Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula
20 Days/19 Nights
From $13,100 per person
(Quad. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)
Overview
Explore the Falkland Islands and South Georgia en route to the Antarctic Peninsula on this fascinating journey. The Falkland Islands are located 310 miles east of Argentina, and are a haven for wildlife, including five species of penguins, elephant seals, sea lions, and killer whale. The tour includes a free day to experience Stanley, the capital city, on your own. On South Georgia Island, one of the highlights will be a visit to the breeding grounds of the Wandering Albatross on Prion Island.
Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 19 nights (19 nights aboard the Plancius), and 56 meals (19 breakfasts, 18 lunches, and 19 dinners).
Best Time to Go: November-March.
Destinations: Argentina and Antarctica.
Interests: Adventure, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, Scuba Diving, and Wildlife Viewing.
Places Visited: Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, the Weddell Sea, the Antarctic Peninsula, and the South Shetland Islands.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: End of the World, Start of a Journey.
Note: We advise all passengers to plan to arrive in Ushuaia one night before the cruise departure.
Day 2: Winged Life of the Westerlies.
Day 3: Falklands Found.
Carcass Island – Despite its name, this island is pleasantly rodent-free and hence bounteous with birdlife. Anything from breeding Magellanic and gentoo penguins to numerous waders and passerine birds (including Cobb’s wren and the tussock-bird) live here.
Saunders Island – Here you can see the black-browed albatross and its sometimes-clumsy landings, along with breeding imperial shags and rockhopper penguins. King penguins, Magellanic penguins, and gentoo penguins are also found here. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 4: Seat of Falklands Culture.
Day 5-6: Once More to the Sea.
Day 7-10: South Georgia Journey.
Prion Island – This location is closed during the early part of the wandering albatross breeding season (November 20 – January 7). From January on, the breeding adults have found their partners and are sitting on eggs or nursing their chicks. Enjoy witnessing the gentle nature of these animals, which possess the largest wingspan of any birds in the world.
Fortuna Bay – Near beaches inhabited by penguins and seals, you have the chance to follow the final section of Shackleton’s route to the abandoned whaling village of Stromness. This route cuts across the mountain pass beyond Shackleton’s Waterfall. The terrain here is partly swampy, so be prepared to cross some small streams along the way.
Salisbury Plain, St. Andrews Bay, Gold Harbour – These locations not only house the three largest king penguin colonies in South Georgia, they’re also three of the largest breeding beaches for southern elephant seals in the world. Only this time of year do they peak in their breeding cycle. Watch the four-ton bulls keep a constant vigil (and occasionally fight) over the territories where dozens of females have just given birth or are about to deliver. You can also see a substantial number of Antarctic fur seals here during the breeding season (December – January).
Grytviken – You have the opportunity to check out this abandoned whaling station, where king penguins now walk the streets and elephant seals lie around like they own the place – because they just about do. You might also see the South Georgia Museum as well as Shackleton’s grave. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Southward Bound.
Day 12: South Orkney Sights.
Day 13: Last Push to the Antarctic.
Day 14-17: Awe-Inspiring Antarctica.
After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. After this, other visits might be possible. In Neko Harbour or Paradise Bay, you may be able to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in an epic, otherworldly landscape of alpine peaks and mammoth glaciers calving at sea level. Humpback whales and minke whales are also known to be spotted in this area. Cuverville Island is a potential stop in the early hours of your last landing day. Here you can pick around the rocks, enjoying the morning in good company: The largest gentoo penguin rookery of the Antarctic Peninsula lives here. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 18-19: North by Sea.
Day 20: There and Back Again.
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Prices & Dates
Price per Person
Category | Single | Double | Triple |
---|---|---|---|
Quad Cabin | $13,100 | $13,100 | $13,100 |
Triple Porthole | $14,350 | $14,350 | $14,350 |
Twin Porthole | $27,030 | $15,900 | n/a |
Twin Window | $28,305 | $16,650 | n/a |
Twin Deluxe | $30,260 | $17,800 | n/a |
Superior | $32,555 | $19,150 | $17,133 |
Notes:
- The above prices are for the December 3, 2018 Departure. Call for prices of the other departures.
- The single supplement is 1.7 times the Twin/Superior price.
- Singles willing to share a cabin pay the Twin/Triple/Quad price.
Departure Dates
December 3 and 22, 2018; January 9, 2019.
What's Included
Price Includes
- South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
- Accommodations on board the M/V Plancius.
- All meals scheduled on board, including snacks, coffee, and tea.
- All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program.
- Zodiac expeditions conducted by English-speaking naturalist guides.
- Use of rubber boots.
- Evening briefings and lectures.
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare.
- Domestic airfare.
- Hotel nights before/after the cruise.
- Transfers to/from the vessel before/after the cruise.
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
- Gratuities to ship crew and guides (Suggested $8-10/per/day for the naturalist guides and crew).
- Bar, gifts, and personal items.
- Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.
Additional Details
Group/Private: All services included in this tour are operated on a group basis.
Elevations: N/a.
Passport/Visa: U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a valid passport (for the duration of your visit) and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Australian and Canadian citizens are required to pay a reciprocity fee of $100 and $75 respectively (subject to change without notice due to currency fluctuations or other reasons) online, and must show proof of payment prior to arrival. The reciprocity fee for U.S. citizens has been suspended until further notice. For citizens of Australia, this fee covers unlimited entries to Argentina for 10 years, while citizens of Canada are charged the fee every time they enter the country (or $150 for multiple visits within five years). The fee can be paid online at ProvinciaNet.com.ar. You will need to register in order to make the payment. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the embassy of Argentina in their country before traveling.
Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan. The operator of the ship requires that you purchase Emergency Medical Evacuation Insurance (minimum recommended amount is $100,000).
To Book This Trip: Call or email us to confirm the availability of this ship for your desired dates of travel. For reservations made more than 90 days prior to departure, the required deposit is between $3,000 and $4,100 per person, and may be higher for single passengers. The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.
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