Antarctica Wildlife Expedition

ITINERARY

Note:

This excursion can be taken on one of 7 small cruise ships. Dates, costs, inclusions and exclusions, and exact itineraries vary depending on which boat you choose. Please contact us through the "Ask A Question" form above for more information on the various boats available. The following itinerary is a composite that includes most of the locations and activities that you can visit on the cruise.

DAY 1 - ARRIVE TO USHUAIA, ARGENTINA

Located at the bottom of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia lies at the foot of the Andes Mountain Range. The world's most southerly town is where the cruise ships embark for Antarcitca.

DAY 2 - EMBARK TO ANTARCTICA

Climb aboard your ship and settle in to your cabins for a 3 day journey to the Antarctic peninsula. The ships offer great amenities (vary depending on the ship) including on board naturalists, saunas, bars, observation decks, and more.

DAYS 3 & 4 - DRAKE'S PASSAGE

This legendary passage is a 600 mile wide channel known for high winds and rough seas. Halfway across is the Antarctic Convergence, where cold, northward moving currents meet warmer subantarctic waters.

This convergence is a hotspot for ocean wildlife feeding on abundant krill. Expect to see whales, dolphins, cape petrels, albatrosses, and more. The expedition team will lead educational programs to help you learn about this incredible place.

DAYS 5 - 9 - ANTARCTIC PENINSULA & SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS

Our stop on this immense continent will be the Antarctic Peninsula, the northernmost part of the continent. The peninsula has a dramatic set of serrated peaks, glaciers, and ice shelves. This part of Antarctica is relatively mild (compared to the rest of the continent), making it the best spot for travelers and scientific researchers.

Enjoy the near constant daylight (trips run during the southern summer) to explore the area. Wildlife here includes many species of seals, three species of whales (humpback, minke, and sei), and orcas. But the stars of the show are the penguins. Four species inhabit this area (emperor, chinstrap, gentoo, and adelie). Many other species of seabirds can also be found here.

Off the northern tip of the peninsula lie the South Shetland Islands whose blue icebergs are the first sign of our arrival to the continent. Weather permitting, the ships will land here (though frequent high winds often prohibit this). Once home to major whaling and sealing operations, they are now home to big populations of wildlife.

DAYS 10 & 11 - DRAKE'S PASSAGE

Return through this passage for two days on your way back to Ushuaia, looking out for wildlife along the way.

DAY 12 - DISEMBARK

Upon landing in Ushuaia, you'll leave your home of the past ten days and spend the night in town. After breakfast the next day, fly home or take an extension to another South American hotspot.