Highlights of Antarctic Peninsula & Weddell Sea

Day 1:  Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams and Embarkation

Fly from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams, enjoy a tour of the scenic port before being warmly welcomed aboard Polar Pioneer. We'll have introductory and safety briefings before our evening's cruise down the Beagle Channel.

Days 2-3:  Crossing the Drake Passage

Ease into shipboard life as we cross the Drake Passage. Our naturalist and paleontologist expand our Antarctic knowledge and prepare us for landings. The outer decks and flying bridge provide excellent space to see and photograph wildlife

Day 4:  Antarctic Sound

Access to the Weddell Sea is totally ice-dependent. Calved from massive ice shelves, the tabular icebergs of Antarctic Sound create a memorable sight. We thread our way through waters alive with penguins against a backdrop of breathtaking volcanic scenery.

Days 5-6:  Weddell Sea

Weather systems and shifting pack ice dictate our schedule. We may visit the vast Adelie and gentoo penguin colonies of Brown Bluff or Paulet Island and fossil-rich Seymour Island. We may hike to spectacular vantage points on Beak and Devil Islands. We may even reach the islands of Prince Gustav Channel. Wherever we go, wildlife, Heroic Age relics and haunting landscapes await.

Days 7-9:  Antarctic Peninsula

We head for the Peninsula's beautiful western flanks to make full use of the late summer daylight hours and relatively ice-free waters. Wildlife stops on offshore islands, visiting historic huts and Zodiac cruising amidst bergs and whales are all possibilities. We'll also listen carefully for the otherworldly courtship song of the Leopard seal.

Days 10-11:  Crossing the Drake Passage

Petrels, prions and albatross accompany us across the Drake Passage. Final talks help polish our Antarctic education before making a ceremonial rounding of Cape Horn, time and weather permitting. We gather for a celebratory dinner as we enter the Beagle Channel.

Day 12:  Disembarkation in Ushuaia

A pre-dawn sail along the Beagle Channel and an early breakfast prepare us to dock in Ushuaia. There's time for final photos and to say our farewells before disembarking.

NOTE: This itinerary is for guidance only as each voyage will vary depending on ice and weather conditions, and opportunities to see wildlife. Flexibility is key and all part of the adventure of an expeditionary cruise.