Cruise to Antarctica, South Georgia, and Islas Malvinas

• The seat of Malvinas culture

The capital of the Malvinas and center of its culture, Port Stanley has some Victorian-era charm: colorful houses, well-tended gardens, and English-style pubs are all to be found here. You can also see several century-old clipper ships nearby, silent witnesses to the hardships of 19th century sailors. The small but interesting museum is also worth a visit, covering the early days of settlement up to the Malvinas War. Approximately 2,100 people live in Port Stanley. Admission to the museum is included.

• Day at sea, crossing the Antarctic Converge.

Prepare to see the wide ocean for the next 48 hours! This is a long navigation crossing the Antarctic Convergence to the South Georgia Island. You are now sailing one of the sides islands triangles formed by Malvinas, Georgia Island, and the Antarctic Península.

Use your time on board wisely. Rest and gain forces for the next adventure. Take time to study the terrain and the natural marvels you’ll see the next time you land! Our experts on board will be glad to deliver useful information. 

• Day at sea, crossing the Antarctic Converge.

On your second day of navigation on plain sea, continue enjoying the bird spotting from the deck. By now, you’ve surely seen Albatros in several sizes and shapes, petrels and skuas, just to name a few. 

During the next four days, you will explore four natural sites in South Georgia. The Island is a wildlife sanctuary, home to fur seals, giant elephant seals, and King Penguins.

• Spot nesting Albatros in Prion Island

Finally, arrive at South Georgia Island! Get ready to explore the island in four days. For the first expedition, we’ll head to Prion Island to see Albatros, the largest wingspan bird, living in its natural habitat. 

Albatros are not always there, in fact, the best time to see them hatching is from January on. Generally speaking, your chances to see adult Abatros breeding and their chicks are high during this time of the year.

• Wildspotting of King Penguins and the Shackleton Traverse

Get ready to discover the path of the first explorers! We’ll get ashore in this northern bay and start spotting the first group of wildlife. In this bay, it is common to see penguins and their brown-haired young offspring. But it is also an elephant and fur seal hangout spot.

Rugged mountains and untamed tundra are part of the landscapes you’ll see in Fortuna Bay. From here, glaciers are easy to spot too, so get your camera ready. Finally, if weather conditions are favorable, we’ll take part in the “Shackleton Traverse”.

Ernest Shackleton was one of the first explorers of the region. Fortuna Bay was one of the last stops on the epic hike to Stromness Whaling Station to get help. Part of his crew was stranded at the Elephant Island, and waiting for rescue.

Finally, they were found, and the legend of this epic hiking route began! Today, Strimness is an abandoned village, but the trail still offers some spectacular views across the mountains and passing Shackleton’s Waterfall.

• King Penguin and Elephant seal colony.

Today you’ll see the third largest King Penguin colony in the world, and just the third in South Georgia with around 60,000 pairs of penguins breeding and hanging.

The plain is a perfect combination of big green fields and swampy areas where penguins, fur and elephant seals spend their time. The amount of penguins you’ll see here is overwhelming.  

These are also some of the biggest fur and elephant seal breeding beaches in the world. Pay attention to the magnificent young Elephant seals weaner adults which have been struggling the whole season to survive and now rule the beach!

• Visit Grytviken

In this abandoned whaling station, king penguins walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place – because they basically do. Here you might be able to see the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave.

In the afternoon, if weather permits, we’ll leave South Georgia Island and start sailing to South Orkney Islands way south, approaching Antarctica. 

• Open sea navigation to the South Orkney Islands

Today will be a full day on board the vessel. You’ll cross the Southern Ocean and reach the South Orkney Islands the next day. Continue discovering wildlife on the open sea.

• Visit Orcadas Argentina scientific station.

Finally here! Depending on the weather, prepare to jump off in Orcadas the Argentine scientific station. Meet the staff and learn more about their work on the island, how they live, and the views of the surrounding glaciers. If disembarking isn’t possible, we’ll head directly to Coronation Island Shingle Cove. 

• Day at sea, heading to the Antarctic Peninsula

Continue to the last sailing before reaching Antarctica! You’ll spend this day at sea and if weather conditions permit, activities we’ll begin on the afternoon of the next day.

• Immerse in the White Continent

Enormous icebergs and a fair chance of fin whale sightings ensure there’s never a dull moment on this last sea voyage south. Also, your best chance to spot Antarctic petrels is here. Depending on conditions, we aim to begin activities the afternoon of day 14.

• Betting with the weather, exploring the Antarctic Sound.

If the ice conditions permit, you now sail into the Weddell Sea. Here colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Paulet Island, with its large population of Adélie penguins, is a possible stop. You might also visit Brown Bluff, located in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound, where you could get the chance to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself.

If conditions aren’t favorable to enter the Weddell Sea from the east, the ship will set course for Elephant Island and head into the Bransfield Strait, between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. Here you can attempt to access the Antarctic Sound from the northwest.

• Back to the Continent

The breathtaking scenery continues in the Bransfield Straight and, if conditions allow further South in the Gerlache Strait. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.

• Day at sea, heading to Ushuaia

This is the end of your Antarctic journey. Get ready to sail for two days to reach Argentina. Enjoy the last views of the legendary Drake Passage and rest.

• Day at sea, heading to Ushuaia

You’ll spend this second day at sea. Enjoy your last moments on the deck and spot albatross and dolphins. Rest and make your last shake of hands and learn about the trip you’ve just experienced.

• Ashore in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport.

Finally, reach Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, after almost 20 days of travel adventure. Disembark at Ushuaia’s port and end the journey with a transfer to the airport.

For your next adventure, we have many more cruises to Antarctica to show you! Or talk to one of our knowledgeable travel agents and tailor your next trip to your budget and timetable.