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Weddell Seal along the Antarctic Peninsula

Antarctica East & West: Peninsula in Depth

Example 20 Day Cruise aboard Ocean Endeavour
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Experience the best of a polar expedition, including abundant wildlife, important historical sites, glaciers and icebergs on this 20-day cruise onboard the Ocean Endeavour. Fly to Ushuaia and begin your Antarctic experience crossing the Drake Passage, arriving at Elephant Island and sailing towards the Antarctic Circle. Keep watch for colonies of nesting chinstrap, gentoo, and macaroni penguins in the South Shetland Islands and end your trip in Buenos Aires, the tango capital of the world.
Cruising the arctic waters in the ZodiacPenguins cruising the iceSea KayakingPenguins on the BeachWeddell Seal along the Antarctic Peninsula
Highlights
  • Explore the mountainous and ice-covered Elephant Island
  • Discover the remote east side of the Antarctic Peninsula
  • Meet the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the region
  • Celebrate crossing the Antarctic Circle and visit the southernmost bar
  • Walk through Deception Island, the caldera of an active volcano
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Arrive in Buenos Aires at any time during Day 1 of your itinerary. Upon arriving in this splendid city, known for its soaring architecture and rich European heritage, transfer independently to the group hotel (pre-night hotel included).

Day 2: Ushuaia, Argentina | Embark

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner
Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport and board a private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival, you have time to explore this quaint port town before heading to the pier.

Embark in the late afternoon and sail down the historic Beagle Channel. This famous channel transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart to the world’s most southern continent!

Day 3-4: Crossing the Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
The waters of the Drake Passage are unpredictable, so hope for clear skies and a calm ocean. Enjoy plenty of time to gaze out at the sea, get to know your fellow shipmates, and chat with your Expedition Team. Spend this time preparing for the exciting days ahead, with numerous educational and informative lectures presented by your Expedition Team. Learn about everything from safety procedures to the history of whaling in Antarctica.

Day 5: Elephant Island

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After crossing the Drake, visit the mountainous and ice-covered Elephant Island. Named by early explorers for the elephant seals that dotted its shoreline, the island is best known as the refuge for Ernest Shackleton’s crew. Point Wild, the site of the crew’s camp, is an Antarctic Historic site.

Day 6-8: Weddell Sea

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Battered with ocean currents all year long, the remote east side of the Antarctic Peninsula is completely different from the more commonly visited west coast. See mile-long tabular icebergs formed over hundreds or even thousands of years and broken off of ice shelves further south.

Visit Paulet Island - a volcanic and thermal heat keeps part of it ice free. Over 100,000 pairs of Adélie penguins make it a popular visiting point.

In the afternoon, explore the wooden hut on Snow Hill Island, built in February 1902 by the main party of the Swedish South Polar Expedition led by Otto Nordenskjöld. This historic hut contains original objects from the expedition and functions as a living museum.

Brown Bluff, formed by a single volcanic vent, is the perfect place to experience Antarctic flora and fauna.

Day 9-15: Antarctic Peninsula and Antarctic Circle

  • Ship
  • 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners
Traveling around the Peninsula includes a variety of experiences, including Cuverville Island and the largest colony of gentoo penguins in the region—more than 6,500 breeding pairs. Other possible landing sites include Melchiors, Cuverville Island, and Orne Harbour. Glaciers, penguin colonies, and breaching humpback whales highlight your days, while friendly seals are plentiful in these waters. You can also expect to encounter what is arguably the most formidable Antarctic predator, the leopard seal.

Celebrate crossing the Antarctic Circle with drinks, and visit the Vernadsky Lounge, the Peninsula’s southernmost bar. A sure highlight is Wilhelmina Bay—one expedition once spotted 50 whales in three hours! Spend seven days exploring as many sites as you can, ensuring you the most comprehensive Antarctic experience possible.

Day 16-17: South Shetland Islands

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
In 1819, the British explorer William Smith described the South Shetland Islands as ‘barren and covered with snow, with seals in abundance.’ Places such as Half Moon Island or Livingston Island support huge numbers of nesting chinstrap, gentoo, and even some macaroni penguins. Giant and Cape petrels, blue-eyed shags, and kelp gulls nest in the cliffs. Mosses, lichens and Antarctica’s only two flowering plants thrive during the short summer on the low-lying peninsulas of these rugged maritime islands. Explore the busy penguin and seabird rookeries and marvel at the huge elephant seals that wallow along the shore.

Visit Deception Island, the caldera of an active volcano, where sealing and whaling operations were based in the past. Several microclimates can get quite warm, and there is a large colony of chinstrap penguins. Half Moon Island is a significant area for birds and it features a 2,200-yard (2 km) walking track to give you a close view of the wildlife.

Day 18-19: Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Use your second passage across the Drake to put your newfound Antarctic knowledge to use; spend time on deck, spot icebergs and name seabirds. Enjoy presentations by onboard experts and bond with your shipmates.

Day 20: Disembark in Ushuaia | Fly to Buenos Aires

  • 1 Breakfast
Arive in Ushuaia in the morning, after breakfast. Disembark and get a little taste of Patagonia, touring Tierra del Fuego National Park before transferring to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.

