PATAGONIA

 

The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, Argentina, is a desirable destination laden with natural wonders, cultural significance, and hidden treasures. Located on the Beagle channel, which extends from mainland South America to the frigid waters of Antarctica, Ushuaia provides incomparable access to innumerable excursions throughout the picturesque Tierra del Fuego region. Furthermore, this ideal locale allows visitors to enjoy not only the beauties of the sea, but also the majesty of the Martial Mountains and the mystique of dense Argentine forests.

ADVENTUREPatagonia

ANTARCTICA

Geography: Antarctica is the icy continent at the South Pole. It is covered by permafrost (permanently frozen ground), is surrounded by water, and is about 1 1/2 times larger than the United States. The world's largest desert is on Antarctica. 98 percent of the land is covered with a continental ice sheet; the remaining 2 percent of land is barren rock. Antarctica has about 87% of the world's ice.

Climate: The South Pole is the coldest, windiest, and driest place on Earth. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was at the South Pole; it reached -128.6°F (-88.0°C)! On average, most of Antarctica gets less than 2 inches of snow fall each year.

People: Although scientific expeditions visit Antarctica, there are no permanent human residents (because of the extreme weather, which includes freezing temperatures, strong winds, and blizzards). There are about 4,000 seasonal visitors to Antarctica.

Location: Antarctica hasn't always been located at the South Pole. It has drifted, like the other continents, and has ranged from the equator (during the Cambrian period, about 500 million years ago) to the South Pole. During the time of the dinasors (the Mezosoic Era about 65 million to 248 million years ago), Antarctica was more temperate and housed dinosaurs and many other life forms. Now, there is very little indigenous life.

Map of Argentina  Patagonia   Antartica
Sherakhan Saloon Cabin
Pool cabin 2 cabin

ITINERARY For Patagonia 8 Days

DAY 1: PUNTA ARENAS – PUERTO HOPE

Embarkation in Punta Arenas, after you have settled on the Sherakhan we will soon after leave to Puerto Hope. Puerto Hope has a wonderful natural harbor opening between high mountains and beautiful forests.

DAY 2: PUERTO HOPE – CORDILLERA DARWIN

In the morning we will leave Puerto Hope to reach Seno Agostini around 12:00. Seno Agostini runs SE for around 11 nm, between spectacular peaks and impressive tidewater glaciers. The scenery is among the best in Tierra del Fuego. At the end of the channel you will see two spectacular walls of ice, part of Cordillera Darwin. In the evening we will arrive at Caleta Escandallo where we will spend the night. Caleta Escandallo is a wide

bay surrounded by magnificent scenery. Monte Sarmiento is close by for hiking expeditions.

DAY 3: CALETA ESCANDALLO – FIORDO ALACALUF

After leaving Caleta Escandallo in the morning, we will arrive at Punta Piramida at noon. From there it will be thirty minutes sailing to our destination Fiordo Alacaluf. At the end of Fiordo Alacaluf is a magnificent double-faced glacier. There’s also a waterfall and Cormorants nest on the cliff near the glacier.

DAY 4: FIORDO ALACALUF – SENO OCASIÓN

In the morning we will be sailing through Canal Cockburn to Seno Ocasión. Seno Ocasión is one of the most spectacular areas of Tierra del Fuego. At the end there’s a wide circular basin surrounded by high peaks and vertical granite walls. It’s a wonderful place to hike with a sparkling emerald lake just ten minutes away which creates a waterfall in the basin. An easy hour’s climb can take you to a higher level, from where spectacular views in all directions will definitely reward the effort. DAY 5: SENO OCASIÓN - SENO GARIBALDI Throughout the morning we will be sailing through Canal Ballenero and Brazo Noroeste towards Seno Garibaldi. Seno Garibaldi is cut between high mountains and at its head hides one of the finest glaciers of the area. This is particularly active in the summer, when huge blocks tumble roaring into the water, sometimes violently. A sea lion colony permanently lives in the inlet, their howls won’t make locating them difficult. PATAGONIA

DAY 6: SENO GARIBALDI - SENO PIA Seno Pia is truly spectacular with a direct view on a pillared façade of ice standing on the water. We will drop anchor in Caleta Beaulieu and spend the night there. DAY 7: SENO PIA - USHAIA This last leg of the itinerary will take us through the beautiful Beagle Channel towards Ushuaia. The southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia is located in a dramatic setting beneath the jagged peaks of the Montes Martial, which rise from sea level to more than 1300m. On the waterfront, the Museo del Fin del Mundo offers exhibits on Fuegian natural history, aboriginal life, the early penal colonies and a rare opportunity to see Andean condors, though unfortunately stuffed, not live. The Museo Marítimo has perhaps the best collection of Antarctic ship models anywhere in the world is displayed in various parts of the museum.

