (Puerto Williams) in winter, between making traditional whale bone harpoons.

You can discover more details about our small team’s backgrounds on the dedicated page and through links to podcasts, articles, and conferences available online.

Preserving Place Names in the Yagan Language

In addition to being accompanied by grand landscapes and passionate people, you will have the unique opportunity to discover this region using place names in Yagan: bays, capes, coves, glaciers… You thus participate in the movement to recover toponyms in Yagan languages, a flagship project of our association since 2017, led by Lauriane and José. To date, this project represents a little over 3,000 place names in Yagan, Haush, and Selk’nam, recorded in a database and gradually being restored throughout the archipelago stretching from the Strait of Magellan to Cape Horn.

Encounters at the Edge of the Patagonian Channels

Since these landscapes are also, and above all, the faces of those who inhabit them, we make it a point to visit the three unique inhabitants of Hoste Island. There, we can enjoy a lamb asado prepared by Eugenio, Esther, and their son Claudio, with a breathtaking view of Yendegaia Bay and the Onashaga (Beagle) Channel. If we haven’t had optimal conditions to round Cape Horn and still wish to go, we set off again full of energy to try and become Cape Horners: heading east to the Wollaston Islands then L’Hermite Islands, via the Picton Channel, Gorée Pass, and Nassau Bay. We take advantage of the prevailing winds and a window of “calm” to salute this gateway to Antarctica, the meeting point of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and the family who lives there. Then we continue to Puerto Toro, a welcoming little fishing village home to about ten people—the southernmost in the world! We then return to Puerto Williams and/or Ushuaia to celebrate this adventure and the unforgettable memories that come with it.

Milagro, a comfortable 20m expedition sailboat

La carte du détroit de Magellan d’Antonio Pigafetta en 1520

We, members of the Karukinka association founded in 2014, have brought together enthusiasts from different worlds to offer you the unique opportunity to go beyond the grandiose landscapes that make up the daily life of our sailing courses. Researcher and founder of Karukinka, Lauriane Lemasson has been studying and exploring these wild places steeped in history since 2011, encouraging us to increasingly respect and discover the knowledge of those who preceded us there. With this unique expertise, we have taken the step of introducing you to all facets of these places, with her and a crew of enthusiasts.

Aboard the comfortable Milagro sailboat, you can access places steeped in history and breathtaking, in small groups and where no large boat can access. This exploration experience is completed by meetings, the discovery of certain ancestral Yagan techniques (fishing, basketry, etc.) and the tasting, depending on the season, of what local resources offer (giant sea spiders, berries: calafates, michay and chauras).