Antarctica - Weddell Sea Explorer

Your journey starts in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world, located at the bottom of South America. In the afternoon, depart from this beautiful town on Tierra del Fuego, known as "The End of the World." As you sail, take in the stunning views of the Beagle Channel, surrounded by mountains, for the rest of the evening.

Cross the Drake Passage over the next two days. You feel cool, salty winds and the sea moves in big waves, just like it did for early polar explorers. As you pass the Antarctic Convergence—where cold water from the north meets warmer water from the south—you enter the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Here, the sea life and bird life start to change. You may see seabirds like wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, and Antarctic petrels. Watch the water closely—whales might show up during your journey, too.

You arrive early at the famous Point Wild, Elephant Island, where Shackleton’s crew made their first landing after the loss of their ship, Endurance. This inhospitable spit of land is a favorite among the guests, and if conditions permit, activities around the point before setting off for the Weddell Sea is offered.

The great Weddell Sea features massive tabular icebergs, wildly dramatic landscapes, and fascinating historical sites. It is also one of the best places in Antarctica for viewing iconic wildlife like whales, seals, and rarely seen seabirds.

You may visit the following locations, depending on local conditions:

Antarctic Sound - Antarctic Sound is nicknamed “Iceberg Alley,” as you often see enormous tabular icebergs here.

Brown Bluff - Possibly the most scenic location in the northern Antarctic Continent, Brown Bluff is characterized by sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, and beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice.

Herbert Sound -Focus your attention on the visually impressive areas of Naze Peninsula and Comb Ridge.

Devil Island - This island offers a magnificent vantage point for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met.

Erebus and Terror Gulf - Here you look for new activity opportunities and may visit Vega Island, experiencing the wilderness of Antarctica in its most remote places.

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you’re again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Every adventure, no matter how grand, must eventually come to an end. It’s now time to disembark in Ushuaia, but with memories that accompany you wherever your next adventure lies.