Emperor Penguins
Itinerary
Day 1
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
Ushuaia is a picturesque community with excellent restaurants and intriguing museums. You'll spend the night at our host hotel.
Day 2
Embarkation Day
You'll have time to explore before boarding in the afternoon. The icebreaker follows the Beagle Channel into the open waters of the Drake Passage.
Day 3 - 4
Crossing the Drake Passage
Emperor Penguins will be on your mind while you cross the Drake Passage. En route, our ornithologist will make presentations on the biology, habitat and behavior of Emperors. Our photographer-in-residence will prepare you for the special lighting conditions you will encounter during your visit to the rookery.
Day 5 - 7
Unparalleled Wildlife Viewing
Reaching the Snow Hill rookery under the best possible conditions is the goal of the expedition. The Captain and Expedition Leader consult charts, weather bulletins and satellite images to determine where to park the icebreaker for efficient helicopter flights to the rookery. Our plan is to spend three days at the rookery to provide an unparalleled in-depth experience.
Day 8 - 11
The Peninsula
While the Emperors are our priority, we also plan to visit the Antarctic Peninsula. Our exact route will be determined by local conditions. We plan to sail Iceberg Alley. Use your newly acquired photographic skills to snap pictures of massive tabular icebergs until your camera beeps a warning that the memory is full. While passing through Antarctic Sound, you will see more fantastic ice sculptures, from pure white to deep blue. A soulful silence may engulf you, unless a glacier calves or an iceberg overturns - then suddenly, everything is noise and waves.
While visiting the Peninsula, we hope to explore penguin rookeries under construction. Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins court, lay eggs and raise their young during the austral summer. Your voyage takes place at a time when these smaller penguins are selecting nesting sites and choosing partners.
You'll be hungry after each day's activities - but only for a moment. The Hospitality Team prides itself on satisfying your hunger as well as the Expedition Team satisfies your craving for adventure.
Day 12 - 14
The Triumph of Life
You'll be recalling the details of the voyage, as you cross the Drake Passage once again. These memories will stay with you, as clear and powerful as the day they were formed. The existence of the Emperor Penguin is more than a story of survival and endurance. It is the triumph of life itself.
