¡Bienvenidos a Ushuaia! Known as the city at the ‘End of the World’, Ushuaia’s strategic position at the southernmost tip of Argentina makes it the perfect gateway to the Antarctic, as well as the jaw-dropping Tierra del Fuego archipelago.
Upon arrival, you’ll be transferred to your accommodation for the next two nights, ready to explore the surrounding wonders. Choose to join an optional private tour for the chance to uncover the hidden delights of Ushuaia, from Our Lady of Mercy Church, to the Mission District and shopping in San Martin Avenue – and for those seeking a glimpse of history, you can add a visit to the Maritime Museum, including entry to the solemn Museum of the Prison of Ushuaia (additional costs).
This morning, set out to discover the vast beauty of Tierra del Fuego National Park. A number of picturesque scenes await, as well as a myriad of native wildlife. Look out for red foxes and packs of guanacos, catch a glimpse of playful sea lions and otters as they navigate the archipelago’s saltwater channels and turn your eyes to the skies to spot the elegant albatross. Rough, mountainous stretches set the stage for vibrant flora and sparkling waters. Witness the tumbling currents of Rio Pipo and the heights of Monte Susana, then reach the end of the world’s longest motorway at Lapataia Bay. Look out over Ensenada Bay to Redonda Isle, then admire the 11-kilometre-long expanse of glacial Lake Roca.
If you’re eager to see more of this phenomenal wilderness, you may join an optional ride on the historic ‘End of the World’ train, traveling along the final seven-kilometre stretch of the storied Southern Fuegian Railway, weaving through beautiful forests in the Tierra del Fuego National Park (additional costs). Alternatively, return to Ushuaia this afternoon with time to spend however you desire.
Rise this morning ready for adventure. Take one last spin around Ushuaia before transferring to the cruise port for embarkation upon either the Ocean Albatros or Ocean Victory. In your well-appointed Category C Balcony State Cabin, you can make yourself at home for the next 10 days, expecting incredible views along the way.
With state-of-the-art X-Bow design for enhanced stability, this resilient Ice Class 1A-rated vessel has been designed especially for the most intrepid voyages into Antarctic waters. After an introductory safety briefing, your expert captain and expedition leader will guide you through the tranquil waters of Beagle Channel. Leaving the rocky grandeur of South America behind, keep your eyes open for whales and dolphins as you set a course for the daring Drake Passage.
This evening, join your crew and company for a welcome cocktail party to mark the start of an unforgettable journey.
Over the next two days, your expert expedition team will steer the ship across Drake Passage, considered by some to be the Mount Everest of the oceans. Separating Patagonia from the Antarctic Peninsula, these wild waters are known for their unforgiving westerly winds, referred to with playful reverence as the ‘Furious Fifties’. Aboard an Albatros Expeditions vessel, your qualified crew will skilfully lead their hardy charge south towards the ‘last continent’.
However strong the winds or rough the swells, your expertly designed ship is built to weather the toughest of conditions while keeping you luxuriously warm and dry.
Take time to unwind at the Polar Spa with a rejuvenating treatment, warm up with a therapeutic trip to the onboard sauna, then get to know your fellow voyagers over drinks at the Nordic Lounge Bar. Thanks to the comprehensive amenities provided, you’re all set for a supremely comfortable journey.
Between visits to the Knud Rasmussen Observation Lounge, join your expedition leader as they brief you on the best way to minimise environmental impact, ensure biosecurity of your clothing and catch glimpses of elusive wildlife once you reach the peninsula. Listen in for lectures on the history of Antarctic exploration and the continent’s fascinating geology, then watch as the waters abruptly chill upon your crossing of the Antarctic Convergence – the meeting point of the Atlantic, Pacific and Antarctic Oceans. Here, flora and fauna proliferate, providing a chance to spot penguins, seals, albatrosses and graceful whales.
Over the coming days, your preparations will pay off in spectacular fashion as you reach the South Shetland Islands – a windswept chain of mountainous rocks marking the northern reaches of Antarctica.
Though they may be exposed to the unrelenting forces of the Southern Ocean, these islands are consequently teeming with life, from colonies of gentoo and chinstrap penguins to the predatory giant petrel. Icy peaks foreshadow the coming continental landscape, while black steaming sands and rusted ruins welcome a landing at Deception Island, where a volcanic eruption in 1969 created this polar Pompeii.
From Yankee Harbour to the shores of Aitcho and Half Moon Islands, return to the chattering din and charming waddle of the region’s proud penguins. Further south and into the Antarctic Peninsula, take to the observation lounge to watch as your captain deftly navigates freezing waters through a graveyard of fallen icebergs. Along the Gerlache Strait, an archetypal Antarctic scene unfolds as you cruise through the snowy dunes and mammoth icebergs of Paradise Bay and the humbling scenery of the Lemaire Channel, to the sprawling penguin rookery of Cuverville Island – one of the largest nesting grounds on the peninsula.
Watch ice walls fall into the ocean on a glacier hike aqlong Neko Harbour, witness the historic transit hut at Damoy Point and take a Zodiac safari through Wilhelmina Bay for an up-close-and-personal encounter with the local humpback pods. While weather and sea conditions will determine your day-to-day itinerary, your expedition leader will keep you up-to-date on planned outings and adventures during regularly scheduled evening briefings. Even when the weather fails you, your voyage is guaranteed to impress thanks to onboard wine tastings, time to spend in the hot tub and a variety of activities and dining options.
After an exhilarating tour of the planet’s most extreme landscape, set a return course to Argentina and begin your journey north. With a variety of activities, as well as superb dining at your ship’s two restaurants, time flies by like the albatross overhead.
On your final evening, join your fellow passengers and raise a glass in toast to a successful voyage at your farewell cocktail party.
Arrive once more in Ushuaia this morning, as you return from the edge of the world. With your feet back on solid ground, it’s time to say farewell to your fellow adventurers and take your complimentary transfer to your post-tour accommodation or on to Ushuaia Airport (USH), where your journey concludes.