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| Falklands - South Georgia - Antarctica Itinerary | ||
Day 1 In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Argentina (or for the first voyage of the Antarctic Spring, Puerto Madryn). Day 2 The ship sails in the westerlies and is followed by several species of albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels. Day 3 In the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) we plan to spend the whole day on the fascinating western side of the archipelago. On New Island we’ll witness how heavy Black-browed Albatrosses try to land and take off in a colony they share with the sturdy Rockhopper Penguins. A hike along the shore of Carcass Island will give us instead views of Magellanic and Gentoo-Penguins, as well as close encounters with water fowl and Night herons. Day 4 In Port Stanley, the capital of the Falklands, we have a chance to look around and experience Falkland culture, which has some South American characteristics as well as Victorian charm. In the surrounding area we can see a quite important number of stranded clippers from a century ago. Day 5 & 6 At sea, on our way to South Georgia we will cross the Antarctic Convergence. Entering Antarctic waters, the temperature will drop as much as 10 degrees C in the time span of only a few hours. Near the Convergence we will see a multitude of southern seabirds near the ship; several species of albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, prions and skuas. Day 7 to 10 Fortuna Bay and Bay of Isles with breeding Wandering Albatrosses on Albatross Island, and Salisbury Plain with a large colony of King Penguins are other highlights of the South Georgia program. We may also visit Elsehul, Right Whale Bay, Possession Bay, Gold Harbour and Drygalski Fjord to give you a good opportunity to see a wide spectrum of landscapes and wildlife, like the introduced Reindeer, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals, Gentoo Penguins, Macaroni Penguins, Grey-headed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Northern and Southern Giant Petrels, White-chinned Petrels, several species of prions and storm petrels, Brown Skuas, Dominican Gulls, Antarctic Terns, sheathbills and the endemic South Georgia Pintail. Day 11-12 At sea, where the ship is again followed by a multitude of seabirds. At some point we might encounter sea-ice, and it is at the ice-edge where we might have a chance to see some high-Antarctic species like the Maccormick skua, Snow Petrel and the elusive Emperor Penguin. Chances to encounter Minke Whales are also increasing when we approach the ice. Day 13 We might try to offer a landing at the famous Elephant Island, where Shackleton and his men had been castaway after having spent month on ice-floes.
Day 14-17 In the South Shetland Island group we might visit Deception Island. The ring-shaped island is a huge volcano of which the crater opens into the sea, creating a natural harbour for the ship. Here we find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station, thousands of Cape Pigeons and many Dominican Gulls, Brown and South Polar Skuas and Antarctic Terns. Wilson’s Storm Petrels and Black- bellied Storm Petrels nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. There might be a possibility of an extended hike on the island. On our way further South we will sail to Orne Islands with large colonies of Chinstrap Penguins and a beautiful view across the Gerlache Strait or to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. From there we sail to Neko Harbour in Andvord Bay and through Paradise Bay with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, while having chances of seeing large whales. We will have opportunities for zodiac cruising between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords. We sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel to Pleneau and Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue-eyed Shags. In this area there are good chances to encounter Humpback Whales, Minke Whales and Fin Whales. A base visit will also be provided, to give you an insight about the life of modern Antarcticans working on the White Continent. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales. Day 18-19 On our way north we are again followed by a great selection of seabirds while crossing the Drake Passage.
Day 20 We arrive in the morning in Ushuaia and disembark. Please note the above itinerary is provided to give you a flavour of the voyage only. The ships route will be decided by the captain and may vary from the above in accordance with ice, weather and other conditions. |
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