Antarctica: The White Continent

An overnight flight takes you to Buenos Aires, the launching point for your adventure into Antarctica.
Hotel Name: Hilton Buenos Aires

Arrive in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, birthplace of the tango and the “Paris of South America.” Stretching along the banks of the Rio de la Plata, the city is a mosaic of European-style architecture and South American spirit. Spend the day however you wish before setting out to begin your voyage tomorrow. There are no included activities today.
Hotel Name: Atlas World Voyager

Visit Area: Buenos Aires
The capital and largest city in Argentina has been an autonomous district since 1880. Buenos Aires is a top tourist destination, known for its European-style architecture and rich cultural life. The city currently has the highest concentration of theaters in the world. Buenos Aires is a cosmopolitan center of the nation and offers a large cultural diversity due to the waves of immigration during the years. It is known as the land of the portenos (people of the port) — which is what the people from Buenos Aires are referred to as — and traditions, but the land is also large in industrial and commercial activities. Although Buenos Aires is a large cosmopolitan area, it also offers a very historical background, reflected in the French and Italian architecture, and numerous museums and cultural centers.

This morning we fly over Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. Set out on a panoramic tour of Tierra del Fuego National Park and soak in this dramatic landscape on the southern tip of South America featuring glaciers, lakes, mountains, and waterfalls. From Ushuaia, embark the expedition ship that will be your home for the next nine days during a cruise to Antarctica.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Ushuaia
Located at the tip of Argentina and in the area of Patagonia is Ushuaia. This "Bay overlooking the West" is regarded as the southernmost city in the world and is part of the the Tierra del Fuego region. Bordered by sweeping mountains and the Beagle Channel, this former prison colony is a popular destination for people traveling to Antarctica and provides insight to the different people that settled here including the Yamana Indians and British missionaries.

Cruise south through the fabled Drake Passage, named after the explorer Sir Frances Drake. Set between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, crossing the legendary Drake Passage is unforgettable – a milestone for any adventurer! Warmer waters of the north meet colder, denser waters of the south here in the Antarctic Convergence, making the area rich in marine life like humpback whales and hourglass dolphins.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Tierra del Fuego
Translated as the “Land of Fire,” Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, separated from it by the Magellan Strait. First explored by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520, today’s adventurer can get around by kayaking through the Beagle Channel, taking a cruise or a catamaran trip to see the mountains and wildlife.

During the 48-hour journey through the Drake Passage, the soundtrack includes the crash of waves against the ship and cry of petrels, skuas, and gulls overhead. While the waterway is famous for its challenging navigation, on some occasions, the channel is calm and tranquil – this unpredictable nature is part of the adventure. As you emerge from the Drake Passage, reaching the northern point of The White Continent, the mammoth, icy peaks of the South Shetland Islands greet you.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: The Drake Passage
Named after the British explorer, Sir Francis Drake, the Drake Passage is the shortest route between South America and Antarctica. Stretching over 500 miles, this passage is a connection point between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Known for it's sometimes tumultuous crossings, the Drake Passage is also known for it's abundance of marine wildlife such as whales.

Part of the greater Antarctica region, the South Shetland Islands hold a bounty of wildlife, scenic landscapes, hiking opportunities, and magnificent views that inspire a sense of discovery. According to sea and weather conditions, there are several possible shore landing opportunities. A possible landing on Elephant Island, named for the shape of its cliffside and the elephant seals that call it home, sets you on the same path as the famous Shackleton Expedition. Another possible landing is Deception Island, a volcanic caldera with heated springs and black sands. Other possible stops include Half Moon Island, Yankee Harbor, Point Wild, and Barrientos Island with its gentoo penguin rookeries.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Zodiac Safaris

Your days are filled with discovering Antarctica, the last great wilderness stretching across ice-covered desert and mountains for over five million square miles. The ethereal beauty and immense scale of the continent are like nowhere else on the planet. The voyage keeps a flexible schedule as your captain expertly navigates ice floes, icebergs, and changing sea and weather conditions to ensure you experience the most from your expedition.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Penguin Colony Close-Ups
See wildlife like never before with excursions that will take you to penguin colonies for up-close encounters with these charming birds.

Nicknamed “The White Continent” for its vast expanse of icebergs, snow and glaciers, Antarctica is often a final frontier for experienced explorers to conquer. As you navigate Antarctic waters, you may set foot on sites like Beak Island, Brown Bluff, Cierva Cove, Hidden Bay, and many more. Each landing throughout the continent offers its own unique landscape, from expansive tundra to rugged mountain peaks, all beckoning you to follow the paths that few explorers have trekked before.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Polar Plunge

Each day is a new adventure filled with a spontaneous sense of exploration. Your captain works with the expedition team to determine possible shore landings and Zodiac safaris. You may take a Zodiac foray among towering icebergs or hike along the shoreline near penguin colonies. On one day of the cruise, you can even take the chance to experience a polar plunge by jumping in with a harness from the side of the ship!

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Expedition Landings

Antarctica falls into your wake as you begin sailing back towards Ushuaia today, crossing the southern waters of the Drake Passage. As you make your return through this famed channel, stay on the lookout for the incredible wildlife around you in the sea and sky.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: On-Board Educational Sessions

On your final day of sailing the channel, enjoy the time to relax on the ship and reflect on all you have seen and learned along the journey.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included

After breakfast, disembark in Ushuaia and proceed to the airport for your flight* to Buenos Aires before flying home.

Breakfast Included