Drake Express

Arrive at the airport and head to your hotel. Relax, and spend the overnight here preparing for your adventure.

King George Island is home to several research stations and is one of the main access points to Antarctica. The island supports wildlife such as chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, as well as elephant, leopard, and Weddell seals. If your expedition begins or ends here, your charter flight arrives at or departs from Eduardo Frei Montalva Station, a Chilean air base on the Fildes Peninsula. The station supports Antarctic research and includes more than 40 buildings, including a school, bank, hospital, and post office, giving it the appearance of a small village.

Nicknamed The White Continent for its vast expanse of icebergs, snow, and glaciers, Antarctica is often the final frontier for experienced explorers to conquer. As you navigate Antarctic waters, you may set foot on sites like Beak Island, Brown Bluff, Cierva Cove, Hidden Bay, and many more. Each landing throughout the continent offers its own unique landscape, from expansive tundra to rugged mountain peaks, all beckoning you to follow the paths that few explorers have trekked before.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain can expertly navigate ice floes, icebergs, and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

Imagine setting foot on the ethereal landscape of the Antarctic Sound, where the whispers of ancient glaciers echo. It’s a land of stark contrasts, known for tabular icebergs, stunning blue waters, and abundant wildlife. It’s a place where the horizon seems endless, and time stands still. Each landing becomes a thrilling chapter in your adventure book. Step ashore onto remote, ice-strewn beaches and feel the crisp Antarctic air invigorate your senses. Greet curious penguins waddling across the snowy expanses, while seals lounge nonchalantly on drifting ice floes. Amid the Antarctic Sound’s possible landings, Paulet Island stands out with its volcanic landscape and some of the largest colonies of Adelie penguins in Antarctica. Remnants of historical expeditions can be found throughout, connecting you to explorers of the past. This is not just a destination; it’s an invitation to the adventure of a lifetime. Together, you unearth the secrets of this frozen frontier.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs, and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition. Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration as your Captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. All itinerary routes serve as examples and are subject to change based on current conditions, prioritizing the safety and optimal expedition experience for all guests.

King George Island has come to be known as the unofficial capital of Antarctica with its various research stations located on the island. As a haven for an incredible amount of wildlife, including chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, and elephant, leopard, and Weddell seals, it’s a prime locale for scientific research. If your expedition begins or ends here, then your charter flight lands in or departs from Eduardo Frei Montalva Station, the Chilean air base for Antarctica expeditions with flight options over the Drake Passage. Lying within the Fildes Peninsula, where Chile laid claim to Antarctic territory, the base is an important research station. Made up of over 40 buildings, including a school, bank, hospital, and post office, it resembles a smaller village rather than a base.

Please note:  If the weather at King George Island does not allow for flights this morning, the ship operator follows its well-established contingency plan, again.

After breakfast, make your way to the Punta Arenas airport for your flight home.