From December 10, 2024 to December 20, 2024
Ship: Ushuaia
Duration: 11 days
Prices from: 6,370 USD per person
From December 10, 2024 to December 20, 2024
Ship: Ushuaia
Duration: 11 days
Prices from: 6,370 USD per person
Embark the USHUAIA in the afternoon and meet your expedition and lecture staff. After you have settled into your cabins we sail along the famous Beagle Channel and the scenic Mackinlay Pass.
Named after the renowned explorer, Sir Francis Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake Passage also marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a great upwelling of nutrients, which sustains the biodiversity of this region. The Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds. As we sail across the passage, Antarpply Expeditions’ lecturers will be out with you on deck to help in the identification of an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses, which follow in our wake. The USHUAIA’s open bridge policy allows you to join our officers on the bridge and learn about navigation, watch for whales, and enjoy the view. A full program of lectures will be offered as well.
The first sightings of icebergs and snow-capped mountains indicate that we have reached the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets first sighted in February 1819 by Capt. William Smith of the brig Williams. With favorable conditions in the Drake Passage our lecturers and naturalists will accompany you ashore as you experience your first encounter with the penguins and seals on Day 3.
The South Shetland Islands are a haven for wildlife. Vast penguin rookeries, beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and Southern elephant seals make every day spent in this amazing island group unforgettable. Sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island is breathtaking.
King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, features colonies of nesting Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins, Kelp Gulls, Blue-eyed Cormorants, Antarctic Terns and Southern Giant Petrels and is home to scientific bases of many different countries. Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins as well as elephant seals await you at Livingston Island.
The Antarctic Peninsula’s remarkable history will provide you with a type of excitement often only associated with the early explorers. You will have plenty of time to explore its amazing scenery, a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, and an incredible wide variety of wildlife. Apart from penguins and seabirds you are very likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals as well as Minke, killer (orca) and humpback whales at close range.
We hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways (depending on the ice conditions): the Gerlache Strait, the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel, the latter are narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. We plan to make at least two landings per day and possible landing sites may include:
Paradise Bay is perhaps the most aptly named place in the world and we attempt a landing on the continent proper. After negotiating the iceberg-strewn waters of the Antarctic Sound, we hope to visit the bustling Adélie Penguin (over 100,000 pairs breed here) and Blue-eyed Cormorant colonies on Paulet Island. The Nordenskjöld expedition built a stone survival hut here in 1903. Today its ruins have been taken over by nesting penguins.
Further exploration may take you to the Melchior Island group, Cuverville Island, Portal Point, Neko Harbour, Pléneau Island and if ice conditions permit, to Petermann Island for a visit to the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins.
We leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. Join our lecturers and naturalists on deck as we search for seabirds and whales and enjoy some final lectures. Take the chance to relax and reflect on the fascinating adventures of the past days on the way back to Ushuaia.
We arrive at the port of Ushuaia in the early morning and disembark the USHUAIA after breakfast.
Please note: The above itinerary is a guide only. Our exact route and program will vary to take best advantage of local weather and ice conditions and opportunities to view wildlife. Changes will be made by the Captain and/or Expedition Leader to facilitate the best results from the prevailing conditions. A daily program sheet will be issued on board. Flexibility is the key to success.
Facilities
FOUR DECKS – DINING ROOM (ONE OPEN SEATING) – OBSERVATION LOUNGE / LECTURE ROOM, BAR & LIBRARY – PANORAMA DECK – GIFT SHOP – INFIRMARY – ZODIACS
$ 6.370 El precio original era: $ 6.370.$ 4.600El precio actual es: $ 4.600.
Hernan Fernandez2023-07-31Transfer del aeropuerto,al hotel y viceversa impecables,excursiones y horarios de las mismas cumplidas,es mas ante la demora de otros ellos dan tolerancia de 5min y arrancan lo cual me parece impecable,recomendadisimos.Laura farago2023-07-30Estuvimos en Ushuaia en vacaciones de invierno. Hicimos 3 excursiones y los traslados desde y al aeropuerto. Destaco la puntualidad y el profesionalismo de guías y choferes. En algunos casos, un plus de amabilidad y calidez (Gise).Maria del Mar Lopez2023-07-27Una gran empresa y con estupendos guías. Un diez en puntualidad y profesionalidadPablo Ivan Monguillot2023-07-26Excelente atención,muy responsables los coordinadores trabajando en equipos todos.volveria sin dudarlo.Gabriel Transandes2023-07-25Agencia muy seria..los guías son estuoendosRoger Gimenez2023-07-21Cumplieron todo en tiempo y forma. Servicio excelente. Puntualidad y cordialidad. Muy recomendablesRocio del Milagro Beleizán2023-07-02Contratamos el Combo Ushuaia, puntualidad, amabilidad y excelente atención por parte del personal. Además, exquisito el chocolate del ticket brindado.veronica gil2023-06-29Excelente excursión por el parque nacional en Ushuaia. Quiero destacar la actuación de la guía Yanina Espósito. Explicó todo muy claramente y nos hizo muchas recomendaciones para comprar souvenirs, visitar lugares y comer rico en la ciudad. Una genia!!!