Description
This navigation that lasts eleven days and ten nights, will grant you the possibility to discover all the life offered by the frozen continent. And of course, the surrounding islands, the giant icebergs and the wild sea defying the navigators and demanding the maximum out of the boats daring to cross it.
Day 1:
You will board in the city of Ushuaia during the evening and you will of meet the crew and a group of lecturers who will be accompanying you during the navigation. Once you have settled down in your cabin, you’ll enjoy the navigation through the Beagle Channel, passing through the Mackinlay passage.
Days 2 and 3:
The navigation through the Drake passage will be the main focus during this two days. This famous part of the river was named after Sir Francis Drake who, in 1578, became the first man to sail through this passage. In this place, a natural and biological barrier is located, in which the cold waters coming from the pole pass under the warmer currents coming from the north. This convergence of waters is ideal for the development of a wide variety of marine flora and fauna. This place is also a mark of the northern limit for the Antarctic birds. While in deck, the boat’s crew will accompany you in order to help you with the identification of the great variety of birds and marine fauna that can be observed. On the other hand, since this is an “open bridge” craft, you’ll have the possibility of sharing with the rest of the passengers and learning basic navigation matters.
During the third day of this journey, the sighting of the first icebergs and ice mountains will be an indication of the proximity of the Shetland Islands from the South.
Days 4 to 8:
During this period you will be touring through the Shetland southern Islands, which are populated with abundant wild fauna. Penguins, sea lions and sea elephants colonies are the ones that populate the coasts of these Islands. Among these Islands, the strangest one is the one called Decepción (Deception), which is beneath a volcano due to the fact it has been formed near the top of a volcanic crater. It is a circular island that has several thermal waters streams where if the climate allows for disembarkation, the travelers will be able to get into.
After the Shetland Islands, the first approach to the Antarctic Peninsula will be made and, when possible, a disembarkation in Bahía Paraíso or Punta Portal or some of the islands surrounding this peninsula will be made. It must be taken under consideration that the schedule depends almost exclusively on the conditions of the climate and on the ice.
The entire voyage is accompanied by several informal lectures about the history of this peninsula, the first men to explore this region, and the heroes.
You will be able to observe closely the Adelie Penguins, Crabeater seals and earless seals and Leopard seals, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and killer whales as well. You will be sailing through the beautiful Antarctic channels, such as the Gerlache, the Neumayer and the Lemaire.
At least two disembarkations per day are planned.
Days 9 to 10:
The return heading north begins; you will be passing through the Drake passage again. This is a moment for relax and thinking about the experiences you lived during the journey, and it is also a moment to make the most out of the informal lectures regarding the region, before arriving to Ushuaia.
Day 11:
Disembarkation at the port of Ushuaia takes place early in the morning
Note:
The itinerary included above is only a tentative guide. The exact route and the programme may vary according to the local weather, the conditions of the ice and the opportunities of catching sight of the wild life. The changes will be made by the captain and the expedition’s leader in order to achieve the best results. Once on board you’ll be handed a daily activities schedule and any necessary changes will be informed in advanced. When making this kind of trip, flexibility is the key to success.
