Searching for the Elusive Emperor Penguins

Day 1 End of the World, Start of a Journey

Your voyage will start at the edge of the Earth — Ushuaia is the southernmost city on the planet. In the afternoon you will embark the ship and sail through the scenic Beagle channel.

Day 2-3 Path of the Polar Explorers

Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you catch a taste of life from the perspective of the polar explorers who first braved these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale blasting up sea spray.

After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer subantarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too: a variety of albatrosses and petrels show up, along with Cape pigeons and southern fulmars. Then, near the South Shetlands Islands, the first icebergs flash into sight.

Day 4-7 Enter the Antarctic

During this part of the cruise, the search is on for emperor penguins. Using both the vessel and helicopters, there is a good chance you will find them. You might also enjoy scenic flights and helicopter landings in locations otherwise out of reach this time of year.

Layered sandstones, lava flows, glaciers and icebergs and pack-ice extend as far as the eye can see. There are often individual emperor penguins and Adélie penguins on the ice floes, as well as kelp gulls, skuas, and various breeds of petrel.

At one of these days you will visit Seymour Island – here is where the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901 – 4 wintered under harrowing circumstances. Sedimentary rock, fossils, and great views define this location.

If conditions allow for deeper ventures into the Weddell Sea, Zodiac trips may include: Devil Island – home to a large colony of Adélie penguins. This island offers a magnificent view for hikers willing to foot it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes forms a waterfall dropping from the cliffs close to Cape Well-met.

Brown Bluff – maybe the most scenic location in the entire northern tip of the Antarctic Continent: sheer canyon walls, fallen boulders, beautiful volcanic creations capped with ice. A large Adélie penguin rookery lives here, with gentoo penguins and nesting snow petrels also to be found.

Another landing site may be Esperanza Base – the Argentine research station, where you will be able to meet with scientists and to observe their work.

Day 8 Deception Island

In the morning you will sail to Deception Island for the last landing of the voyage – at Pendulum Cove or Whalers Bay. This island has been a place of whaling in Antarctica for the long time. 

Day 9-10 Return to the continent

Your return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, you are again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Day 11 Disembarkation in Ushuaia

Today you will disembark in Ushuaia, then you will be taken to the airport for depart home.