Ship/Hotel

Ocean Endeavour

Enjoy fine dining in the Polaris Resturant
Relax in the Aurora Lounge
Listen to live entertainment in the Nautilus Lounge

Buenos Aires - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$11,995
Triple cabin aboard the Ocean Endeavour
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Triple
Approximately 225 sq. ft. (20 sq. m), a Triple on Deck 4 is an interior cabin with three lower berths, and private bath. Cabin 4100 has four lower single beds and one private bathroom with a separate shower room.
Twin Porthole (cropped)
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Twin Porthole
Approximately 95 to 105 sq. ft. (9-10 sq. m), a Twin Porthole on Deck 4 features a porthole window, two lower berths and a private bathroom.
Twin Window  (cropped)
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Twin Window
Approximately 95 to 105 sq. ft. (9-10 sq. m), a Twin Window on Deck 5 features a picture window, two lower berths and private bath.
Upper Deck Cabin (cropped)
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Upper Deck Twin
Approximately 140 sq. ft. (13 sq. m), an Upper Deck Cabin on Deck 7 features a window (obstructed view), one double or two lower berths and a private bathroom.
Twin Porthole Cabin (under renovations)
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Twin Porthole Plus
Approximately 190 to 200 sq. ft. (18-20 sq. m), a Twin Porthole Suite on Deck 4 is twice the size of a Twin Porthole, with one bathroom. It features two single beds, a separate living area with a pull out sofa bed, two porthole windows, and one private bathroom.
Single Interior Cabin aboard the Ocean Endeavour
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Single Interior
Approximately 95 to 105 sq. ft. (9-10 sq. m), a Single on Deck 5 is an interior cabin with a lower berth and private bath.
Twin Window Plus (cropped)
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Superior Twin
A superior cabin on deck five features a large picture window, one double or two lower beds and a pull out sofa bed and private bathroom. Approximately 19 m² (205 sq ft).
Top Deck Cabin (cropped)
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Top Deck Twin
Approximately 155 sq. ft. (14.5 sq. m), a Top Deck Cabin on Deck 8 features two large windows (one window with partial obstruction), one double or two twin beds and a private bathroom.
Twin Window Plus Cabin aboard the Ocean Endeavour
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Twin Window Plus
Approximately 190 to 200 sq. ft. (18-20 sq. m), a Twin Window Suite on Deck 5 is twice the size of a Twin Window, with one bathroom. It features two single beds, a separate living area with a pull out sofa bed, two windows, and one private bathroom.
Junior Suite Cabin aboard the Ocean Endeavour
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Junior Suite
Junior Suites on Deck 5 are at least 325 sq. ft. (30 sq. m), and at least 164 sq. ft. (15 sq. m) on Deck 7. All Junior Suites feature a picture window, one double bed and private bath.
Owner Suite (cropped)
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Owner´s Suite
Approximately 320 sq. ft. (30 sq. m), the Owner’s Suite on Deck 7 features two large bow-facing windows, one double bed, separate sitting room and private bath with tub.

Notes

Rates are quoted in U.S. dollars and represent costs per person, double occupancy. Request the Twin Share Program where you are matched with a cabin mate of the same gender. Even if a cabin mate is not found for you, no single supplement will be charged.

Cabins are available for single occupancy at 1.7x the double occupancy rate for cabin types except for Premium cabins (2x the double occupancy rate).

Mandatory medical insurance: Travelers should have a minimum of US$50,000 (or equivalent) of emergency medical coverage prior to embarkation. It is recommended that you and all members of your party have comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, trip delay (interruption or after departure coverage), baggage, and repatriation.
Included
  • 19 Breakfasts, 17 Lunches, 18 Dinners
  • 19 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Coffee, Tea and Cocoa Available Around the Clock
  • Leadership throughout the expedition by our experienced Expedition Leader
  • Loan of Waterproof Boots for Landings
  • Official Expedition Parka to Keep
  • Select Beer and Wine During Dinner
  • Photographic Journal Documenting the Expedition
  • All Miscellaneous Service Taxes and Port Charges Throughout the Program
  • All Zodiac transfers and cruising per the daily program
  • Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD $500,000 per person
  • All shore landings as per the daily program
  • Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
  • All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage
  • All luggage handling aboard the ship
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Buenos Aires Hotel tax (up to $2 per person/night) - paid at checkout
  • Passport and Applicable Visa Expenses
  • Government arrival and departure taxes
  • Internet & Phone Charges
  • Excess baggage charges
  • Mandatory Waterproof Pants for Zodiac Cruising & Any Other Gear Not Specifically Mentioned
  • Arrival and departure transfers, except where explicitly stated
  • Adventure Options not listed in Included Activities

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Kate was great to work with in the planning stage. She was prompt, helpful, and efficient. Our tour guide, Edwin, was knowledgeable and passionate. We were very happy to have traveled with Adventure Life, it made the trip easy and a true pleasure. We could concentrate on enjoying the experience rather than the details of travel.
Lisa Bridge

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