Explorer, South Georgia & Falklands ex Buenos Aires to Port Stanley – 27 Feb 2022

15 Night Cruise sailing from Ushuaia to Port Stanley aboard National Geographic Explorer. Hotel stay pre-cruise in Buenos Aires.

DAY 1: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Check in to the excellent Alvear Art Hotel (or similar) before having a guided overview of the city, seeing its Beaux Arts palaces and the famous balcony forever associated with Eva Peron. In the early evening we gather for an informal reception and a drink at the hotel. (L)

DAY 2: Buenos Aires/Ushuaia/Embark
This morning’s charter flight will bring us over Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. If the weather is fine, you’ll have a chance to view the spectacular mountains rising out of the Beagle Channel as you enjoy lunch on a catamaran cruise. Then, you’ll embark the expedition ship and set sail, (B,L,D)

DAY 3: At Sea In The South Atlantic
Settle into shipboard life, listening to informal discussions from our naturalist staff to prepare us for the wildness ahead in the Falklands. Spend time on deck and on the bridge, scanning for seabirds, notably the albatross. (B,L,D)

DAY 4-5: Falkland Islands
Each Falkland Island is a variation on the theme of topographical beauty with white-sand beaches, vaulting cliffs, windswept moors and the sunlit yellows and sage greens of waving tussock grass. While the Falklands boasts a human population (3,000 people in total; 2,500 of whom live in the capital, Stanley) the animals—specifically thousands of irresistible gentoo, rockhopper and Magellanic penguins, as well as magnificent albatross with 11-foot wingspans and curious fur seals—vastly outnumber them and constitute a major draw for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers. Take your camera and binoculars to walk along beautiful white-sand beaches, meander through tussock grass or sit atop a cliff and ponder the views. (B,L,D)

DAY 6-7: At Sea
During our days at sea, we learn about the fascinating history of Antarctic exploration, as well as the flora, fauna and geology of South Georgia. A lookout is kept to identify the seabirds that follow us: wandering albatross, prions and black-browed albatross. (B,L,D)

DAY 8-14: South Georgia Island
Explore the spectacular coastline of South Georgia Island. In keeping with the nature of an expedition, our schedule is flexible with opportunities for walking, hiking, kayaking and Zodiac excursions. Leisurely circumnavigating the island, we plan to make stops every day including visits to Grytviken, part of the extraordinary story of the Endurance and the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton, as well as Stromness Bay where Shackleton, Tom Crean and Frank Worsley finally reached aid at a whaling station. See huge elephant seals, and, on a single beach, you’ll visit a vast colony of tens of thousands of king penguins! (B,L,D)

DAY 15: At Sea
With whales beneath and birds above, head out on deck or up to the Bridge to observe expert navigation at work as our skilled Captain and officers sail these waters. There’ll also be time to relax and enjoy a massage in the wellness center, work out in the gym, browse in the library, and hear talks on all you have seen from our expedition team. (B,L,D)

DAY 16: Falkland Islands
Our journey across the South Atlantic Ocean takes us once more to the island archipelago that teems with nature and wildlife. Our afternoon visit to Stanley, the capital, offers a chance to see the human face of the islands, to meet the hospitable locals, and perhaps hoist a drink at a local pub. Stroll around the remote colonial town, and visit the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world, which graces the nation’s paper money; it’s a simple yet beautiful structure with an unusual treasure: an arch made of the giant jaw bones of two blue whales erected in the yard. (B,L,D)

DAY 17: Disembark in Stanley, the Falklands/Fly to Santiago, Chile
After breakfast, disembark in Stanley, the Falklands. (B,L)