Antarctica

Classic Antarctica Fly & Cruise

Itinerary

Day 1: Punta Arenas
Arrival at Punta Arenas airport and transfer to your hotel downtown. Introductory speech and welcome dinner in a listed Patagonian mansion, built in the 19th century.

Day 2: Punta Arenas / King George Island / Livingston Island
Transfer to Punta Arenas airport to board the plane and fly for a little over three hours to King George Island (South Shetlands). Visit to Eduardo Frei Chilean Base. Afternoon visit to Hannah Point, on Livingston Island, home of the Antarctic and Gentoo penguins. Possible sighting of the Macaroni Penguin, Southern Elephant Seal and Antarctic Fur Seal.

Day 3: Aitcho Island / Deception Island
Morning visit to Aitcho Island and its Gentoo and Antarctic Penguin colonies. Sighting of other sea birds, like the Southern Giant Petrel. Sighting of other mammals like the Weddell Seal and the Southern Elephant Seal are possible. Afternoon visit to Deception Island, of volcanic origin, sailing into the flooded crater. Visit to the ruins of the former Norwegian Whaling Station and the BAS (British Antarctic Survey) shelter, evacuated in 1967 after a volcanic eruption. Guided tour to Neptune's Bellows, nesting site of the Cape Petrel. If the weather is suitable, there will be a dip in hot volcanic waters.

Day 4: Port Lockroy / Paradise Bay / Gonzalez Videla Base
Morning visit to Port Lockroy on Wiencke Island, used by whalers almost one hundred years ago, where you can still see remains of whale skeletons. It is now a museum extremely well kept by Britain. Whales and other mammals are frequently seen around the island. The abundant fauna includes Gentoo Penguins and King Cormorants, as well as Minke and Humpback whales. Afternoon visit to beautiful Paradise Bay. If the weather allows it, there will be zodiac boat expeditions to the icebergs. Visit to the Chilean Air Force President Gabriel González Videla base. The members of the base live surrounded by a population of Gentoo penguins, among which it is possible to see some rare albinos.

Day 5: Lemaire Channel / Petermann Island / Cuverville Island
Early cruise through the Lemaire Channel, one of the most beautiful places in the world, known as the Kodak Gap. Landing and sighting of Petermann Island, the southernmost spot in our trip. On this island you will see the beauty of big granite walls and much snow. It is the home of Gentoo and Adelie Penguins and of a colony of King Cormorants. In the afternoon, we will explore Cuverville Island, nesting place of the Gentoo Penguin.

Day 6: Half Moon Island / Arctowski Base
A.M. Landing at Half Moon Island, habitat of large Antarctic Penguin colonies. P.M. Visit to the Henry Arctowski Polish Academy of Science Antarctic Base. The scientific personnel, a very warm, welcoming group, is engaged in the study of many species, birds and mammals, as well as other sea fauna of this area.

Day 7: King George Island / Punta Arenas
Return to the Presidente Eduardo Frei Chilean Air Force Antarctic Base. Tour around the premises. Later, departure for Punta Arenas on board the Dash-7.

Programme subject to changes, depending on weather conditions.