Crossing the Circle via Buenos Aires

You may arrive in Buenos Aires at any time during Day 1 of your itinerary.
Upon arriving in this splendid city, known for its architecture and rich
European heritage, you will independently transfer to your group hotel.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to the airport
and board our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to a central downtown
location to have some time on your own to explore this quaint port town
before making your way to the pier.

As the ship sets sail in the late afternoon, you will begin your Antarctic
journey, passing through the Beagle Channel. Named after the famed ship on
which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities
of landscapes and seabirds. Eventually the channel opens up to the Southern
Ocean, and onwards to Antarctica.

Your days at sea are filled with presentations and lectures led by your
Expedition Team, who will prepare you for the wildlife that will greet you
upon your arrival. In between presentations, spend time chatting with your
shipmates over a drink at the bar, or enjoy the fresh air and views on the
outer decks.

The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of
reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as
untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this
region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travellers alike.
Every visit to Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which
means that your expedition will be unlike any other - creating a unique,
personal experience.

Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore local
bays, channels and landing sites. With wildlife always at the forefront of
our minds, you will visit penguin rookeries, scout for Humpback and Minke
whales, and search for a number of southern seal species, including the
cunning Leopard seal.

Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are
exploring the Antarctic terrain, visiting a research station or consorting
with penguin colonies. Chinstrap, Adélie and Gentoo penguins are found here,
along with four different species of seals. Zodiac cruising can offer
opportunities to view some of the larger local marine mammals more
intimately, such as Antarctic Minke and Humpback whales. Each day and each
excursion will present a new collection of creatures to delight you and keep
your camera busy.

Your days will be busy spotting wildlife and being mesmerized by the
astounding beauty of Antarctica. Listening to the crackling and crumbling of
icebergs and glaciers and watching penguins waddling on the beach will become
your daily entertainment.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle is an impressive achievement, as most
expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula do not reach this far south —
66°33´S. If conditions allow us to cross this famed line at 66°33´ S, you
and your shipmates will celebrate in style with a well-earned glass of
sparkling wine!

Make a toast and take pride in knowing you’ve made it to a part of the
world visited by very few people. This is raw Antarctica, home of the
midnight sun, Adélie penguins and some of the most awe-inspiring ice
formations you’ll see anywhere on the planet.

By now, your knowledge of Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins will be
matched by your ability to differentiate between a Leopard, Fur and Weddell
seal. Terms like ‘bergy bits’ and ‘pancake ice’ will become part of
your vocabulary, yet there are still many tales to be told. As you head
north, Zodiac excursions will fill your days, and your Expedition Team will
continue looking out for species of seabirds, seals and whales that may have
eluded you on your journey south.

Leaving the Antarctic Peninsula behind our ship heads back across the
Antarctic Convergence and the Drake Passage. The crossing is completed with
the rounding of Cape Horn, weather permitting.

In the early morning we arrive back in Ushuaia where your voyage ends. You
will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight to Buenos Aires.