Have questions? We're here.
Fur seal paradise in Antarctica

Antarctic Expedition - Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas

Example 11 Day Cruise aboard Silver Wind
Talk with an expert
Build your ideal Antarctica trip. Call 1.406.541.2677
Start Planning My Trip
Board the Silver Wind for a 11-day adventure to the Earth's frozen frontier. Sail past sculpted icebergs and calving glaciers, and be on the lookout for some of the region’s captivating wildlife: penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds. Make your way through the legendary Drake Passage and get a chance to learn about the natural evolution and human history of this, most mysterious, of continents.
Nights in UshuaiaKayak quiet waters as you sail to remote polar regionsElephant seal close upA group of travellers sail around a penguin colony off the shores of AntarcticaFur seal paradise in Antarctica
Highlights
  • Marvel at spectacular iceberg sculptures and set foot on Antarctica
  • Spot elephant seals, humpback whales, Cape petrels and Gentoo penguins
  • Climb part of Cuverville’s hill for spectacular panoramic views
  • View the wildlife from sea level while cruising in your Zodiacs
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.
0

Full Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Punta Arenas | Embark

Welcome to Chile's City at the End of The World – a wind-whipped, fractured land of islands, glacial fjords and mountains, which drop away towards Antarctica. A hardy city, where the temperature hovers in single figures throughout much of the year, Punta Arenas nevertheless offers a warm welcome and refuge, ahead of - and following - epic adventures and expeditions south across the Drake Passage. Captain Scott stopped here in 1904 – testing the postal service sending 400 letters of his successful return - and the city welcomed the rescued Ernest Shackleton and his Endurance crew to these shores in 1916. Punta Arenas is a remote place, but with custom-free status, and more than 120,000 people calling it home it's also surprisingly cosmopolitan. The commercial centre of Magallanes Punta Arenas is fueled by Chilean oil and gas - and establishing itself as a global centre for Antarctic research, with teams from various countries basing themselves here. The town is built around the Plaza de Armas, its central square - be sure to kiss the toe of the Monumento del Indio Patagon statue, said to guarantee you good luck on your return. Look down across this colourful city, stretching out to meet the waters of the Straits of Magellan, from the viewpoint at Cerro De La Cruz. Natural wonders abound in the region, whether it’s Alberto de Agostini National Park’s glacial sculptures, or Torres del Paine National Park’s soaring mountains, rushing waterfalls and picturesque lakes. Offshore, in the Strait of Magellan, you can find the birdlife sanctuary of Magdalena Island - an uninhabited island, where hundreds of thousands of penguins march and crowds of cormorants and gulls call out.

Day 2-3: Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Set sail on your initial transit, familiarise yourself with the elegant Silver Cloud and the Expedition Team members. Partake in wildlife, geography and history discussions hosted by your expert Team Members and naturalists and attend talks by your guest lecturers preparing you for the exciting adventures that lie ahead.

The Drake Passage has a notorious reputation for its turbulent seas due to the westerly winds and the funnelling effect of the passage, but with modern navigational aids and stabilizers Silver Cloud brings you safely across these southern waters.

Spend some time on deck watching the horizon and the variety of seabirds that glide in the air currents of our ship’s wake -such as the Black-browed Albatross, Cape Petrels, White-chinned Petrels and Sooty Shearwaters.

Day 4: Antarctic Sound

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Start your Antarctic experiences at the top of the Antarctic Peninsula, venturing into Antarctic Sound and its magnificent array of tabular icebergs, historical sites and Adelie and gentoo penguin rookeries.

Depending on weather and ice conditions you may visit Brown Bluff, Hope Bay and cruise the Antarctic Sound. Brown Bluff, (a 2,200-foot bluff on the Antarctic continent) is an ice-capped, 745-metre-high, flat-topped mountain with a prominent cliff of reddish-brown volcanic rock. The coastal area at the base of Brown Bluff is used by Adelie and gentoo penguins, kelp gulls, and Cape petrels as a breeding area. Under good climatic conditions a walk onto a nearby glacier might be feasible.

Hope Bay has one of the largest Adelie penguin colonies in Antarctica and a Zodiac cruise past the Argentine Station “Esperanza” shows some of the penguins, Weddell seals and blue-eyed shags.

Day 5-7: Antarctic Peninsula

  • Ship
  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
While sailing in Antarctica’s vast white wilderness, your itinerary is flexible and in the true spirit of expedition cruising, each day the Expedition Leader and Captain determine the best course depending on weather, ice conditions and wildlife you may encounter. 

Here are some of the places you may visit: Cuverville Island was discovered by Gerlache’s Belgian Antarctic expedition of 1897–99. Large, bare rock areas provide nesting sites for gentoo penguins. Snow petrels and Cape petrels may also be seen, whilst Wilson’s storm-petrels nest in the higher scree of the island. During Zodiac cruises, hauled-out Weddell seals are quite often encountered. Under good conditions one can climb part of Cuverville’s hill for spectacular panoramic views.

