Early in this expedition as we cross the Drake Passage, we also cross the Antarctic Convergence where the cold meets the warmer waters. Our special goal on this trip is to also cross the Antarctic Polar Circle located a 66°30’S as we steam south along the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Once this attempt is complete, we turn our attention back to exploration of the amazing white wilderness and abundant wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia and sail through the Beagle Channel.
Day 2 - 3: During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet 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, we glimpse at the first icebergs.
Day 4 - 9: At Deception Island, we will try to land at Baily Head home to a colony of ten thousands of Chinstrap Penguins. Deception itself is a sub ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape pigeons and many Dominican gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black-bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. Good walkers may hike from Baily Head over the ridge of the crater into Whalers Bay, while our ship braves its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune´s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. On our way to the south sailing through the Gerlache Strait we will have great chances to see many Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We shall have the opportunity for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. We also try to land at Pleneau Island with Elephant Seals. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. We head south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, south of the polar circle. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. At the Fish Islands we land at one of the southernmost Adelie Penguin and Blue-eyed Shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula. At Detaille Island, south of the Polar Circle, in Crystal Sound we reach probably our farthest south. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, we arrive at Inverleith Harbour, where we may have our last zodiac cruises of the voyage.
Day 10 - 11: In the Drake Passage we have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.
Day 12: We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Tour Escort
- Sightseeing Per Itinerary
- Shore Excursions
- Services Of Expedition Guides
- Accommodations in Select Cabin Category
- Three Meals Daily Shipboard
Also see tour packages in:
Antarctica
Antarctica
Nature & Wildlife
Ecotourism
Wildlife Viewing
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