FALKLANDS AND SOUTH GEORGIA
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FALKLANDS AND SOUTH GEORGIA
ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day | Place | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Punta Arenas, Chile | Board the ship and sail along the Strait of Magellan |
| 2 | At Sea | Birdlife, lectures and presentations |
| 3 - 4 | Falkland Islands | Saunders Island, Carcass Island, Port Stanley, penguins, history |
| 5 - 6 | At Sea | Presentations on the history and fauna of South Georgia, wildlife-watch |
| 7 - 11 | South Georgia | Grytviken, Gold Harbour, St Andrews Bay, Prion Island, Salisbury Plain, king penguins, elephant seals |
| 12 - 14 | At Sea | Education program continues, relax aboard the ship |
| 15 | Falkland Islands | Bleaker Island, large variety of birds |
| 16 | At Sea | Reflect as you make your way back to Punta Arenas |
| 17 | Punta Arenas | Disembarkation |
SHIPS OFFERING THIS ITINERARY
Magellan Explorer
The Magellan Explorer is a new purpose built polar expedition vessel, with her maiden voyage being in November 2019. She offers almost exclusively Fly-Cruise voyages from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island on the Antarctic Peninsula. She features 50 spacious cabins, a forward-facing observation lounge, an observation deck, and a dining room that accommodates everyone at one sitting. She also has an outdoor barbecue area, a gym, and a sauna. The bow of the ship is accessible to guests to offer expansive views during exploration. Adventure activities include kayaking and snowshoeing.
Day 1 Punta Arenas, Chile
OVERVIEW:
From 9am, make your way to Explorers House in Punta Arenas and enjoy the facilities. At 4pm, a group transfer will take you to the port for embarkation. As you sail along the Strait of Magellan, the Expedition Team will introduce the history of this fabled sea route.
Day 2 At Sea
Enjoy the ship’s hospitality as you make your way to the Falklands (Malvinas). The engaging series of lectures and presentations begins.
Days 3 – 4 Falkland Islands
Enjoy the long white-sand beach during a morning visit to Saunders Island. A wilderness experience, the main attractions are rockhopper penguins, nesting black-browed albatross, and sub-Antarctic gentoo penguins. In the afternoon, visit Carcass Island. There is an option for an easy hike to the settlement, bird watching, and a typical Falklands tea experience.
Join the expedition team on guided walking tours of Port Stanley or Gipsy Cove. Or explore on your own and absorb the atmosphere, grabbing lunch at the local pub, visiting the maritime museum, the church, hunting for souvenirs, or walking down Ross Road, paying tribute at the war memorials at the waterfront.
Days 5 – 6 At Sea
As you sail towards South Georgia, attend presentations on the history and fauna of the archipelago. In the company of expert guides, watch for wildlife from the lounge or from the outside decks. You may spot magnificent seabirds, such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as different species of whales.
Days 7 – 11 South Georgia
Day 7 – Depending on sea conditions over the previous days, arrival is planned for the afternoon. Given approval from the South Georgia government, an evening Zodiac cruise at Elsehul Bay is planned.
Day 8 – Your first landing is at Grytviken. Clear Customs and then visit the historical site with the museum and Ernest Shackleton’s grave. You will land at Fortuna Bay / Stromness in the afternoon to see king penguins. Here, you will learn more about Shackleton and his expedition, and there is also an optional 2-3 hour “Shackleton walk.”
Day 9 – In the morning, a landing at Gold Harbour is planned, a spectacular location with king penguins, elephant seals, and hanging glaciers. There are also sooty albatrosses here. In the afternoon and on a Zodiac cruise, you will visit Cooper Bay to see macaroni penguins.
Day 10 – St Andrews Bay is the destination of our morning excursion. The highlights here are a shipwreck and the remains of the whaling industry. You will see the largest king penguin colony and elephant seal bulls. An afternoon Zodiac cruise to Ocean Harbour is planned.
Day 11 – Depending on weather conditions, it is planned to visit Prion Island to see the nesting wandering albatross or head to Salisbury Plain to observe more king penguins and stunning landscapes.
Days 12 – 14 At Sea
Your education program continues as you make your way back to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas).
Day 15 Falkland Islands
Evening landing at Bleaker Island, a natural reserve famous for its large variety of birds.
Day 16 At Sea
Reflect on the incredible journey you have just embarked on as you return to Punta Arenas.
Day 17 Punta Arenas, Chile
Upon arrival at Punta Arenas, disembark and take a group transfer to the town center, where the expedition will end. Explorers House remains available to you for the day.