Paradise Bay is well named for its spectacular scenery of mountains, glaciers and icebergs. The Silver Cloud sails past Argentina’s “Base Brown”, one of many Antarctic research stations. You can also view the wildlife from sea level while cruising in your Zodiacs. Apart from observing cormorants in the cliffs there is a good chance to see crabeater seals relaxing on ice floes; whales have been seen regularly.

Petermann Island is named for geographer August Petermann and was discovered by a German expedition in 1873-74. During your landing, be able to observe rookeries of Adelie penguins, gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. Petermann has various geological features, especially rock surfaces showing glacial polish and some glacial grooving.

Pleneau Bay lies at the south end of the Lemaire Channel, and was first explored during Charcot’s 1903–05 French Antarctic Expedition. Gentoo penguins, kelp gulls and south polar skuas are usually found breeding on Pleneau Island and Southern elephant seals are often hauled-out in wallows. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of icebergs nearby either from shore or during a Zodiac cruise.

Day 8: South Shetland Islands

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
End your Antarctic sojourn in the South Shetland Islands. Port Foster, Whalers Bay and Telefon Bay are all located in Deception Island, an excellent example of a caldera that can be reached from the sea. Plan to sail into the caldera through the narrow entrance called Neptune’s Bellows. Ashore Deception Island’s interesting history -from whaling to scientific studies- still shows remains of a former whaling station, including the boilers used to make whale oil in the early 1900s, and houses belonging to a British research base. The unique volcanic features of the area can be seen during hikes.

The Aitcho Islands have gentoo and chinstrap penguin colonies. Southern giant petrels and skuas are never far from penguin rookeries and elephant seals quite often look for company near the landing site.

Day 9-10: Drake Passage

  • Ship
  • 2 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Navigating your return through the Drake Passage, watch for seabirds and wildlife you may have missed on your initial crossing. There are opportunities to attend additional presentations offered by the Expedition Team lecturers and to edit the many photos taken as you travel towards Ushuaia. During the last afternoon, your Photographer/Videographer shows the Voyage –DVD.

Day 11: Punta Arenas | Disembark

After breakfast, disembark Silver Wind.

Ship/Hotel

Silver Wind

Santiago - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$15,660
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Vista Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed. Large picture window providing panoramic ocean views and comfortable sitting area. One bedroom: 240 sq ft / (22 sq m) One bedroom: Suite 738: 325 sq ft / (30 sq m).
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Classic Veranda Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed. Teak veranda with patio furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and comfortable sitting area. One bedroom: 295 sq ft / (27 sq m) including veranda.
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Deluxe Verdana Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed. Teak veranda with patio furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and comfortable sitting area. One bedroom: 295 sq ft / (27 sq m) including veranda.
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Medallion Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed. Teak veranda with patio furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a comfortable sitting area. One-bedroom Suite 741 has a single bedroom and measures 667 sq ft / 62 (sq m.) Two-bedroom Suites 801–804: 441 sq ft / 41 (sq m) including veranda.
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Silver Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed. Teak veranda with patio furniture and floor-to-ceiling glass doors and a comfortable sitting area. One bedroom: 517 sq ft / (54 sq m) including veranda.
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Royal Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed; Two-bedroom has additional twin beds or queen-sized bed. Large teak veranda and a separate dining area and bar. Royal Suite - 736 sq ft / (69 sq m) including veranda. Two-bedroom - 1,031 sq ft / (96 square meters) including veranda.
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Grand Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed; Two-bedroom has additional twin beds or queen-sized bed. Large teak veranda and a separate dining area and bar. One bedroom: 1,019 sq ft / (95 sq m) including veranda. Two-bedroom - 1,314 sq ft / (122 sq m) plus veranda.
Silver Wind
Select a Date
Owner's Suite
Twin beds or queen-sized bed; Two-bedroom has additional twin beds or queen-sized bed. Large teak veranda and a separate dining area and bar. One-bedroom: 587 sq ft / (55 sq m) including veranda. Two-bedroom - 827 sq ft / (77 sq m) plus veranda.
Included
  • 9 Breakfasts, 8 Lunches, 9 Dinners
  • 10 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Personalized Service with a Butler for all Suites
  • One hour free WIFI per day for all guests. Unlimited free WIFI for guests sailing on select suite categories.
  • In-suite dining and room service
  • Guided Zodiac, land and sea tours, and shoreside activities led by the Expeditions Team
  • Onboard gratuities
  • Beverages in-suite and throughout the ship, including champagne, select wines and spirits
  • Complimentary transportation into town in most ports
  • Complimentary Parka - available only for the duration of the voyage.
  • Luggage Handling 
Excluded
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Some champagne, premium wine and spirit selections, caviar, cigarettes and cigars are not included in your fare.
  • Meals ashore
  • Laundry or Valet services
  • Casino gaming
  • Security Surcharge 
  • Fuel surcharge may be applied.

Map

Inquire

* By providing your phone number, you consent to receive direct phone calls or SMS messages from our Trip Planners to get the process started. We do not share your information with third-parties.
Travel Agents

We Love to Talk Travel

Call 1.800.344.6118
or
Chat Now
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin

Antarctica Travel Guide

Favorite Antarctica All Trips

More Reasons

Why Travel With Adventure Life

All News

Recognized By