Day 1: Sunday, Feb. 4:
U.S./Buenos Aires, Argentina
Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires. (Meals Aloft)

Day 2: Monday, Feb. 5:
Buenos Aires
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the Sofitel, in a landmark Art Deco building, where our rooms are ready for check-in.  The morning is at leisure.  This afternoon, explore Buenos Aires.  Enjoy a welcome reception and cocktails before dinner. (D)

Day 3: Tuesday, Feb. 6:
Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Embark Polar Star
Fly to Ushuaia, home to dramatic landscapes of lakes, glaciers, forests and mountains.  Embark the Polar Star, our home for the next ten days. (B, D)

Day 4-5: Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 7-8:
At Sea
Cross the Drake Passage, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet.  We may be accompanied through the passage by petrels and soaring albatrosses.  We have a busy program of enrichment lectures on board, as our knowledgeable expedition staff briefs us on the history and science of Antarctica.  If time and conditions allow, we may be able to make a landing or take a Zodiac cruise late the second day.  As we continue southward, we watch for whales and icebergs. (B, L, D - Daily)

Day 6-8: Friday-Tuesday, Feb. 9-13:
Weddell Sea/Antarctic Peninsula
Spend the days exploring Antarctica.  At this time of year there are almost 24 hours of daylight, so our days will be full and rewarding, with each day including enriching discussions with our naturalist guides and/or a lecture.  Our itinerary remains flexible so as to take advantage of conditions at the time of our visit.

A major focus of the journey is the Weddell Sea side of the Antarctic Peninsula.  We will have plenty of opportunity to cruise ice-filled fjords and islands with a background of high ice-capped mountains, crevassed glaciers and endless white expanses.  There are many sites with an abundance of wildlife, especially the penguin rookeries, with Adelie, gentoo and chinstrap penguins.  We even have a good chance of seeing emperor penguins.  We use our Zodiac landing craft to explore isolated beaches and cruise among the icebergs, looking out for seals – including Weddell, leopard, crabeater and elephant seals.  There is a possibility of close encounters with whales, including minkes and humpbacks.

Plan to visit many outstanding sites in this vast region, among them Whaler’s Bay on Deception Island, where we can take a dip in volcanically heated Antarctic waters; Gourdin Island, home to superb penguin rookeries; Gerlache Strait, with some of Antarctica’s most glorious landscapes; and narrow Lemair Channel, lined on either side with icy, craggy cliffs.  We will also venture, conditions permitting, to Hannah Point, Paradise Harbour and Petermann Island.  Zodiac landing craft let us explore almost anywhere.

On the Weddell Sea side, plan to explore many remote destinations.  Our best chance for seeing emperor penguins is near ice-covered Snow Hill Island.  If conditions permit, we’ll sail to Brown Bluff, where we set foot on the mainland of Antarctica.  We also plan to explore Devil Island for a walk up the slopes of the island’s peaks, and Paulet Island, where remains of a hut built by a Swedish expedition crew are still evident. (B, L, D - Daily)

Day 9-10: Wednesday-Thursday, Feb. 14-15:
At Sea/Cape Horn/Beagle Channel
Returning via the Drake Passage, there’s a chance to enjoy the Polar Star’s “open bridge” policy, and learn the essentials of navigation in these regions.  We’ll round Cape Horn and enter the protected waters of the Beagle Channel, passing islands with imperial and Magellanic cormorants, giant petrels and skuas. (B, L, D - Daily)

Day 11-12: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 16-17:
Ushuaia/Buenos Aires/U.S.
Arrive in Ushuaia and disembark the Polar Star.  We fly to Buenos Aires, connecting with flights back to the U.S. (B, Meals Aloft)

 

Iguazú FallsPre Trip Extension
Optional Pre-Journey Extension.  Feb. 2-4, 2007

Day 1: Friday, Feb. 2:
U.S./Buenos Aires
Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Meals Aloft)

Day Two: Saturday, Feb. 3:
Buenos Aires/Iguazú Falls
Arrive in Buenos Aires and connect with our flight to Iguazú Falls.  On arrival, transfer to the Sheraton Iguazú, located within the national park and short walk from the falls.  Experience the scenic wonders of Iguazú Falls, one of the largest waterfalls on Earth, with more than 275 cascades cutting through rich rainforest. (B Aloft, L)

Day 3: Sunday, Feb. 4:
Iguazú Falls National Park
Spend a full day at enchanting Iguazú Falls.  Explore the trails that surround the falls, and walk along rainforest paths in search of wildlife, including brown capuchin monkeys, colorful tanagers and toucans. (B, L, D)

Day 4: Monday, Feb. 5:
Iguazú/Buenos Aires
Fly from Iguazú Falls to Buenos Aires, where we transfer to the Sofitel, and meet the rest of our group to continue our adventure to Antarctica. (B, D)

Included Features

• All scheduled transportation by air, land and boat within Argentina and Antarctica.  Air between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
• 3-4 lectures and daily enriching information.
• All excursions accompanied by English-speaking expedition staff.
• Membership in MedjetAssist, covering emergency medical evacuation from South America to your hometown throughout your expedition.
• Complete pre-departure information to help you get the most out of your expedition.
• Meals as shown in the itinerary.
• All transfers, porterage and service charges.
• In summary, everything except international airfare, ticketing fee, U.S. and foreign airport departure taxes; domestic air tax; any air or ship fuel surcharge; tips to guides and crew; passport fees; and items of a personal nature, such as laundry, alcoholic beverages, etc.