FALKLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA AND ANTARCTICA
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FALKLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA AND ANTARCTICA
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 - 10 | South Georgia | Grytviken, Stromness, St Andrews Bay, Prion Island, Salisbury Plain, king penguins, elephant seals |
| 11 - 12 | At Sea | Education program continues, relax aboard the ship |
| 13 | Elephant Island | Maybe land on this inhospitable island with incredible history |
| 14 - 17 | Antarctica & South Shetland Islands | Deception Island, Wilhemina Bay, Lemaire Channel, incredible wildlife and scenery |
| 18 - 19 | At Sea | Reflect as you make your way back to Ushuaia |
| 20 | Ushuaia, Argentina | 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 – 10 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 – Morning visit to Salisbury Plain to observe more king penguins and stunning landscapes. In the afternoon, visit Prion Island to see the nesting wandering albatross.
Day 10 – Morning visit to St. Andrews Bay. You’ll see the largest king penguin colony and elephant seal bulls. In the afternoon, visit Cooper Bay to encounter macaroni penguins on a Zodiac cruise.
Days 11 – 12 At Sea
Your education program continues as you make your way to Antarctica.
Days 13 Elephant Island
In the afternoon, you will see Elephant Island. While a landing here is unlikely, you will see the island from the ship or, if sea conditions allow, from a Zodiac.
Day 14 – 17 Antarctica and South Shetland Islands
We cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula and among the South Shetland Islands, visiting sites in the Antarctic Sound and the Gerlache Strait. The voyage may include visits to sites such as Gourdin Island, Brown Bluff, Half Moon Island, Deception Island, Wilhelmina Bay, the Lemaire Channel, Cuverville Island, the Melchior Islands, or other magnificent places.
Day 18 – 19 At Sea
Reflect on the incredible journey you have just embarked on as you return to Ushuaia.
Day 20 Ushuaia, Argentina
Arrive in Ushuaia, disembark, and farewell your fellow expeditioners.