Antarctica Active: All Inclusive Activities

Upon arriving in Ushuaia, meet an Aurora Expeditions representative for a shared transfer to the assigned pre-voyage hotel alongside fellow expeditioners. If already in the city, please proceed directly to the accommodation. Check-in begins at 3:00 pm. This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk situated in the hotel lobby between 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm to collect necessary luggage tags and confirm participation in the Lake Escondido pre-embarkation tour scheduled for tomorrow. The on-site team remains available during this time to confirm embarkation day details, answer any questions, and provide recommendations for dining or purchasing last-minute items.

Those arriving after 7:00 pm receive a welcome pack waiting at the reception desk during check-in and should plan to visit the hospitality desk tomorrow morning between 8:00 am and 8:45 am.

The remainder of the day remains at leisure to explore independently, with all meals enjoyed at personal expense.

Assigned accommodation: To be advised 

This morning, enjoy breakfast and complete the hotel check-out process. Please ensure all cabin luggage features tags clearly labeled with your name and assigned cabin number. Leave these bags at the hotel reception before or during check-out, as they undergo direct transfer to the port for clearance and placement in the cabin prior to boarding. Keep any valuables and essential personal items on hand to carry throughout the day.

For the optional Lake Escondido tour, meet in the hotel lobby after breakfast at the departure time specified at the hospitality desk. This excursion features a panoramic drive through expansive glacial valleys, dense evergreen and deciduous forests, cascading waterfalls, and rivers across the vast Andes Mountain Range. The route heads northeast from Ushuaia across Tierra del Fuego, traversing peat bog valleys to reach Garibaldi Pass. A winding road leads directly to a scenic overlook offering remarkable views of Lake Escondido and, weather permitting, Fagnano Lake. Descend to the shores of Lake Fagnano to admire the scenery before stopping for a traditional Argentinian barbecue. Following some free time, head back to Ushuaia for ship embarkation.

Alternatively, spend the day at leisure before gathering at the hotel lobby or the designated pier parking lot meeting point, exactly as instructed by the ground staff. From there, proceed with the scheduled transfer to the pier for embarkation. Once on board, take time to settle into the cabin before attending the essential mandatory safety briefings. As the ship pulls away from the port, gather on the deck to commence the adventure while taking in spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening, mingle with fellow travelers, the expedition team, and the crew during a welcome dinner celebrating the start of a thrilling voyage to Antarctica.

As you commence the Drake Passage crossing, you make the most of your time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. The expedition team prepare you for your first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start your lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment. 

Your wildlife experiences begin as you enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following your vessel. On sea days, you can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, sauna and jacuzzis or relax in one of the observation lounges.      

Nearing the South Shetland Islands and the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula on the afternoon of day four, the excitement is palpable with everyone converging on one of the observation decks watching for your first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once you are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you for a lifetime. Time and weather permitting, you may attempt your first landing in Antarctica by late afternoon.

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.  

The Antarctic Peninsula is a bustling metropolis of wildlife in late spring, but despite the frenetic pace of life for the locals, you have ample time to immerse yourself in the wonders of surrounding environment. Over the next week, settle into the natural rhythms of life in the Antarctic Peninsula.  

With extra time for exploration, take the opportunity to experience some favorite spots along the peninsula and possibly discover new future favorites along the way.  

Once you arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are yours to explore, and you have a host of choices available. Because you are so far south, experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.  

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. 

You generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. Rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping a close watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also shuttle you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of the favorite spots along the peninsula.  

While ashore you aim to stretch your legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you can have the option to do participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! The polar plunge can take place at any time during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your life!  

In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, you may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straits separating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to marvel at sculptural icebergs and photograph spectacular scenery. This is a great time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) for uninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendor. Listen out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as they carve into sea. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the splendid white continent.

Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before you re-enter the Drake Passage for your return journey to South America. 

With lectures and film presentations to complete your Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what you have seen and experienced. 

As you approach the tip of South America, your Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.

During the early morning, cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where you disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as you all continue your onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.  

Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 14:30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 14:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation. 

Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, it is not recommended to book flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pm on the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.