Welcome to Antarctica!
No place on earth compares to this vast wilderness of elemental forces: snow, ice, water, rock. Antarctica is simply stunning.
Adventure…Antarctica’s surreal remoteness, extreme cold, enormous ice shelves and mountain ranges, and myriad exotic life forms invariably challenge you to embrace life fully. Everyone – scientist, support worker, government official and tourist – who comes to this isolated continent, must ‘earn’ it, whether by sea voyage or flight. Ice and weather, not clocks and calendars, determine the itinerary and the timetable of all travel here. Today, it’s even possible for visitors to climb Antarctic peaks or kayak icy waters. But there is nothing quite like the craggy crevasses of a magnificent glacier or the sheer expanse of the polar ice cap.
Wildlife…Preserved by the Antarctic Treaty, Antarctica is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary species. Some, such as the enormous whales, migrate from afar, while others, including the Weddell seal and emperor penguin, remain close to the continent. Millions of seabirds skim the Southern Ocean, the world’s most abundant, and species such as albatrosses and petrels circle the waters. Wildlife is generally unafraid of humans: visitors usually elicit no more than an uninterested yawn from seals and penguins focused on their young.
History…The names of explorers and their sovereigns and benefactors are written on Antarctica’s shores. Renowned explorers from Cook to Amundsen and Scott all tried to penetrate this vast, mysterious land: each with varying degrees of success. Visitors can follow in their footsteps and imagine what it was like to forge through the pack ice on a creaking wooden boat or to haul sledges across the polar plateau. Some of the historic huts actually remain, preserved frozen in rime ice, to tell the story of adventures long past.
Inspiration…Antarctica possesses an unnameable quality. Call it inspiration, call it grandeur…it is simply the indescribable feeling of being a small speck in a vast, harshly beautiful land. A land where striated ice towers float among geometric pancake ice, literally untouched mountains rear from marine mist, and wildlife lives, year in and year out, to its own rhythms, quite apart from human concerns. To let our minds soar in a place nearly free of humankind’s imprint: this is magic.
Discovering the 7th Continent aboard World Explorer 11 days cruise ex Ushuaia
Shipboard accommodation with housekeeping
Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leaders, including shore landings and other activities
All Zodiac transfers and cruising as per the daily program
All shore landings as per the daily program
All meals, snacks, soft drinks and juices on board throughout your voyage
Select beer and wine during dinner
Coffee, tea and cocoa available around the clock
Formal and informal presentations by our Expedition Team and guest speakers as scheduled
A photographic journal documenting the expedition
A pair of waterproof expedition boots on loan for landings and Zodiac cruising excursions
An official Quark Expeditions® parka to keep
2 night’s (pre-cruise) accommodation @ Alvear Palace Hotel, Buenos Aires
Privately guided visit of Buenos Aires including: Plaza del Mayo, Teatro Colon, La Boca and Recoleta
Tango Show and Dinner at Gala Tango in Buenos Aires
Private return airport/hotel/airport transportation in Buenos Aires
Emergency Evacuation insurance for all passengers to a maximum benefit of USD 500,000 per person
Hair dryer and bathrobes in every cabin
Comprehensive pre-departure package including the Quark Expeditions® Polar Reader
All luggage handling aboard the ship
Guided from Australia/New Zealand by Latitude Events Management
Depart Australia/New Zealand in your selected airline.
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, clear Customs and Immigration before meeting your guide. A private vehicle transfer to your hotel, located in the centre of town. Check-in with the remainder of the evening at your leisure.
Overnight: Alvear Icon Hotel, Buenos Aires
Breakfast this morning at your hotel.
Morning – guided sightseeing tour of Buenos Aires
Your visit begins in Plaza Mayor, also known as Plaza de Mayo, the heart of Buenos Aires and a historic centre of political and social activity. Here, your expert guide will show you Casa Rosada, the Presidential Palace, where Eva Perón famously addressed the crowds. The historic square is the perfect place to become begin your initiation into Argentina's complex history. You will continue on to the majestic Obelisco, an iconic landmark that stands proudly as a symbol of Buenos Aires. You will then stop in front of the world-renowned Teatro Colón, the most famous opera house in South America, and a perfect representation of the importance of art and culture in Argentinean society.
Get ready for a change of scenery as you venture to the charming San Telmo neighbourhood. This area is famous for its picturesque cobblestone streets, where photo opportunities abound. Your guide will encourage you to take a short exploration of the inimitable San Telmo Market, a must-see for the gastronome among you. Continue onward to the colourful La Boca neighbourhood.
Discover the elegant Recoleta neighbourhood, home to the iconic Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón's mausoleum rests, and explore its beautiful parks and architecture. You will also pass through Barrio Palermo, known for its trendy boutiques, cafes, and street art, and finally, wind down your tour in Puerto Madero, a modern waterfront district with sleek architecture, upscale dining, and scenic views along the Rio de la Plata.
Upon completion of the tour, enjoy lunch at El Gran Paraiso.
In the patio of El Gran Paraíso there is a tenement house dating from 1890. It is a construction of sheets and old wood that preserves its original style. You can visit the rooms on the upper floor enjoying a wonderful view of Caminito
A unique experience, having lunch outdoors in a tenement patio or in one of its rooms converted into a dining room, in the La Boca neighbourhood, surrounded by trees. It is a retro walk, a trip back in time, it is part of our history.
The patio and the conventillo are on Caminito street and the entrance to the property is in front of the tracks of a freight train that still circulates. A picturesque place, like the entire neighbourhood of La Boca, ideal for walking, having lunch and taking photos with the family.
