Naviera y Turismos Skorpios S.A. is a family-owned business founded in 1978 by Mr. Constantino Kochifas Cárcamo, a shipowner and distinguished entrepreneur from southern Chile, who, together with his family, has developed this tourism activity into a product of national and international standing through ingenuity and professionalism.
As a young entrepreneur, Mr. Constantino began his career in regional coastal shipping in the Puerto Montt area in 1956, together with his brothers. He later became independent, founding his own shipping company and operating cargo vessels in the Aysén and Magallanes regions. After years of navigating the region, he identified the strong potential for the development of maritime tourism in Patagonia, launching his first experimental voyages in 1976 aboard the MV Mimi, a small cargo vessel carrying only 12 passengers per trip. He later launched Cruceros Marítimos Skorpios in 1977 and, in 1978, built the MV Skorpios I, the company’s and Chile’s first tourism vessel. With a passenger capacity of up to 74, the vessel—now retired from service—completed more than 600 voyages to San Rafael Lake, becoming a symbol of tourism in Chile and internationally.
The MV Skorpios II entered service in 1988, with a capacity of up to 106 passengers, becoming the largest-capacity vessel in the Skorpios fleet. It continues to operate the original San Rafael Lake Route, now known as the Chonos Route.
Seven years later, the company introduced a new vessel, the MV Skorpios III, with a capacity of up to 92 passengers, which also joined the San Rafael route.
In 2003 Cruceros Skorpios expanded its operations to the Magallanes Region, launching a new tourist route called Kaweskar Route, which runs from Puerto Natales to the glaciers of the Southern Patagonian Ice Fields. For this purpose, the MV Skorpios III was relocated to Puerto Natales, where a maritime terminal was also constructed to support the operation of the company’s vessels.
En el año 2003, Cruceros Skorpios extiende sus operaciones a la región de Magallanes, inaugurando una nueva ruta turística llamada Ruta Kaweskar, la que comprende desde Puerto Natales hasta los glaciares de Campo de Hielos Sur. Para tales efectos, la M/N Skorpios III se traslada a Puerto Natales, donde se construye además un terminal marítimo portuario para las operaciones de sus barcos.
Mission
Our mission is to position Chile and Chilean Patagonia as a leading international destination for high value nature tourism. To this end, we offer a tourism experience of the highest standard, preserving the traditions and hospitality of the people of Patagonia and conveying values through the service provided to our guests, which represents a daily challenge for all our staff.
VISION
Our vision is for tourism in Patagonia to continue growing, professionally showcasing its natural beauty while investing in the region to support its long-term development, always maintaining a careful balance between nature and service that allows the environment to be enjoyed without interference or harm.
