Itinerary
- Day 1
Santiago
Start in Santiago where you'll walk through colonial architecture and check out Plaza de Armas and the Presidential Palace. The city has solid restaurants and museums worth your time. Mercado Central is good for seeing local food and market life. If you want views of the whole city, Sky Costanera gets you up 1,000 feet for that perspective. Arriving early lets you join pre-programs if you're interested.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Mercado Central market
- Explore Plaza de Armas
- Visit Presidential Palace
- Visit Sky Costanera for panoramic views
- Join optional Pre-Programs
Landmarks Mercado Central Plaza de Armas Presidential Palace Sky Costanera - Day 2
Santiago to Punta Arenas
Head out early from Santiago on a flight to Punta Arenas, the southernmost port in Chile. Once you arrive, you'll board your expedition ship and get settled into your cabin. The Expedition Team meets you on board, friendly guides and local experts who'll be with you for the next three weeks.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Board expedition cruise in Punta Arenas
- Explore the ship
- Meet the Expedition Team
- Day 3
Strait of Magellan
The ship moves through the Strait of Magellan toward the Falkland Islands. You can spend time on deck watching the scenery or relax in the outdoor hot tub. The Explorer Lounge has panoramic views if weather keeps you inside. The Expedition Team gives talks in the Science Center about marine biology, polar survival, oceanography, and photography techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Strait of Magellan
- Access outdoor hot tub
- Attend onboard Science Center lectures
- Participate in Citizen Science projects
- Days 4 - 6
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands have grassy hills, wildflowers, and white sand beaches with lots of birds around. You'll do hiking and birding across different parts of the archipelago. A community walk takes you through Stanley including Jubilee Villas gardens, Christ Church Cathedral, and the Historic Dockyard Museum. Watch for penguin colonies, albatrosses, and seals. Keep in mind all landings depend on weather conditions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Birding and hiking on Falkland Islands
- Community walk of Stanley
- Visit Jubilee Villas gardens
- Visit Christ Church Cathedral
- Visit Historic Dockyard Museum
- Escorted landings with small boats
- View penguin and albatross colonies
- Wildlife viewing (seals)
Landmarks Jubilee Villas Christ Church Cathedral Historic Dockyard Museum - Days 7 - 8
South Atlantic Crossing
Two days at sea heading toward South Georgia, an archipelago with incredible wildlife. The Expedition Team prepares you with lectures covering South Georgia's animals, polar history, geology, glaciology, and stories about Norwegian whalers. You can join citizen science programs to help collect data for research projects happening worldwide.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise toward South Georgia
- Attend Expedition Team lectures on South Georgia
- Participate in Citizen Science programs
- Learn about wildlife viewing safety and low-impact practices
- Days 9 - 12
South Georgia
South Georgia deserves four days to explore properly. This place has huge colonies of penguins, seabirds, and seals everywhere. You'll see albatrosses, petrels, shags, skuas, and terns throughout this Important Bird Area. Visit Grytviken to see where Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton is buried. Daily plans adjust based on weather and what wildlife shows up, so flexibility matters here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore South Georgia wildlife
- Visit penguin colonies
- Visit seabird colonies
- View seals
- Visit Grytviken and Sir Ernest Shackleton's tomb
- Escorted landings with small boats
- Wildlife watching
Landmarks Grytviken - Days 13 - 14
Approach to Antarctica
This day involves sailing toward Antarctica while you reflect on everything you've seen so far. The Expedition Team briefs you on IAATO environmental rules to follow when visiting Antarctica. They cover basic principles like leaving nothing but footprints and taking nothing but pictures to protect the environment.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Attend briefings on IAATO environmental guidelines
- Learn about sustainable travel practices
- Days 15 - 19
Antarctica
Spend five days across the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands seeing the frozen landscape. Towering icebergs surround you along with Gentoo, chinstrap, and Adelie penguins and countless seabirds. Activities might include sailing into a volcanic caldera, landing in icy bays with old whaling remnants, kayaking among icebergs and seals, or snowshoeing to high viewpoints. Onshore talks focus on Antarctic seabirds and conservation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore Antarctic Peninsula landing sites
- Explore South Shetland Islands landing sites
- View icebergs
- View Gentoo, chinstrap, and Adelié penguins
- View Antarctic seabirds
- Escorted landings with small boats
- Possible kayaking among icebergs and seals
- Possible snowshoeing to viewpoints
- Attend onboard lectures on Antarctic habitat
- Attend onshore talks on Antarctic conservation
Optional Activities
- Kayak among icebergs and seals
- Snowshoe to stunning viewpoints
Landmarks Antarctic Peninsula South Shetland Islands - Days 20 - 22
Return via Drake Passage
The journey home starts as you cross the Drake Passage back toward Punta Arenas. Plenty of time to review memories from the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctica. Hot tubs, a panoramic sauna, and the Explorer Lounge keep you comfortable on board. As you enter the Beagle Channel, watch the landscape with Patagonian wildlife and mountains dropping right into icy water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Cruise through Drake Passage
- Access hot tubs
- Access panoramic sauna
- Wildlife watching in Beagle Channel
Landmarks Beagle Channel - Day 23
Punta Arenas to Santiago
Your expedition ends in Punta Arenas where you'll catch a flight back to Santiago. Three weeks of exploration wrap up here, and you head home with memories from the trip. If you're not ready to leave just yet, optional post programs let you extend your time a bit longer in Chile.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Join optional Post Programs in Santiago
