Antarctic Peninsula with South Shetland Islands

Day 1 Ushuaia, Argentina / Embark

In the afternoon, embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.

Days 2-3 Drake Passage

During these two days sail across the Drake Passage. When crossing the Antarctic Convergence, arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area you may see 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, spot your first icebergs.

Days 4-7 Antarctic Peninsula & the South Shetland Islands

Sail directly to “High Antarctica”, passing the Melchior islands and the Schollaert Channel between Brabant and Anvers Island. On Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island, find a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. If landing on Danco Island observe Chinstrap Penguins and possibly Weddell and Crabeater Seals.

In Neko Harbour have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers calving at sea level. Enjoy the landscape surrounded by alpine peaks during zodiac cruises. In Paradise Bay again with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent again. Make the most of the opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. In this area you have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.

Sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags can be found. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel, hope to get permission to visit the British research station and post office Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Close to Port Lockroy a landing on Jougla Point with Gentoo Penguins and Imperial Shags may be offered.

On your way North through the Gerlache Strait finally arrive at the South Shetland Islands. Sail to Deception Island.Your ship will brave its entrance into the crater through the spectacular Neptune’s Bellow into the ring of Deception Island. Hope for a good long walk and kayak trip which will depend on site availability and weather conditions.

Deception is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea, creating a natural harbor for the ship. Here 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.

Leave from here and sail to Half Moon Island, where you will find a variety of Chinstrap Penguins. Seals often haul out on the beach. These volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins and Southern Giant Petrels.

Your voyage continues through a narrow Strait to the open sea with direction Ushuaia.

Days 8-9 Returning across the Drake Passage

On your way north again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

Day 10 Ushuaia / Disembark

Arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.