CBO Travel
Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent
Discover the magic and wonder of Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and the “White Continent” – Antarctica. Enjoy the “Paris of South America,” Buenos Aires, before flying over Patagonia to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Begin your Antarctic expedition aboard the fully equipped National Geographic Explorer by crossing the Drake Passage. Explore vistas of blue-white glaciers and busy penguin rookeries. See breaching whales crashing and scenes of pure ice walls as you observe from the deck of the ship. Explore on shore with our passionate ship's naturalists and learn about the local populations of penguins, seals, and humpback whales. Join a National Geographic photographer for photo tips during your close encounters with Gentoo penguins. Feel the glacial ice crunch as your expedition ship makes its way through a pack of ice with its hull strengthened to “ice class.” Return to Buenos Aires for an evening before departing home.
Day 1: Overnight Flight
Collette proudly offers an active, immersive adventure exploring Antarctica in an authentic expedition style aboard the National Geographic Explorer. See more of the legendary landscapes and inhabitants – encounter iconic penguins, leopard seals, and marine mammals; kayak among
icebergs and Zodiac cruise past resting leopard seals; and hike on the continent with the best ice team on Earth. Through the efforts of an undersea specialist, you will also experience the seldom-seen Antarctic undersea. Your adventure begins with an overnight flight to Buenos Aires.
Day 2: Buenos Aires, Argentina - Tour Begins
Arrive in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, birthplace of the tango and the “Paris of South America.” Stretching along the banks of the Rio de la Plata, the city is a mosaic of European-style
architecture and South American spirit. This afternoon, enjoy a panoramic city tour highlighting its Beaux-Arts palaces, grand boulevards, and the famous balcony forever associated with Eva Peron. In the early evening, gather for an informal reception at the hotel.
Day 3: Fly to Ushuaia - Embark Ship - At Sea
This morning we fly over Patagonia before landing in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. Enjoy lunch while cruising the Beagle Channel. Later, embark the National Geographic Explorer, an authentic expedition ship uniquely equipped with a hull strengthened to “ice-class” and advanced navigation equipment for polar expeditions. With just 81 cabins and a maximum capacity of 148 passengers, the spacious and modern National Geographic Explorer offers a roster of tools for exploration and a variety of public areas for viewing the incredible passing landscape. In the ship’s spacious lounge, you will have informative presentations and a nightly recap of the day’s activities.
Day 4: The Drake Passage - At Sea
Cruise south through the fabled Drake Passage, named after the explorer Sir Francis Drake. Set between Cape Horn and the Antarctic Peninsula, a crossing of the legendary Drake Passage is unforgettable - a milestone in any adventurer's personal travel history. Warmer waters of the north meet the colder, denser waters of the south here in the Antarctic Convergence, making the area rich in marine life.
Day 5: Antarctica
The next six days are filled with discovering Antarctica, the last great wilderness stretching across ice-covered desert and mountains for over five million square miles. The ethereal beauty and immense scale of the continent is like nowhere else on the planet.
Day 6: Antarctica
The voyage keeps a flexible schedule (daily activities are contingent on weather conditions) to take advantage of the unexpected. With nearly 24 hours of daylight, make the most of your days with daily explorations.
Day 7: Antarctica
You may take a Zodiac foray amongst towering icebergs under a bright sun, walk along the shoreline amid a huge penguin colony, hike to a summit for a breathtaking view, or kayak along a cliff-side rookery in search of blue-eyed shags.
Culinary
Day 8: Antarctica
Today you could have the thrill of watching the ship crunch through the packed ice or step ashore to the cries of thousands of Gentoo penguins.
Day 9: Antarctica
Learn from the experts how to identify different penguin species and get photo tips from a National Geographic photographer while watching those same penguins.
Day 10: Antarctica
Onboard, the undersea specialist may present video from that day’s dive with rare images taken up to 1,000 feet below the surface. The expert staff will craft an expedition where you will learn more, see more and experience more.
Day 11: At Sea
Leave Antarctica and sail back to Ushuaia, crossing the southern waters of the Drake Passage. The ship’s spotters will keep an eye out for marine life, albatross and other seabirds that cross the ship’s bow.
Day 12: At Sea
You may want to enjoy a wellness treatment, spend time in the gym, catch up on the book you haven’t had a minute to read, or participate in on board discussions reflecting on all you have seen and learned.
Day 13: Ushuaia, Argentina - Disembark Ship - Fly to Buenos Aires
After breakfast, disembark in Ushuaia with time for independent exploration before proceeding to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires* for an overnight stay.
Day 14: Buenos Aires - Tour Ends
Your tour ends today.
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"Journey to Antarctica: The White Continent"