Sailing the Patagonian Channels
Join a small‑group sailing expedition through the Patagonian Channels, Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn aboard Milagro, Karukinka’s 20‑metre expedition sailboat.
These voyages are organised by a non‑profit association and are open only to contributing members of Karukinka.
More than a voyage, this is an associative adventure that brings together sailors, enthusiasts, researchers, artists and local knowledge‑holders. Participation is based on membership and shared commitment, with a focus on sailing, exploration and support for the association’s projects in southern Patagonia.
How and why we sail this part of the world
During our expeditions to the ends of South America (departing from Ushuaia or Puerto Williams), the sailboat Milagro becomes our floating base camp, a familiar and reassuring presence in a region that can only truly be known by sea. Far from fixed itineraries, each voyage is shaped by the weather, the project, and the collective curiosity of the group. If the conditions are favorable, we may round Cape Horn (Loköshpi in Yagan, Cabo de Hornos in Spanish) not as a trophy to collect, but as a passage that connects us to the wind, the currents, and the stories of the people who have sailed these waters for generations. From there, we may drift toward the neighboring islands—L’Hermite and Wollaston—before heading north to Puerto Toro (the southernmost village of the world!) and into the Beagle Channel (Onashaga) and the dramatic landscapes around Gordon Island and southern Tierra del Fuego. Seno Garibaldi and the Pia fjord, with the glaciers of the Darwin Range towering above, are not just scenic stops; they are invitations to pause, listen, document, and let the immensity of the region speak.
We navigate with a simple intention: to explore, to learn, and to share. Depending on the project, we alternate between time at sea and time on land, so that every day reveals a different facet of the region. Sailing, short hikes, wildlife observation, and quiet moments at anchor all become part of the same journey. We also organize land excursions tailored to the group’s interests and abilities, as well as line and trap fishing—sometimes for the famous centolla, but also for salmon, hake, shellfish and other local species. If the skies allow, we may sail under the Southern Cross and the neighboring constellations, slipping into the rare privilege of seeing the Milky Way close at hand, far from any light pollution and any sense of the ordinary world.
What these expeditions are
These expeditions are associative voyages, not commercial tours:
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They are open only to members who have joined and paid their annual contribution to the Karukinka association.
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There is no ticket‑based sale; places are offered within the association’s framework, with an emphasis on motivation, skills and project coherence.
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The focus is on shared, small‑group sailing, not on mass tourism or comfort‑only cruising.
By joining one of these expeditions, you become part of a member‑led community exploring the Patagonian Channels and Cape Horn, while contributing to the long‑term work of Karukinka.
How participation works
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Membership prerequisite: Only contributing members of Karukinka can apply. Becoming a member (annual fee 30 €) is the first step; participation in an expedition is an additional engagement.
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Associative framework: These are associative voyages, not commercial trips. You enter the association’s programme, framed by its internal rules.
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Shared responsabilities: Members take part in the life on board (sailing, meal prep, watchkeeping, wildlife observation, etc.), according to their interests and level.
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For all enthusiasts: Whether you are a passionate sailor, a nature lover, a curious traveller, an artist or a researcher,, you are welcome to apply.
Why sail with Karukinka
Karukinka offers a different way to explore:
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Open to passion and curiosity: The expeditions are designed for contributing members from all walks of life who share a passion for sailing, exploration, remote landscapes and local cultures.
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Shared purpose: The association uses membership and expedition contributions to support projects in southern Patagonia, including scientific research, educational outreach, Indigenous heritage work...
If you are looking for a meaningful adventure in the Patagonian Channels and beyond, Karukinka offers a unique opportunity to sail, learn, contribute and transmit in southern Patagonia.
An experienced and professional crew
Throughout these voyages, Milagro is guided by a small, tightly knit crew, each volunteers and bringing a distinct way of reading the sea and the shores.
You can find more details about this small team, their backgrounds, and their voices in the podcasts, articles, and conference recordings linked on our dedicated page.
