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Day 1: In the afternoon, we embark
in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the
picturesque southernmost city in the world
located at the Beagle Channel and sail through
the Beagle Channel.
Day 2: At sea, in the westerlies the
ship is followed by several species of
albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and
diving petrels.
Day 3: In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
we plan to spend the whole day on the
fascinating western side of the archipelago.
On New Island we'll witness how heavy
Black-browed Albatrosses try to land and take
off in a colony they share with the sturdy
Rockhopper Penguins. A hike along the shore of
Carcass Island will give us instead views of
Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as
close encounters with water fowl and Night
herons.
Day 4: In Port Stanley, the capital of
the Falklands, we can experience Falkland
culture, which has some South American
charactieristics. In Port Stanley and
surrounding area we can see a quite important
number of stranded clippers from a century
ago.
Days 5 & 6: At sea, on our way to South
Georgia we will cross the Antarctic
Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the
temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees
Celsius in the span of only a few hours. Near
the Convergence we will see a multitude of
southern seabirds near the ship; several
species of albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels,
prions and skuas.
Days 7-10: In South Georgia we shall
visit Grytviken with the abandoned whaling
village, where King Penguins now walk in the
streets, and King Edwards Point with a British
garrison and the grave of Shackleton. Fortuna
Bay and the Bay of isles with breeding
Wandering Albatrosses on Albatross Island, and
Salisbury Plain with a large colony of King
Penguins are other highlights of the South
Georgia program. We may also visit Elsehul,
Right Whale Bay, Possession Bay, Gold Harbour
and Drygalski Fjord to give you a good
opportunity to see a wide spectrum of
landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced
Reindeer, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals, Gentoo
Penguins, Macaroni Penguins, Grey-headed
Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses,
Northern and Southern Giant Petrels,
White-chinned Petrels, several species of
prions and storm petrels, Brown Skuas,
Dominican Gulls, Antarctic terns, Sheathbills
and the endemic South Georgia Pintail.
Day 11: At sea, where the ship is again
followed by a multitude of seabirds.
Day 12: In the South Orkneys we plan to
call at Laurie Island and may visit the
friendly Argentine base, in which vicinity we
can see breeding Southern Giant Petrels. With
permission of the base personnel we may also
visit Punta Cormoran which has an Adelie
Penguin Colony.
Day 13: At sea when we approach the
sea-ice, we may have a chance to see some
high-Antarctic species like Maccormick Skua,
Snow Petrel and the elusive juvenile Emperor
Penguin. Chances to encounter Minke Whales are
also increasing when we approach the ice.
Days 14-16: Our landings in the South
Shetlands Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula
may include Paulet Island featuring the
remains of polar expeditions from the
beginning of the 20the Century, and a colony
of hundreds of thousands of Adelie Penguins.
Here at the tip of the Weddell Sea we see the
magnificent table icebergs. At Brown Bluff we
may set foot on the Antarctic Continent at
Portal Point, where Crabeater Seals have often
been seen. Here in the gerlache Strait we
often see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. We
try to land at Baily Head (Deception Island),
where we are surrounded by 100,000 Chinstrap
Penguins like in an ampitheatre. From here
good walkers can walk to Whalers bay. In
Whalers bay, we can observe the remains of the
Hektor whaling station from the beginning of
the 20th century. We intend to visit Hannah
Point, one of the best wildlife spots in the
South Shetlands, with Giant Petrels, Cape
Pigeons, Blue-eyed Shag, Gentoo Penguins,
Chinstrap Penguins, a few Macaroni Penguins
and Elephant Seals.
Days 17-18: On our way north we are
again followed by a great selection of
seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 19: We arrive in the morning in
Ushuaia and disembark. |
