Antarctica: In search of the Emperor penguin

Day 1

Arrive in Buenos Aires. Transfer to your hotel in Recoleta.

You will be met at the airport and escorted by one of our local representatives to your hotel in the chic residential district of Recoleta where the architecture is evocative of French belle époque and Italian influence.

Buenos Aires as a whole is an elegant, cultured and cosmopolitan city famed for its interesting museums and the fascinating port district of La Boca, with its cobbled streets and brightly painted houses. It was here that the tango was born, and Diego Maradona honed his footballing skills.

The centre of town is home to the colonial heartland, government buildings and churches, as well as chic shopping districts, which have a nostalgic Parisian feel. The bohemian quarter of San Telmo is full of quaint old houses interspersed with antiques shops, tango bars and classy restaurants.

Stay at - Loi Suites Recoleta

Day 2

Guided walking tour of Recoleta and Retiro.

Looking to the Old World for inspiration, leading families sought to replicate the graceful architecture of Belle Epoque France, covering the upmarket residential areas of Retiro and Recoleta with palatial façades lining shady cobbled boulevards.

This walking tour takes you to former palaces and mansions which now have much more practical functions; the Military Society, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Parks HQ. Retiro station, built according to British design and with British materials, was nevertheless inspired by the ornate French gares. Later, follow meandering Arroyo street with its art galleries, and finally stroll down super-smart Alvear Avenue.

Buenos Aires is full of opportunities for exploration, with bike tours, food tours, wine tours, art tours and tango shows, just some of the other options you can choose from.

Stay at - Loi Suites Recoleta

Day 3

Fly to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, transfer to your hotel.

Transfer to the airport and fly to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia, at the southernmost tip of the continent.  Depending on the number of intermediate stops, your flight takes 3-5 hours.

The city has grown rapidly in recent years, partly as a result of government incentives to settlers, and its establishment as a Free Port, and partly as a tourist centre – most Antarctic cruises, leave from the port here. The setting is spectacular; jagged mountains frame the town which clambers down steep streets to the shores of the Beagle Channel.

Spend a night in a hotel here prior to embarking your expeditionary cruise vessel.

Stay at - Hotel Albatros

Day 4

Transfer to the port to embark MV Ortelius and set sail.

Board MV Ortelius. This expeditionary ship is operated by a Dutch company, and although she attracts guests of many nationalities the language of operation is English and the atmosphere European. 

The accent will be on enabling you to have as many experiences off-board as possible, but there are plenty of on-board presentations and low-key expedition-related entertainment to keep you busy.  

Depart and head towards the Drake Passage through the Beagle Channel, named after HMS Beagle on which Charles Darwin travelled on his explorations around the South American continent. This serene waterway is dotted with rocky islets and fringed by the steep cliffs of forest-clad hills: it’s the last you will see of trees for the rest of the voyage. 

Stay at - Ortelius

Days 5-6

At sea en route to the Antarctic Peninsula.

Cross the Drake Passage, hundreds of kilometres of open water and the shortest crossing between Antarctica and the rest of the world. Pass the Atlantic Convergence where cold water wells up bringing nutrients to the surface from the sea bed, upon which a large number of seabirds feed, you will see an increase in the number of albatrosses and petrels accompanying the ship.

The crossings can be gentle, but you should prepare for rough seas. Force 5/6 winds are considered normal conditions. Whales and dolphins can often be seen, as well as an abundance of marine birds such as petrels, albatrosses and penguins. During this part of the voyage, there are briefings and presentations on the Antarctic ecosystem.

Stay at - Ortelius

Days 7-10

Reach the Weddell Sea, search for Emperor penguins.

The ship will arrive at the Weddell Sea on the eastern seaboard of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Weddell Sea, named after a British sealer, is a little-visited part of Antarctica owing to the prevalence of pack-ice which restricts the progress of ships. Ernest Shackleton’s (far less hardy) vessel Endurance was crushed by the ice here.

It will be the decision of your experienced Expedition Leader, in conjunction with the ship’s captain, as to how much progress towards the Emperor penguin colony on Snow Hill can be made. Historically, conditions have only permitted access to the island around 50% of the time.

Should the ship make it to the Snow Hill Island, the first two days will be spent at the emperor penguin rookery itself, accessed by helicopter at a carefully pre-arranged landing site, a 45 minute walk from the colony. This is a remarkable opportunity to be within a few metres of these stately creatures. (The visit and its duration are governed by the ice and weather conditions and may have to be curtailed or cancelled at any time).

If the ship cannot reach Snow Hill Island, conditions may allow her to pass along the eastern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula where you will view massive tabular icebergs and remote locations – such as Brown Bluff with its steep canyon walls, ice-cap backdrop and penguin colonies. Here, the helicopters may be able to land and from the air you will have the rare privilege of observing the untamed landscapes of jagged mountains, glaciers, lava flows and pack ice. If you are lucky, the giant emperors, among other smaller penguin species, may be observed on the ice-floes.

On previous expeditions, individual emperors have often been located.

Stay at - Ortelius

Day 11

Visit Half-moon and Deception islands.

Sail through the South Shetland Islands – most of which are permanently glaciated, with precipitous mountain peaks glistening in the sunlight.

Stay at - Ortelius

Days 12-13

At sea en route to Ushuaia.

Return to Ushuaia, passing once again through the Drake Passage, accompanied by a plethora of seabirds. There will be presentations, discussions and low-key entertainment such as a quiz or auction, and you can use the time to organise your photos.

Stay at - Ortelius

Day 14

Disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to airport for flight to Buenos Aires.

Pass along the Beagle Channel to reach Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires.

Day 15

Transfer to the airport for your international flight.

Fly home, or continue your adventure with a visit to Iguazu Falls, the wine region or one of Argentina’s other fantastic highlights. Buenos Aires is also a good hub from which to reach some of Latin America’s other extraordinary countries. Contact our Travel Experts for some advice about where would best suit your interests and requirements.