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antarctic peninsula, falkland islands and south georgia |
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Ushuaia - Arrive in the southernmost city in the world and transfer independently to the Hotel Los Nires or similar hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore this 'frontier town' at leisure. |
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A chance to wander around Ushuaia, nestled between the spectacular snow-capped mountains of the Andes and the Beagle Channel, or to explore the surrounding wilderness areas. Embarkation begins later in the afternoon. |
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At sea |
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Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
In the historic Falklands we explore some of the privately-owned outer islands that are home to great concentrations of wildlife - including several species found nowhere else in the world. Flightless Steamer Ducks, Magellanic Penguins and Gentoo Penguins are just some of the highlights on Carcass Island, for example, while nearby West Point Island and New Island boast fantastic Rockhopper Penguin rookeries as well as nesting Black-browed Albatrosses and Blue-eyed Shags. Peale's and Commerson's dolphins are often seen along the coasts of these islands and frequently bow-ride and play alongside our boats. We will also explore Stanley, the charming capital of the archipelago. |
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At Sea |
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South Georgia
We plan four days on South Georgia. South Georgia has its own astonishing concentrations of wildlife and awe-inspiring scenery ranging from 7,000-foot mountains and mighty glaciers to deep fjords and low-lying grassland. It is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on earth and certainly has more wildlife than virtually anywhere else on the planet. Thousands of King Penguins greet us at Salisbury Plain, Wandering Albatrosses nest and thousands of fur seals breed at Prion Island, whilst huge southern elephant seals and a substantial number of King and Gentoo Penguins crowd the beaches at places such as Gold Harbor. The island also played a significant role in Ernest Shackleton's epic journey after the sinking of his ship, the 'Endurance', when he managed to raise the alarm at the whaling station in Stromness. We visit Shackleton's grave at Grytviken, a once-active whaling station. |
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At sea |
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South Shetland Islands & Antarctic Peninsula
This impressive group of islands, lying to the north and roughly parallel to the Antarctic Peninsula, is a haven for wildlife. Our first landfall could be Elephant Island, where Ernest Shackleton's men found refuge during the epic 'Endurance' expedition (following in the wake of Shackleton, from Antarctica to Elephant Island and on to South Georgia, is a particular aim of Explorers' Cruise 3). We will visit enormous penguin rookeries, land on beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and observe southern elephant seals wallowing in mud pools. We also hope to visit one of the many research bases in the archipelago and look for Antarctica's only two flowering plants, which thrive here during the short southern summer. A highlight of our visit to the South Shetlands will be sailing through a narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island. |
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Drake Passage
Our journey across the famous Drake Passage, named after the 16th-century English navigator Sir Francis Drake, is an experience in itself. Our ship is accompanied most of the way by albatrosses - including the magnificent Wandering Albatross - along with an impressive variety of other seabirds such as Giant and Cape Petrels. We have a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins and many different species have been encountered in these rich waters over the years. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zones. Meanwhile, the program of lectures continues during these sea crossings as our expedition staff introduce some of the wildlife we are likely to encounter and cover all topics from the history of exploration to the geology of the region. |
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Ushuaia |
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