Choosing your Expedition
All of our voyages begin in the ‘Town at the end of the World’, Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina.
We sail down the Beagle Channel accompanied by albatrosses and head into the Drake Passage. Once at sea, our
informal educational program consisting of presentations, discussions and other fun activities gets under way.
As we continue south towards the Antarctic Peninsula we see our first icebergs and then our first glimpse of
Antarctica! The western flank of the Antarctic Peninsula is a rugged, mountainous spur flanked by ancient glaciers
and massive ice shelves that creep down to the water’s edge. In the lee of the Peninsula lie dozens of islands, home
to the greatest concentration of wildlife on the continent, including Weddell seals, Elephant seals, Skuas, Giant
Petrels and rookeries of Gentoo, Chinstrap and Adelie penguins.
We'll usually make our first landing in Antarctica late on Day 3. Over the following days we make the most of the long
daylight hours, with several excursions each day, weather permitting. With an emphasis on spending as much time off the
ship as possible, we’ll venture ashore to hike or watch the wildlife, or cruise in the Zodiacs among the icebergs and whales.
No two voyages are the same, and you can be as active or not as you please.
Our Falkland Islands and South Georgia itineraries extend the experience to include the extraordinary wildlife and history of
the Sub-Antarctic. Homeward bound, we pass legendary Cape Horn on our return to Ushuaia, our journey’s end.
Ports of Call
The following is a list of some of the more interesting areas in and around the Antarctic Peninsula,
some of which we plan to visit during our voyages.
The South Shetland Islands
An archipelago of over 20 islands just north of the Antarctic Peninsula.
Deception Island
You sail into the heart of this flooded volcanic island, one of the most interesting destinations in Antarctica.
You go ashore to explore an old whaling station, and can enjoy a dip in the hot springs at Pendulum Cove.
King George Island
Home to a sizable colony of Adelie and Gentoo penguins, and some Chinstraps, King George is a favorite feeding
area for Humpback whales, which can often be observed during summer feeding on krill.
Livingston Island
This was once an important hunting ground for seal traders, who decimated the local seal population. Today the
island is again rich in wildlife, including Weddell, Elephant and Leopard seals, plus rookeries of Chinstrap,
Gentoo and Macaroni penguins, petrels, terns and skuas.
Half Moon
This is a delightful spot, close to Livingston Island, with a sizable rookery of Chinstrap penguins as well as
nesting terns, Kelp gulls, fur seals and Blue-eyed shags.
The Antarctic Penninsula
Against a spectacular backdrop of snow-capped mountains and ice-blue water, the Antarctic Peninsula has a rugged
coastline of bays and channels which offer excellent opportunities for exploration.
Hope Bay
Situated in the most northerly point on the peninsula, Hope Bay boasts one of the largest penguin rookeries on the
continent (mostly Gentoo penguins).
Paradise Bay
With breathtaking panoramic views across the bay, this is one of the most beautiful places on the peninsula, home
to terns, petrels, cormorants, seals, penguins and whales.
Lemaire Channel
This glacier-lined fjord offers a unique spectacle and is undoubtedly one of Antarctica's most beautiful passages.
Minke and Humpback whales can often be observed, following in the wake of the ship.
South Georgia
South Georgia rises some 3,000 metres above the Scotia Sea, and is undoubtedly the most dramatic of all the
Sub-Antarctic islands. Salisbury Plain is home to a vast rookery of brightly coloured King penguins, and at
Grytviken you witness the remnants of a once-prosperous whaling industry that nearly decimated whale populations.
The Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands have a haunting beauty, and in the outer islands you observe Elephant seals, Southern
sea lions and a host of seabirds including the Black Browed albatross. At Stanley, the smallest capital
city in the world, you stroll past quaint homes with a distinctly Victorian character. History buffs
will be fascinated by its museums and memorial sites.