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

Since 2005, and with the goal of preserving this wonder 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 and public-interest association, which sets it apart from any commercial purpose. The sailing trips organized by our association are reserved for our members and require the payment of a membership fee, voted on annually, which covers participation in the costs of maintenance, insurance, administration, and use of the vessel (food, fuel, etc.). To learn more or to join us, feel free to contact us at +33 6 72 83 03 94 or contact@karukinka.eu.

During our expeditions to the ends of South America (departing from Ushuaia or Puerto Williams), the sailboat Milagro serves as our comfortable floating base camp to explore this remote corner of the world, accessible only by sea. If the weather is at its best, we never miss the chance to round Cape Horn (Loköshpi in Yagan, Cabo de Hornos in Spanish) before visiting the neighboring islands (L’Hermite and Wollaston islands) and heading north towards the Beagle Channel (Onashaga) and the spectacular locations around Gordon Island and south of Tierra del Fuego. Among these are Seno Garibaldi and the Pia fjord, both offering breathtaking views of the glaciers of the Darwin Range (Tierra del Fuego).

We strive to alternate, depending on the project, between water-based and onshore activities so that every day spent together reveals different facets of the region. To complement our sailing, we organize land excursions (adapted to the group’s interests and abilities), as well as line and trap fishing (the famous centolla, but also salmon, hake, shellfish, etc.). Sometimes, if conditions allow, we sail under the Southern Cross and the neighboring constellations, in order to experience the magical sensation of the Milky Way within reach, far from any light pollution.

An experienced and professional crew

Throughout our expeditions, we sail with dedicated and knowledgeable polar region professionals:

• Damien, a certified sailing instructor (State Diploma) and professional skipper (French Merchant Marine Captain 200 Sail). He has been teaching sailing for 20 years and brings extensive experience in offshore and polar navigation, gained during expeditions in northern Norway and on the East coast of Greenland.

• Lauriane, first mate (Merchant Marine mechanic) and scientist. She has been studying the far south of Patagonia since 2011, dedicated her PhD thesis to it, and has led several expeditions there. Her deep knowledge of the region and her commitment to revealing what’s beyond the landscapes make our journeys in the channels of Patagonia much more than a simple sailing adventure.

• José Germán, artisanal fishing captain and former president of the Yagan community of Chile. He was sailing in the Patagonian channels with his parents, brother, and sister before he could even walk, so there’s no need to stress his local expertise… for him, Cape Horn is almost like the street corner to us, enhanced by a touch of cumbia music that he uniquely brings to the mood. His kindness and determination to protect the heritage of his ancestors have led him to become an honorary member of our association and godfather of the Milagro, which he also keeps an eye on at the Micalvi in Puerto Williams during the winter, between making traditional whale bone harpoons.

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

Preserving Yagan place names

In addition to being surrounded by stunning landscapes and passionate people, you will have the unique opportunity to discover this region by also using Yagan place names: bays, capes, caletas, glaciers… By doing so, you are contributing to the movement to recover indigenous toponyms in the Yagan language, a flagship project of our association since 2017, led by Lauriane and José. To date, this project has recorded just over 3,000 place names in Yagan, Haush, and Selk’nam in a database, which we are gradually restoring throughout the archipelago stretching from the Strait of Magellan to Cape Horn.

Encounters at the ends of Patagonian channels

And since these landscapes are above all shaped by the people who inhabit them, we make it a point to visit the three unique residents of Hoste Island. There, we can enjoy a traditional lamb asado prepared by Eugenio, Esther, and their son Claudio, with a stunning view over Yendegaia Bay and the Onashaga (Beagle) Channel. If we haven’t had optimal conditions for rounding Cape Horn and still have the urge to try, we set off again energetically to try to become “Cape Horners”: east towards the Wollaston and then L’Hermite islands, via Picton Channel, Gorée Pass, and then Nassau Bay. We take advantage of the prevailing winds and any “quiet” window to salute this gateway to Antarctica—the confluence of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans—and the family that lives there. We then head on to Puerto Toro, a welcoming fishing village home to about ten people, the southernmost in the world! We finally return to Puerto Williams and/or Ushuaia to celebrate this adventure together and the unforgettable memories that come with it.

The Milagro ship, a comfortable 20m 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 the unique opportunity to go beyond the grandiose landscapes that make up the daily life of sailing. 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 our members to all facets of these places, with her and a crew of enthusiasts and volunteers.

Aboard the comfortable Milagro sailboat, we 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).