Afternoon – at leisure
On completion of the tour, lunch and the remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure…
Evening – Show and Dinner at Gala Tango
Overnight: Alvear Icon Hotel, Buenos Aires
Breakfast this morning at your hotel.
Morning – travel to Ushuaia
Check-out after breakfast this morning for your transfer to Buenos Aires Airport.
Aerolineas flight AR1888
11:55 Depart Buenos Aires Economy Class
15:35 Arrive Ushuaia
Duration: approx. 3hrs 40mins
Arrive Ushuaia, meet and greet and transfer to your hotel
Afternoon – at leisure
You will begin your journey in Ushuaia, a small bustling port town at the tip of South America. This Argentine town is the gateway for you to explore the southern extent of Patagonia while preparing for your adventure ahead. Enjoy the mountains or sample handcrafted chocolate at a café in town.
Overnight: Hotel Las Lengas. Hotel Los Acebos. Albatros Hotel (Ushuaia)
Breakfast this morning at your hotel.
Morning – at leisure
This morning is at your leisure to explore Ushuaia prior to check-out.
Afternoon – embarkation…
We meet at hotel reception early this afternoon for your private transfer to Ushuaia Pier to board the World Explorer.
Embarkation will occur at approximately 4:00pm, after which your vessel will sail down the historic Beagle Channel, which transects the Tierra del Fuego archipelago in the extreme south of South America. Expect an air of anticipation as you depart - the next time you see land, you’ll be in the world’s most southern continent!
Overnight: Beagle Channel, aboard the World Explorer
Full day – crossing the Drake Passage
These two days are spend crossing the Drake Passage.
Your days at sea are filled with presentations led by your Expedition Team who will prepare you for the wildlife, glaciology and history that will greet you upon your arrival. In between presentations, spend time on deck looking for wildlife or chatting with your shipmates over a drink at the bar.
The infamous Drake Passage extends about 1,000 km (600 miles) between Cape Horn, on the tip of South America, and the South Shetland Islands. Crossing the Drake is a rite of passage for polar travellers. The channel, especially when the waves are high, is called the “Drake Shake.” (Conversely, when it’s calm, it earns the nickname “Drake Lake.”) The huge swells that arise in the Drake Passage are the result of cold seawater from the south colliding with the warm seawater from the north, which results in powerful eddies.
Crossing the Drake can take up to 48 hours and temperatures range from 5°C in the north to -3°C in the south. A good pair of eyes – or a strong set of binoculars – is handy to spot whales (humpback, orca, minke and fin) and seabirds (albatrosses, petrels, shags, skuas, and gulls) during the crossing.
Enjoy lunch and dinner on board…including all day refreshments, tea and coffee.
Overnight: Drake Passage, aboard the World Explorer
Full day – South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula
The most common reaction upon reaching the White Continent is a sense of reverence and awe. The experience is beyond words, since few places are as untouched and enduring as Antarctica. You will begin to appreciate why this region has long captivated the attention of explorers and travelers alike. Every time we visit Antarctica, we witness something new or unexpected, which means that your expedition will be unlike any other - creating a unique, personal experience.
Each day, you will take Zodiac excursions from the ship to explore glaciated bays, channels and landing sites. Your Expedition Team will take care of you at each landing, whether you are hiking the Antarctic landscape, visiting a research station or consorting with chinstrap, Adélie and gentoo penguins, all of which can be found here. Keep an eye out for Weddell, fur, crabeater and leopard seals as well as curious whales, such as humpbacks, minkes, or perhaps orcas while on a Zodiac cruise. Each excursion will present a new collection of creatures to delight you and keep your camera busy.
Amid the serene silence of Antarctica, noisy interludes become indelible memories, such as penguins squabbling over prized pebbles, or the boom and crack of a calving glacier.
Every day will be different, having been carefully crafted by your Expedition Team to inspire and educate you about this wonderful part of the world.
Overnight: Antarctic Peninsula, aboard the World Explorer
Full day – crossing the Drake Passage
Your final two days are spend crossing the Drake Passage.
The journey back across the Drake Passage provides final opportunities to enjoy the crisp Antarctic air. Spend time on the deck, watching for seabirds and scouting for whales, enjoy presentations by your Expedition Team and celebrate the experiences shared exploring Antarctica.
Enjoy lunch and dinner on board…including all day refreshments, tea and coffee.
Crossing the Drake is a Right of Passage…
When people return from Antarctica, they tell the story of their Drake Passage crossing, almost the same way some mothers describe childbirth or distance runners tell of their first big race. Beyond the bragging rights, those who have crossed the Drake know they have completed something difficult and special—a feat that results in lifelong dividends.
In crossing the Drake passage, you will have journeyed across one of the planet’s roughest sections of ocean, followed by the awesome reward of experiences in Antarctica.
Not everyone has the mettle to pay that price. Few travelers visit Antarctica—only about 40,000 each year.
That’s an exclusive club, and the Drake is the main mental obstacle to greater visitation.
Crossing the Drake is a self-selecting filter - if it were easy, everyone would do it.
Overnight: Drake Passage, aboard the World Explorer
Morning – arrive Ushuaia
Arriving into Ushuaia this morning…disembark and meet your guide and transfer into town for some free time. Meeting at a central location around lunchtime, a private transfer has been arranged to Ushuaia Airport for flights home.
Aerolineas flight AR1885
14:20 Depart Ushuaia Economy Class
17:50 Arrive Buenos Aires
Duration: approx. 3hrs 30mins
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