Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Buenos Aires
Arrival to Buenos Aires and airport meet and greet; transfer to hotel, located in the elegant Recoleta or stylish Palermo neighborhood. This afternoon visit sites like the Plaza de Mayo, La Boca, San Telmo, Puerto Madero, Recoleta and Palermo. Learn about Buenos Aires’ turbulent history, browse antique shops and explore the elaborate mausoleums in the famed Recoleta Cemetery. Lunch not included. Dinner at hotel
Day 2 – To Ushuaia
Airport transfer for check-in assistance for and Ushuaia flight; airport meet and greet and board ship. Sail through the scenic Beagle Channel during the afternoon. Breakfast at hotel. Lunch not included. Dinner on ship.
Days 3 & 4 – Drake Passage
During these two days you’ll sail across the Drake Passage. While crossing the Antarctic Convergence you’ll the circum-Antarctic up welling zone, where you can see Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black- browed Albatrosses, Light- mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands you’ll glimpse your first icebergs. All meals on board.
Days 4-8 – Antarctic Peninsula Exploration
A typical itinerary in the South Shetlands and Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only; the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
You’ll sail directly to “High Antarctica,” passing the Melchior Islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island. On Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island, lives a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. On Danco Island you can observe Chinstrap Penguins and possibly Weddell and Crabeater Seals. In Neko Harbour is the first opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. You’ll find yourself in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers. Other continent landings are, for example, possible on Portal Point.
During the cruise there will be zodiac cruises near Foyn Harbour on Nansen Island and in Neko Harbour, as well as to other destinations. When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, you’ll be able to cruise in zodiacs between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area there are good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.
After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, visit the British research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close to Port Lockroy is a landing on Jougla Point with Gentoo Penguins and Imperial Shags. We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where you can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. A visit to one of the scientific stations in Antarctica will give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent.
Further south you can visit the Ukrainian Vernadsky Station, where you’ll receive a warm welcome from the station crew. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel you’ll arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and more possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where you can encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales. All meals on board.
Days 9 & 10 – Drake Passage
In the Drake Passage you’ll have the chance to once again see seabirds and to take advantage of the lecture team’s knowledge. All meals on board.
Day 11 – To Buenos Aires
Disembark and airport transfer and check-in assistance for Buenos Aires flight; meet and greet at domestic airport and transfer to international airport for international evening flight home. Breakfast on board. Lunch and dinner not included. From: US$ 8,000 per person, depending on cabin category on cruise; includes internal airfare.
