Qaqortoq (Greenland)

Qaqortoq is a port town located near Cape Thorvaldsen (southern Greenland) with population around 3,000. This is south Greenland's most populous town and country's 4th-largest - after Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat. The main cruise ship tourist attraction here is Hvalsey ("Whale Island") - Greenland's largest and best-preserved Norse ruins site "Eystribyggd". It is located only 18 km (11 mi) northeast of Qaqortoq. Hvalsey Fjord Church is a 14th-century Catholic church house designed similarly to Norway-found structures. The church is exceptionally well constructed from carefully chosen stones - some with weight 5+ tons.

Tourism is an important contributor to the economy of Qaqortoq. Greenland Sagalands, the Qaqortoq Tourist Service, is the tourist office. 65.5% of all tourists are from Denmark. Several facilities offer accommodations, including Qaqortoq Hostel. Qaqortoq Museum offers services in Danish, Kalaallisut and English. The Great Greenland Furhouse is a popular tourist attraction. Vacationers are offered year-round activities like kayaking, guided hiking, cross-country skiing, boating and whale-watching. In recent years, the town of Qaqortoq has experienced a fall in tourist revenue, very much because of the lack of an airport. The Danish Crown Princely family visited Qaqortoq as part of an official Greenland tour in summer 2014.

Royal Arctic Line in Nuuk is the port authority for Qaqortoq. With a channel depth of 15 m (50 feet), the port can accommodate ships up to 150 m (500 feet) in length. The port provides pilotage upon request (no tugging). Qaqortoq is a ferry port for Arctic Umiaq Line (freight and passenger shipping company). Arctic Umiaq serves the south-western Greenland route roundtrip from Nuuk.

Next are listed route's ports of call (with arrival-departure times in brackets) - Nuuk (departure 8 pm)-Maniitsoq (6-630 am)-Kangaamiut (10-10:15 am)-Sisimiut (5-7 pm)-Aasiaat (6-6:15 am)-Qeqertarsuaq (10-10:15 am)-Ilulissat (3:30-5 pm)-Aasiaat (9:30-10 pm)-Sisimiut (9-11 am)-Kangaamiut (5:45-6 pm)-Maniitsoq (9:30-10 pm)-Nuuk (7-9 am)-Qeqertarsuatsiaat (4:30-4:45 pm)-Paamiut (11:45-12 midnight)-Arsuk (6:45-7 am)-Qaqortoq (4-7 pm)-Narsaq (9:9:30 pm)-Arsuk (6:45-7 am)-Paamiut (2-2:30 pm)-Qeqertarsuatsiaat (10:15-10:30 pm)-Nuuk (arrival 7:30 am).

Qaqortoq Greenland was included as a call port in the Northwest Passage cruises of the following passenger ships:

• Seven Seas Navigator - 63-day itinerary from Miami Florida to Montreal Quebec (2017 - June 17 to August 18)

Note: All Northwest Passage ship transits are assisted by a Canadian icebreaker or another vessel with an ice-strengthened hull.