23-day Antarctica adventure, Falklands, and South Georgia ends in Buenos Aires

Welcome to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city and starting point of our Antarctic expedition! Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by our staff and transferred to a quality hotel, which has been arranged by us and is included in the price of the itinerary. You are free to explore this vibrant port city and adventure hub for the rest of the day.

For an introduction to local history and wildlife, the interesting Museo del Fin del Mundo is worth a visit. If you have time to spare, various nature activities can be arranged to suit all interests and fitness levels, from hiking in the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park to wildlife viewing in the Beagle Channel. For dinner, Ushuaia offers a wide range of restaurants featuring Patagonian lamb and delectable Fuegian seafood.

After Breakfast at Your Hotel, the Morning is Yours to Enjoy Ushuaia. Explore the Delightful Waterfront and Savor Views of the Snowcapped Martial Range, the Southernmost Peaks of the Andes. Take Advantage of Shopping for Souvenirs or Some Last-minute Necessities Such as Cold-weather Gear. Remember, You Will Soon Receive Your Very Own Parka to Keep and Waterproof Boots to Borrow on Board the Ship. For Lunch, the Many Cafés, Parrillas and Gelato Shops on Avenida San Martín Will Be Sure to Satisfy Any Appetite.

In the Afternoon, You Will Be Transferred to the Pier, Where We Will Warmly Welcome You Aboard the Luxury Expedition Vessel M/v Sea Spirit. Get Settled in Your Spacious Suite and Explore the Ship That Will Be Your Comfortable Home During the Extraordinary Adventure to Come. After Getting Underway, a Full Schedule of Events Kicks Off With Informative Briefings and Introductions From Your Expedition Staff. After the First of Many Delicious Dinners on Board, Step Out Onto the Open Decks to Admire the Scenery and Gorgeous Evening Light as We Pass Through the Beagle Channel.

After passing the islands of Tierra del Fuego, we turn south to begin our crossing of the Drake Passage. The majestic wandering albatross and other graceful subantarctic seabirds are common in these waters and can readily be viewed from panoramic open decks and balconies. We also cross the Antarctic Convergence, the biological boundary of the Southern Ocean. The ship’s stabilizing fins provide comfort in the event of rough seas. We hope to arrive in the South Shetland Islands on the evening of our second day at sea.

During the next four days, we explore the highlights of the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. This region contains some of the world’s most impressive scenery and the best wildlife viewing in Antarctica. Sheltered bays and channels sparkle with ice and reflect towering mountain peaks coated in permanent snow and immense glaciers. Icebergs of every size and description complete an image of incomparable beauty. Waters rich with krill are home to many marine mammals and seabirds. The whole area is alive with penguins foraging at sea and forming large rookeries at unique places on land. Here we also find Antarctic research bases of various nationalities, some with gift shops and post offices.

Lectures and presentations
We now proceed northeast through the wildlife-rich waters of the Scotia Sea. We keep a lookout for abundant humpback and fin whales along the way. Briefings, bio-security procedures, and presentations by our lecture staff prepare you for our arrival in South Georgia.

The next five days will be devoted to the exploration of the unique and spectacular wilderness of South Georgia, home to some of the greatest concentrations of wildlife on the planet. This isolated subantarctic island is said to host upwards of 100 million seabirds, including numerous species of albatross, penguins, prions, petrels, shags, skuas, gulls, and terns. Among these is one of the largest flying birds in the world—the wandering albatross. Here you have a rare opportunity to witness part of their remarkable life cycle. While most seabird chicks are already fledging, wandering albatross chicks are only now hatching in grassy nests overlooking the wild Southern Ocean.

On South Georgia’s legendary beaches, king penguins are gathered in massive colonies that stretch from sandy shorelines to the foothills of glaciated mountains. Also, at this time, hundreds of thousands of macaroni penguin chicks are getting ready to head out to sea. Rare birds such as the endemic South Georgia pipit and yellow-billed pintail round out the list of 78 bird species found across the territory. The successfully completed rat eradication program has made this wilderness more pristine and rich with birdlife.

South Georgia is also home to staggering numbers of elephants and fur seals. At this time, thousands of fat elephant seal pups are lounging around on shore while mobs of rambunctious fur seal pups take to the water. Once hunted nearly to extinction, large whales have returned to the bountiful seas surrounding South Georgia. With the whalers long gone, the historical whaling station of Grytviken is now home to the excellent South Georgia Museum. Here you will also find the grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton, a heroic polar explorer and leader of the Endurance expedition.

In this rugged yet accessible environment, superb wildlife viewing is best complemented by active adventure. There are many opportunities for guided treks through this raw and untamed wilderness, including the legendary Shackleton Walk. For sea kayakers, the wildlife-rich waters of South Georgia offer the chance to paddle with hordes of seals and penguins in some of the world’s most scenic waterways.

This is expedition cruising at its most authentic. Our precise route and exploration opportunities depend on the weather in this wild and remote corner of the world. Our experienced captain and expedition leader will continually adjust plans to take maximum advantage of the conditions and circumstances at hand. You can be sure that we will take every safe opportunity to go ashore in this challenging environment.

We sail west toward the Falkland Islands, passing the remote, seabird-covered pinnacles known as Shag Rocks on the way. Pelagic seabirds are our companions as we watch for dolphins and whales in these productive waters. Presentations by our expert naturalists and historians prepare you for our arrival in the Falkland Islands.

On these days, we intend to come alongside the wharf at Stanley, the historic capital of the Falkland Islands. Attractions within pleasant walking distance along the waterfront promenade include the Falkland Islands Museum, the governor’s house, war memorials, quality gift shops, and charming pubs. Christ Church Cathedral features an impressive whalebone arch and dramatic views of shipwrecks in the harbor.

We also plan to offer an excursion to Gypsy Cove. In this national nature reserve, white sand beaches are frequented by numerous bird species, including the endemic Falklands flightless steamer duck. Here you can also see Magellanic penguins, whose chicks have fledged and are making a tentative start to their lives at sea. At this time, you may even find groups of sea lions hauled out on shore.

We continue our exploration of the Falklands in the isolated outlying islands. These bleakly beautiful isles are havens for wildlife. Large colonies of seabirds, perched on windy bluffs overlooking azure seas, are easily accessible by hiking over lush meadows. At this time, black-browed albatross soar down from above while feisty rockhopper penguins leap up surf-battered cliffs below to feed their large chicks amongst the tussocks.

On nearby beaches, gentoo penguin chicks are starting to fledge while adult king penguins and chicks of all ages are getting ready to brave the austral winter. Just offshore, you may see Peale’s dolphins and even killer whales patrolling the coasts. Many land birds, including the endemic Cobb’s wren and inquisitive striated caracara, contribute to the abundant wildlife that will leave nature lovers breathless.

As we sail north through the South Atlantic Ocean, the ocean breezes gradually get warmer. As we enter deeper waters, we are on the constant lookout for killer whales, blue whales, sei whales, and southern right whales. This is also the time for festivities such as the Captain’s Farewell Cocktail and the end-of-voyage slideshow.

Right after the disembarkation, we provide a group transfer to Ezeiza (EZE) – International Airport or a central location in Buenos Aires.