Nº 2 - April 2006

Dear Adventurers,

Adventure makes happy! Fantastic weather, happy people, surprisingly diverse fauna and a very special ambience: this is Patagonia. Every day here at the End of the World is very special and exciting. With our newsletter we would like you to reminisce about your stay at the End of the World and make you want to come back. Or come for the first time... And now you can even call us for free to plan your trip: We installed Skype and you can reach us from anywhere in the world. Patagonia is waiting for you!
Enjoy reading!

Greetings from sunny Patagonia,

Your Aonikenk-Team

 Content

 1. HUGE surprise - elephant seal visits Isla Marta

Here in Patagonia one can still experience pure, fascinating nature with little surprises. Less known Marta Island is home to hundreds of sea lions and countless cormorants. And now we even had a Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) sighting. This indeed is a HUGE surprise Elephant seals are the biggest seals in the world: they can weigh up to 3.5 tons and grow up to 6.5 meters. Their natural habitat are some islands around the Antarctic (i.e. South Georgia). Why the elephant seal and his partner showed up at a distance of 35km from Punta Arenas, we don't know, but are very happy nonetheless!

By the way, your best bet to visit Isla Marta as well is by Zodiac: We offer a combined half day tour that takes you to Islas Magdalena and Marta. Isla Magdalena catches the eye with a very impressive penguin colony: during the Patagonian summer months this island is home to 120.000 Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) that come to hatch, care for their offspring and let you experience their funny way of walking. Get more information here...

Wikipedia about Southern Elephant Seals

 2. No mobile phones in Torres del Paine National Park!

Mobile phone communication in Torres del Paine National Park won't be possible. After a three-months-discussion COREMA (La Comisión Regional de Medio Ambiente) declined the claim made by a Chilean telecomunications company to install an antenna to enable cellphone communication. The view in Chiles most famous national park shouldn´t be beclouded by a six meter high pole. In favor of installing the antenna is the fact of being able to call for help in a case of emergency. So the park keeps being a place to get rid of the daily stress - and the physical stress caused by hiking and trekking is relieved by the fantastic view.

Read on in the local press: La Prensa Austral's online edition (in Spanish)

 3. Forum Patagonicum - our platform about Patagonia

Patagonia is just about to become a tourist destination, therefore it is still difficult to find reliable information. But there are people who have a clue, one just has to give them a platform to express their knowledge. Since everybody in our team has travelled a lot, we are aware of one fact: The bests advice comes from people that have been where you want to go. All you need, is valuable information easily reachable - Turismo Aonikenk presents: Forum Patagonicum.

Here you have got the chance to ask anything that pops into your mind, from the most fascinating trekking tours and Torres del Paine NP to visa regulations, recipes, travel mates and what else there is you need to know. We are looking forward to a with life bustling forum about Patagonia!

Check out our Forum Patagonicum

 4. Queen Mary 2 in Punta Arenas

The Queen Mary 2, the world's longest ship with a total length of 345 meters, came to visit Punta Arenas and mixed up our charming town. 50 buses were booked to let the passengers experience Punta Arenas and it´s surroundigs. Offered were excursions to the penguin colonies, Fort Bulnes, charter flights to Torres del Paine National Park and of course there was a city tour... It's very likely that never in it's history so many people have kissed the Fuegean indian's toe on the Plaza de Armas in one day. The cruise ship has got a capacity of up to 2,620 passengers and everyone would like to bring a bit of luck and happiness from the End of the World to his home! And the international tourists weren't the only people to be happy, the handicraft sellers could pack their belongings with a big smile in their faces... Impressing ship - Punta Arenas was challenged and mastered this event!

Queen Mary 2 in Punta Arenas (in Spanish)

 5. Skype - Call the End of the World - easy and for free!

The newest technology even reaches the End of the World! From now on you can skype us: turismo_aonikenk. Therefore you can call us for free from all parts of the world, you just have to download the Skype software to easily get all the information regarding Patagonia. But you can of course contact us the good old way as well: telephone: +56-61-221982, telephone/ fax: +56-61-228332 and e-mail: turismo@aonikenk.com.

Download Skype

 6. InTeam: Real treats with Luis

Since November Luis "Lucho" Hernández Síron is the one responsible for a real gourmet treat in our bright yellow tent. After an exhausting day in Torres del Paine National Park a tasty 3-course-menue is exactly the right thing - but more than that: Luis is welcoming our guests at our new EcoCamp traditionally with a glass of Pisco Sour. Even entertainment is part of his repertoire and so other campers tend to send some envious looks at times...

More about Luis and our whole team...

 7. My picture from Patagonia

You shot the picture of your lifetime here in Patagonia? Do not let it get dusty on your computer! In this category we want to offer you the possibility to publish your favorite one. Maybe you can tell a little story about it? The rights about the photos will clearly stay with you.

This time: King penguin in Puerto Natales

This king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonica) got astray in 2001 on the coast between Puerto Natales and Puerto Bories, where he ran into the focus of Robert Runyards camera: "The penguin obviously doesn't belong here, but he is very welcome". The king penguin's natural habitat are some subantarctic islands (i.e Falkland Islands). In the background you can see Ultima Esperanza Sound and Monte Balmaceda with it's glaciers.

We are eager to know how the next "My picture from Patagonia" will look like. Send us your favourite pic to newsletter@aonikenk.com !

Photo: © Robert Runyard

 8. Your opinion matters!

Of course, we want to make our newsletter as attractive as possible. Therefore we need your opinion. What is missing? What could be improved? We are looking forward to your suggestions and criticism. Just write us an e-mail to newsletter@aonikenk.com !

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 10. Flag

The Patagonia Newsletter is an electronic publication by

Turismo Aonikenk
Magallanes 619
Punta Arenas
Patagonia
Chile

Phone: +56-61-221982
Phone/ Fax: +56-61-228332
Skype: turismo_aonikenk

turismo@aonikenk.com
www.aonikenk.com


Everything written in this newsletter is protected by copyright law and shall only be used with reference and after consulting with Turismo Aonikenk. Responsable for its content is Sebastian Borgwardt. eMail: sebastian.borgwardt@aonikenk.com

 Check out other newsletters in our archive

Nº 1 - February 2006