Antarctica: Fly the Drake Passage

Arrive in Punta Arenas, a city in southern Chile and a common gateway to Antarctica. After lunch, check in at Hotel Cabo de Hornos. In the afternoon, meet the Expedition Team and other travelers. Receive and fit expedition boots and parka, complete biosecurity procedures for gear, and attend briefings on Antarctic travel, Zodiac landings, and the next day’s schedule. Dinner is served in the evening at the Faro Lounge restaurant, featuring local dishes.

After breakfast, travel to Punta Arenas airport for a charter flight across the Drake Passage to King George Island. Icebergs may be visible near the coast on approach. Land on the gravel runway and transfer to the expedition ship Ocean Nova with assistance from the Expedition Team. A mandatory safety briefing and drill takes place onboard. The ship then departs south.

Welcome to Antarctica in all its awe-inspiring glory. For the next few days, you maneuver through picturesque channels, where sculpted icebergs and an array of captivating wildlife share these dynamic waters. This is your opportunity to become more intimately acquainted with Antarctica by Zodiac, kayak, snowshoe, or while spending unhurried time ashore, taking in the silence and scale of the landscape. For those participating in the Citizen Science program, the important work of understanding and documenting this fragile environment continues. Prepare to be amazed as you encounter numerous species of penguins, seals, and whales, both along the rugged coastline and in open waters. With opportunities to visit penguin colonies and historic landing sites, you plan to take full advantage of all the White Continent has to offer.

Over time, volcanic activity in the South Shetland Islands has created a geology unlike any other. Here, you can expect a spectacular display of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife, including Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins. It’s also not uncommon to share the shoreline with elephant and fur seals, while whales are often spotted offshore. You settle into your Zodiacs and spend your final day in Antarctica exploring these remarkable islands.

On the final day aboard Ocean Nova, you arrive at King George Island, Antarctica’s most populous island. After a fond farewell to the Expedition Team, crew, and officers of Ocean Nova, disembark by Zodiac to the small Chilean station on King George Island, where your chartered aircraft awaits. Board your aircraft and watch the White Continent recede as you fly across the Drake Passage. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, a delectable dinner and comfortable rest await you at the beautifully appointed Hotel Cabo de Hornos.

Spend the day exploring the best of Chilean Patagonia on an excursion to the famous Estancia Olga Teresa, a local ranch that embodies Patagonian hospitality. Learn about life at the bottom of the world while keeping watch for wildlife, including guanacos, rhea, and Andean condors. In the evening, relax in exceptional comfort at the Hotel Cabo de Hornos or explore the vibrant city of Punta Arenas.

After bidding farewell to your fellow explorers, continue exploring the surroundings of Punta Arenas, set off for further adventure in Patagonia, or head to the airport for your return journey home and a well-earned rest.