Damien, a certified sailing instructor and professional skipper (French Merchant Marine Captain 200 Sail), has been teaching and sailing for over twenty years, with extensive experience in offshore and polar navigation, including expeditions along the east coast of Greenland and in northern Norway. For him, the Patagonian channels are not just a challenging environment; they are a living classroom, constantly testing planning, resilience, and the ability to adapt to the unexpected.
Lauriane, first mate and scientist, has been studying the far south of Patagonia since 2011 and devoted her doctoral thesis to the region. She has led multiple expeditions there, and her work is driven by a desire to go beyond the “spectacular” image of the landscape, to reveal the hidden layers—ecological, historical, cultural—that shape these territories. On board, she brings curiosity, and a deep familiarity with the region, which turns each passage into an invitation to understand, rather than simply to admire.
José Germán, artisanal fishing captain and former president of the Yagan community of Chile, grew up sailing the Patagonian channels long before he could walk. For him, Cape Horn is not a distant, mythical cape; it is a place that has shaped his life, his memory, and his identity. His determination to protect the heritage of his ancestors, and his deep, intimate knowledge of the region led us to welcome him as an honorific member of the association and godfather of Milagro. Between voyages, he continues to craft traditional whale‑bone harpoons and passing on his knowledge to younger generations.
Living with Yagan place names
Aboard Milagro, we navigate not only with charts and GPS coordinates, but also with the names given by those who have lived here longest. You will have the chance to discover the region through Yagan toponyms—bays, capes, coves, glaciers—each one carrying a layer of memory, language, and history.
By using these names, you participate in an ongoing effort to recover and restore Indigenous place names in the Patagonian archipelago, from the Strait of Magellan to Cape Horn. Since 2017, this project has recorded over 3,000 Yagan, Haush, and Selk’nam toponyms in a dedicated database, which we continue to map, share, and reintroduce throughout the region. In 2026 this project will be highlight by the UNESCO Toponimic Chair in France.
Un glacier du fjord Pia lors d’une expédition en voilier dans les canaux de Patagonie (Cordillère Darwin, Terre de Feu, Chili, 2025)
Un glacier du fjord Pia lors d’une expédition en voilier dans les canaux de Patagonie (Cordillère Darwin, Terre de Feu, Chili, 2025)
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Une cascade dans la forêt native de Patagonie
La photo de cette cascade a été prise lors d’une expédition en voilier en Patagonie. C’était dans le canal Beagle, près de l’île Hoste, dans la Réserve de Biosphère du Cap Horn, au Chili en 2025
The Milagro ship, a comfortable 20m sailboat
Specifications
Length : 20M
Beam : 5M25
Draft : 2M30
Engine : Cummins 180CV
Fuel (1800L)
Water (1200L) + Watermaker
Generator 8kW
Solar panels and Wind Generator
12 Berths
Autopilot
Central Heating
Two windlasses
Sailing area : from Tierra del Fuego island to Cape Horn
Insurance
Our association and the ship are insured for activities taking place on board. We also recommend you to have an additional individual insurance (evacuation and repatriation)
Administrative formalities
To travel to Argentina and Chile, you will need a passport. If your stay does not exceed three months and you are French, Belgian, Swiss, etc. you will automatically benefit from a 3-month tourist visa.
Physical condition
To participate in this course, good overall health is required in order to be able to fully enjoy the activity and during walks on land, the difficulty is systematically adapted to the level of the group.
Health
Although medical services are present in Ushuaia and Puerto Williams and the crew trained in first aid, we recommend that you do a little health check before departure to avoid a dental or other surprise.
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The first inhabitants
Far from being as giant as the chronicles of the time made them believe and until the disasters of colonization, the local populations were distributed between maritime (the canals) and land (the pampas and mountainous regions) areas.
The southern lands of southern Hatitelen (more commonly known as the Strait of Magellan) were discovered by man more than 10,000 years ago and populated by different ethnic groups with distinct lifestyles: hunter-gatherers and canal nomads moving from island to island by canoe.
At the crossroads of these peoples is the Great Island of Tierra del Fuego, now divided between Argentina and Chile, where four peoples still live together whose number was extremely reduced during the genocide between 1870 and 1925. These are the Selk'nam, Haush, Yagan and Kawesqar, today numbering several thousand people who claim their identities and their rights.