Antarctic Fly & Sail
Fly & Sail Expedition departs and returns from both Punta Arenas, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina.
- 8 days December 2012 - January 2013
We make an exciting crossing of the legendary Drake Passage to arrive in the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Itinerary A - Fly Peninsula
Leaves by plane from Punta Arenas, Chile and returns by sea to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Itinerary B - Fly Punta Arenas
Leaves by sea from Ushuaia, Argentina and returns by plane to Punta Arenas, Chile.
Day 1- Itineary B
Ushuaia, Argentina
Passengers board the MV Antarctic Dream. There you will be greeted by our Expedition Leader and staff and shown to your cabin. Check-in will begin at 4:00 PM on departure day..
Day 2-3
Drake Passage
We will sail towards the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar waters sink beneath the warmer waters of the more temperate zone. On our second day of navigation through the Drake Passage, we'll start seeing the first glimpse of the White Continent.
Days 4
Villa Esperanza & Brown Bluff
In the morning we shall be at Hope Bay, right in front of Mount Flora on the Antarctic Sound. The Antarctic Sound was named after the vessel used in the Nordenskjold Expedition 1902-1904. Landing operations will start at the historical site where the Argentinean Base Esperanza is set. Here we will have our first close encounter with Gentoo and Adelie penguins that nest close to the base. Sailing south we will reach Brown Bluff.
Day 5
Paulet & Astrolabe
Overnight, we will sail across the Antarctic Sound up to Paulet Island. Here we will find a huge Adelie penguin's colony, one of the two penguin species considered endemic of Antarctic. We will find the remains of a stone refuge built by the "Antarctic" shipwrecked survivors, crushed by heavy Ice at the Weddell Sea on 1903. Then the ship will reposition up to Astrolabe Island, which is a very rich site in wildlife; penguins and seals have colonies all over this scenic place.
Day 6
Cuverville, Paradise Bay & Port Lockroy
Through the night time we will sail south west to Cuverville Island, where the largest Gentoo penguin colony on Antarctica is found. Cruising into Herrera Channel up to Paradise Bay, on the north shore, high mountains raise up to 1000 meters on the south shore of the Andean Mountain extension range. This is our best chance for a zodiac cruise following the coast line. Port Lockroy sits on Goudier Island. This small island is surrounded by Winke Island, a great view for the visit to this historical site, where important ozone layer research was done. The rest of the island that holds this small museum, is occupied by a Gentoo penguin rookery, that developed through the 80īs long after humans had built the base on this spot.
Day 7
Deception Island & Half Moon
We will cruise through Neumayer Channel and then into Gerlache Straight. Next morning we will be exploring the coast of the South Shetland Islands. Depending on wind and swell conditions the Captain and expedition leader will coordinate a landing either on Deception Island or Halfmoon Island, Yankee Harbor or Robert Point.
Day 8
Fildes Peninsula & DrakePassage. Air flight to Punta Arenas Chile
Fildes Bay is our final call for this expedition, which is the site of the Chilean Base Frei. After a short visit to the base facilities we should be ready to get back via airplane, to Punta Arenas – Chile, over the northern coast of the straights of Magellan. At this point, we hope you will go back home as ambassadors for the White Continent,to share your amazing experiences with your friends.
Itinerary A Map
