Drake Fly & Sail

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

Explore King George Island, a hub for Antarctic research with several scientific stations and diverse wildlife. Look for chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, along with elephant, leopard, and Weddell seals. Your charter flight arrives at or departs from Eduardo Frei Montalva Station on the Fildes Peninsula, a Chilean Antarctic air base that supports expedition travel across the Drake Passage. The facility includes more than 40 buildings, with services such as a school, bank, hospital, and post office, giving it the layout of a small community.

Please note: Flexibility is key to any successful Antarctic adventure, particularly a fly cruise.  If the weather at King George Island does not allow for flights this morning, the ship operator will follow their contingency plan, which can be read here.  On average, about 85% of flights occur on this day, as scheduled.  But travelers should be aware of, and ready to follow, the contingencies that Atlas Ocean voyage has developed.

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, we will unearth the secrets of this frozen frontier.

CAPTAIN’S CHOICE — Your Captain will 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 our 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.

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 will 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 our 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.

More than a route across the Southern Ocean, the legendary Drake Passage is an iconic part of the expedition experience. Follow in the wake of history’s great explorers as albatrosses soar overhead, whales may surface alongside the yacht, and the Antarctic Convergence marks your passage into one of the world’s most remarkable marine ecosystems. Whether crossed once or twice, the Drake is more than a journey between destinations—it’s a defining chapter of every unforgettable Antarctic expedition.

Although its nickname the "End of the World" - derived from its location along the southernmost tip of South America among the Tierra del Fuego archipelago - Ushuaia is far from the end of any adventure. Where the Andes meet the Beagle Channel and the snow-capped Martial Mountains sit behind a sprawling city of colorful buildings, lies a lively town ready and waiting to take you on the thrill ride of a lifetime. Scenes like Parque Yatana give you the chance to immerse yourself in the rich, indigenous culture.