Antarctica Fly & Sail

Exploring the Peninsula 8 days

Antarctic Shipping's new Antarctic Expedition of 8 days and 7 nights.
We make an exciting crossing of the legendary Drake Passage to arrive in the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.

Itinerary A - Fly Peninsula
Leaves by plane from Punta Arenas, Chile and returns by sea to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Itinerary B - Fly Punta Arenas
Leaves by sea from Ushuaia, Argentina and returns by plane to Punta Arenas, Chile.

 

Itinerary A - Fly Peninsula *

Day 1 - Punta Arenas, Chile: Passengers will fly from Punta Arenas - Chile, crossing the Drake Passage to King George Island. Our expedition, starts at Fildes Bay, location of the Chilean Base Frei, which we will shortly visit.

Day 2 - Villa Esperanza & Brown Bluff: In the morning we shall be at Hope Bay, right in front of Mount Flora on the Antarctic Sound. The Antarctic Sound was named after the vessel used in the Nordenskjold Expedition 1902—1904. Landing operations will start at the historical site where the Argentinean Base Esperanza is located. Here we will have our first close encounter with Gentoo and Adelie penguins that nest close to the base. Sailing south we will reach Brown Bluff. This dark rocky cliff is surrounded by incredible glaciers.

Day 3 - Paulet Island & Astrolabe: Overnight, we will sail up to Paulet Island. Here we will find a huge Adelie penguin's colony, one of the two penguin species considered truly Antarctic. We can also find a colony of blue eyed shags on the volcanic scree slopes. At this site, we will find the remains of a stone refuge built by the "Antarctic" shipwrecked survivors, crushed by heavy ice at the Weddell Sea on 1903.

Day 4 - Cuverville Island & Paradise Bay: We will sail south west to Cuverville Island, site of the largest Gentoo penguin colony on Antarctica. Cruising into Herrera Channel up to Paradise Bay, on the north shore, high mountains raise up to 1000 meters on the south shore of the Andean Mountain extension range. This is our best chance for a zodiac cruise following the coast line, contemplating glaciers and cliffs. Port Lockroy sits on Goudier Island. The island holds a small museum, surrounded by a Gentoo penguin rookery, that developed through the 80´s long after humans had built the base on this spot.

Day 5 - Deception Island & Half Moon: We will be exploring the coast of the South Shetland Islands. Depending on wind and swell conditions, the Captain and expedition leader will coordinate a landing either on Deception Island or Halfmoon Island, Yankee Harbor or Robert Point.

Day 6 & 7 - Drake Passage: Wandering albatrosses, storm petrels and other seabirds will escort the vessel as you sail north across this famous passage named after Sir Francis Drake, the 16th-century English navigator.

Day 8 - Ushuaia, Argentina: After an early breakfast we will land at 9:00 AM and bid farewellto our guests. Thus ends and incredible and unique expedition.

 

Itinerary B - Fly Punta Arenas *

Day 1 - Ushuaia, Argentina: Passengers board the M/V Antarctic Dream. There you will be greeted by our Expedition Leader and staff and shown to your cabin. Check-in will begin at 4:00 PM on departure day.

Day 2 & 3 - Drake Passage: We will sail towards the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zone. On our second day of navigation through the Drake Passage, we'll start seeing the first glimpse of the White Continent.

Day 4 - Villa Esperanza & Brown Bluff: In the morning we shall be at Hope Bay, right in front of Mount Flora on the Antarctic Sound. The Antarctic Sound was named after the vessel used in the Nordenskjold Expedition 1902-1904. Landing operations will start at the historical site where the Argentinean Base Esperanza is set. Here we will have our first close encounter with Gentoo and Adelie penguins that nest close to the base. Sailing south we will reach Brown Bluff.

Day 5- Paulet Island & Astrolabe: Overnight, we will sail across the Antarctic Sound up to Paulet Island. Here we will find a huge Adelie penguin's colony, one of the two penguin species considered endemic of Antarctic. We will find the remains of a stone refuge built by the "Antarctic" shipwrecked survivors, crushed by heavy Ice at the Weddell Sea on 1903. Then the ship will reposition up to Astrolabe Island, which is a very rich site in wildlife; penguins and seals have colonies all over this scenic place.

Day 6- Cuverville Island & Paradise Bay: Through the night time we will sail south west to Cuverville Island, where the largest Gentoo penguin colony on Antarctica is found. Cruising into Herrera Channel up to Paradise Bay, on the north shore, high mountains raise up to 1000 meters on the south shore of the Andean Mountain extension range. This is our best chance for a zodiac cruise following the coast line. Port Lockroy sits on Goudier Island. This small island is surrounded by Winke Island, a great view for the visit to this historical site, where important ozone layer research was done. The rest of the island that holds this small museum, is occupied by a Gentoo penguin rookery, that developed through the 80´s long after humans had built the base on this spot.

Days 7- Deception Island & Half Moon: We will cruise through Neumayer Channel and then into Gerlache Straight. Next morning we will be exploring the coast of the South Shetland Islands. Depending on wind and swell conditions the Captain and expedition leader will coordinate a landing either on Deception Island or Halfmoon Island, Yankee Harbor or Robert Point.

Day 8- Punta Arenas, Chile: Fildes Bay is our final call for this expedition, which is the site of the Chilean Base Frei. After a short visit to the base facilities we should be ready to get back via airplane, to Punta Arenas – Chile, over the northern coast of the straights of Magellan. At this point, we hope you will go back home as ambassadors for the White Continent,to share your amazing experiences with your friends.

 

* Please note that you should regard this itinerary as a guide only. Our exact route and program varies according to the weather conditions we encounter. Flexibility is the key to success for all expeditions of the M/V Antarctic Dream.