DAY 8 : USHUAIA Ushuaia, discover the beauty of simplicity. Debarkation.

ITINERARY for Antarctica 9 - 10 days

1: KING GEORGE ISLAND (MAXWELL BAY). EMBARKATION DAY.

King George Island is sometimes called Antarctica’s unofficial capital, thanks to the eight national winter stations crowded onto it. King George Island is also the largest island of the South

Shetlands. St Trinity, the first Orthodox church in Antarctica, is located at Russia’s Bellingshausen station in Maxwell Bay.

DAY 2: DECEPTION ISLAND.

During the night we’ll be sailing through the Bransfield Strait towards Deception Island. Deception Island is a collapsed volcanic cone with a narrow 230m wide break in the volcano’s walls

known as Neptune's Bellows. As Sherakhan proceeds through this narrow channel in the morning you’ll notice the striking colors of the rock faces on either side. We’ll land at Whalers Bay on a black-sand beach cloaked in mysterious white clouds of sulfur scented steam. Those with cold feet need only to dig their boots into the sand to warm them from the heat escaping from subterranean volcanic vents. The island’s sloping, snow-covered walls, which reach 580m, tower above the beach.

DAY 3&4: NEUMAYER CHANNEL AND PORT LOCKROY.

Throughout the night we’ll sail via Croker Passage and Gerlache Strait to the entrance of Neumayer Channel and proceed through this scenic channel towards Port Lockroy to visit Base A, the former British station-turned museum. Close to Port Lockroy is the gentoo rookery at Jougla Point, where other highlights include blue-eyed shags and a composite whale skeleton reconstructed on

the shore.

DAY 4: LEMAIRE CHANNEL.

Lemaire Channel is a steep-sided channel which runs for 11km and is only 1600m wide. It’s located between the mountains of Booth Island and the Peninsula. It's so photogenic that its nickname

is “Kodak Gap”. We’ll proceed through the channel with slow speed for a beautiful scenic cruising experience. At the northern end of the channel are two tall, rounded, and often snowcapped peaks at Cape Renard. The channel was first navigated by de Gerlache in 1898. In a decidedly odd choice, de Gerlache named the

channel for Belgian adventurer Charles Lemaire who explored the Congo.

DAYS 4&5: PARADISE HARBOR.

In the afternoon we’ll arrive at Paradise Harbor where we’ll take out the tender for a spin around the ice calved from the glacier at the head of the bay. You may pass beneath blue-eyed shags

nesting on the cliffs, which can be colored bluegreen by copper deposits, emerald green by moss and orange or yellow by lichens. Paradise Harbor is undeniably beautiful with its majestic icebergs

and reflections in the water of the surrounding Mountains.

DAY 5: ANDVORD BAY AND NEKO HARBOR.

Deep inside Andvord Bay is located Neko Harbor, which is on Antarctica itself. Now we’ve officially set foot on the continent. The glacier across from the landing site often calves with a

thunderous roar, offering dramatic video footage if we’re lucky enough. As you gaze out over Neko’s iceberg-filled waters, consider how American long-distance swimmer Lynne Cox must have felt when she swam nearly 2km in the 0.5°C waters

here. In the evening we’ll navigate back again through Gerlache Strait and Croker Passage towards Hannah Point.

DAY 6&7: HANNAH POINT

In the afternoon we’ll arrive at Hannah Point where we’ll stay until the next morning. Hannah Point is famous for its large Chinstrap and Gentoo rookeries and theoccasional Macaroni pair nesting

among them. On a hill above the Hannah Point landing beach, A prominent red vein of jasper runs through the rock. From this lookout, you can survey a sheltered beach on the opposite side of the point where Elephant Seals bask and young male Fur Seals spar.

DAYS 7&8 YANKEE HARBOR

Yankee Harbor, or Hospital Cove as it was known to sealers, has a stone and gravel spit that extends nearly 1km in a wide curve. The spit is an ideal place for walking. Further up the beach several

thousand pairs of Gentoos nest.

DAYS 8 &9: PENGUIN ISLAND AND TURRET POINT.

Just offshore from Turret Point is Penguin Island.  While there are many islands with penguins scattered throughout the Antarctic, Penguin Island’s pedigree is longer than most. You may see

Chinstrap and Adélie penguins here. Penguin Island’s highest point is the 170m Deacon Peak with an extensive crater at the summit. It's easy to climb, and so many people do that a path is worn into the ground early each season. There’s also a

meltwater lake in a former volcanic crater. Turret point takes its name from a group of prominent high rock stacks above the beach, a nesting area for Antarctic terns. You’ll also find Chinstraps,

Adélies, blue-eyed shags and southern Giant petrels.

DAYS 9&10: KING GEORGE ISLAND (MAXWELL BAY)

Farewell to Antarctica. Experience the rustic environment and way of living of the people that call Antarctica their home.

Debarkation day.