Antarctic Peninsula - Polar Circle

In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.

During these two days we sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may see Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black- browed Albatrosses, Light- mantled Albatrosses, Cape Petrels, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. Near the South Shetland Islands, we spot our first icebergs.

The options for activities in the Antarctic Peninsula are great and no less so during the late summer. Humpback whales are prolific everywhere gorging themselves on krill before their northern migration. The penguin chicks are fledging and creating activity on the beaches while sleek leopard seals lie in wait ready to attack the unfortunate ones.

Sites for our adventures may include Hannah Point on Livingston Island, where we will find a nice variety of Gentoo penguins, Chinstraps and southern Giant petrels, as well as Elephant seals hauling out on the beach. At Deception Island is a sub-ducted crater, which opens into the sea creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape petrels and many Kelp gulls, Brown and South polar skuas and Antarctic terns. Wilson’s storm petrels and Black-bellied storm petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay.

Cuverville Island is a small precipitous island nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Rongé Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo penguins and breeding pairs of Brown skuas.

In Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent. We aim for a zodiac cruise between the icebergs in the inner parts of the amazing waterway of Paradise Bay. Ice conditions allowing, we hope to pass the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Petermann Island offering Adélie penguins and Blue-eyed shags. Pléneau Island is another option with fair chances to encounter Humpback and Minke whales.

The journey takes us south along the Argentine Islands to Crystal Sound, and cross the Polar Circle in the morning. We hope to make a landing at the abandoned British station on Detaille Island, which is likely to be our furthest south. The landscape is very impressive with very high mountains and huge glaciers. An alternative is Fish Islands further north were we encounter one of the southernmost Adélie penguin and Blue-eyed shag colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Sailing north again through Neumayer Channel and Gerlache Strait, we arrive at the Melchior Islands; a beautiful landscape with icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard seals, Crabeater seals and whales. Throughout this area offers excellent opportunities for kayaking and diving in the pristine Antarctic environment. From there we depart into the Drake Passage around noon.

On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.

We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark.