Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica

At sea, there’s rarely a lonesome moment. Several species of bird follow the vessel southeast, such as albatrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

The Falkland (Malvinas) Islands offer an abundance of wildlife that is easily approachable, though caution is always advised. These islands are largely unknown gems, the site of a 1982 war between the UK and Argentina. Not only do various species of bird live here, but chances are great to see both Peale’s dolphins and Commerson’s dolphins in the surrounding waters.

During this segment of the voyage, possible visiting sites include the following:

Steeple Jason

Home to the world’s largest black-browed albatross colony (roughly 113,000), Steeple Jason is a wild and rarely visited island buffeted by wind and waves. Weather and swell conditions dictate the journey here.

Carcass Island

Despite its name, this island is pleasantly rodent-free and hence bounteous with birdlife. Anything from breeding Magellanic penguins and gentoos to numerous waders and passerine birds (including Cobb’s wrens and tussock-birds) live here.

Saunders Island

On Saunders Island it’s possible to see the black-browed albatross and its sometimes-clumsy landings, along with breeding imperial shags and rockhopper penguins. King penguins, Magellanic penguins, and gentoos are also found here.

The capital of the Falklands and center of its culture, Port Stanley has some Victorian-era charm: colorful houses, well-tended gardens, and English-style pubs are all to be found here. Several century-old clipper ships are nearby, silent witnesses to the hardships of 19th century sailors. The small but interesting museum is also worth a visit, covering the early days of settlement up to the Falklands War. Approximately 2,100 people live in Port Stanley. Feel free to wander at will, though be aware that admission fees to local attractions are not included in the voyage.

En route to South Georgia, cross the Antarctic Convergence. The temperature cools considerably within the space of a few hours, and nutritious water rises to the surface of the sea due to colliding water columns. This phenomenon attracts a multitude of seabirds near the ship, including several species of albatross, shearwaters, petrels, prions and skuas.

Today, arrive at the first South Georgia activity site. Please keep in mind that weather conditions in this area can be challenging and largely dictate the program. Sites visits may include the following:

Prion Island

This location is closed during the early part of the wandering albatross breeding season (November 20 – January 7). The previous summer’s wandering albatross chicks are almost ready to fledge, and adults are seeking out their old partners after a year and a half at sea.

Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour

These sites not only house the three largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia, they’re also three of the world’s largest breeding beaches for southern elephant seals. Only during this time of year do they peak in their breeding cycle. Watch the four-ton bulls keep a constant vigil (and occasionally fight) over territories where dozens of females have just given birth or are about to deliver. It’s also possible to see a substantial number of Antarctic fur seals here during the breeding season (December – January).

Fortuna Bay

Near beaches inhabited by various penguins and seals, have the chance to follow the final leg of Shackleton’s route to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness. This path cuts across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall. The terrain is partly swampy, so be prepared to cross a few small streams.

Grytviken

In this abandoned whaling station, king penguins walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place – because they basically do. Here is the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave.

There may be sea ice on this route, and at the edge of the ice some south polar skuas and snow petrels could join the other seabirds trailing the vessel south.

Depending on the conditions, perhaps might visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine scientific station on Laurie Island in the South Orkney archipelago. The personnel here happily tour their facility, with expansive views of the surrounding glaciers. If a visit isn’t possible, instead land in Signy Island’s Shingle Cove.

Enormous icebergs and a fair chance of fin whale sightings ensure there’s never a dull moment on this last sea voyage south. Also, this is best chance to spot Antarctic petrels.

If the ice conditions permit, sail into the Weddell Sea where colossal tabular icebergs herald your arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Paulet Island, with its large population of Adélie penguins, is a possible stop. Perhaps visit Brown Bluff, located in the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound, where here’s the chance to set foot on the Antarctic Continent itself.

If conditions aren’t favorable to enter the Weddell Sea from the east, the ship will set course for Elephant Island and head into the Bransfield Strait, between South Shetland Island and the Antarctic Peninsula and attempt to access the Antarctic Sound from the northwest.

The volcanic islands of the South Shetlands are windswept and often cloaked in mist, but they nonetheless offer many subtle pleasures. A wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) and fauna (gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels) live here. Chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station on Half Moon Island.

On Deception Island, the ship plunges through Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. There are hot springs, an abandoned whaling station and thousands of cape petrels. A number of kelp gulls, brown skuas, south polar skuas and Antarctic terns can be spotted too. Wilson’s storm petrels and black-bellied storm petrels also nest in the ruins of the whaling station in Whalers Bay. As an alternative, you can take part in activities near Telefon Bay, further inside the caldera.

This extended voyage offers the chance to sail even farther down the icy coast of the western Antarctic Peninsula. In the Gerlache Strait are several opportunities for great landings to possibly set foot on the Antarctic Continent, surrounded by an epic landscape of alpine peaks and mammoth glaciers calving at sea level. Gentoo penguins, leopard seals, Weddell seals, humpback whales and minke whales are often seen here.

The breathtaking scenery continues in the southern Gerlache Strait, and if ice conditions allow, it’s possible to even reach Lemaire Channel. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure.

The return voyage is far from lonely. While crossing the Drake, be once again greeted by the vast array of seabirds remembered from the passage south. But they seem a little more familiar to you now, and you to them.

Arrive and disembark in Ushuaia, commonly held to be the world’s most southern city. It is located on the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, nicknamed the “End of the World.” But despite this stopping point, the wealth of memories you’ve made on your Antarctic expedition will travel with you wherever your next adventure lies.