Antarctica Experience Air Cruise

Punta Arenas / Antarctica / Ushuaia

8 Days

Jumping over Cape Horn and the mythical waters of the Drake Passage, Antarctica XXI invites you to a unique experience that will take you to one of the most remote places on earth, the coldest, highest, windiest, driest, and most inhospitable continent - Antarctica.
In less than 2 hours of flying from Punta Arenas to King George Island, the largest Island of the South Shetland Archipelago, you will be at the gates of the white continent.
From King George Island you will navigate for six days and five nights along the Antarctic Peninsula, visiting the most wonderful places and enjoying the best wildlife sites of Antarctica. During the whole journey there will be different lectures to introduce and inform you about this wonderful Continent. We are sure this will be the trip of your lifetime.
Your Vessell: The Ocean Nova is a modern and comfortable vessel. She was built in Denmark in 1992 to sail the ice-choked waters of Greenland, and her ice-strengthened hull is ideally suited for expedition travel in Antarctica. The Ocean Nova's has capacity for 62 passengers accommodated in comfortable outside cabins, all with private facilities, including dedicated single, twin and triple cabins.
In addition to a glass-enclosed observation lounge and presentation room, a spacious dining room, a bar and library, she also has an infirmary and an exercise room. The ship has Zodiac boats that are well suited for disembarking and wildlife watching.

Day 1

Punta Arenas - 17 JAN 11

Arrival at the city of Punta Arenas where you will be met by Antarctica Air Cruise staff, to be transferred to Hotel Rey Don Felipe. During the afternoon, you will meet your expedition mates and receive instructions concerning the guidelines that should be followed in Antarctica and the procedures for Zodiac boat embarkation and disembarkation. Later, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at the José Nogueira Hotel, a French-style mansion that is over one hundred years old. 
IMPORTANT NOTE: Passengers should be in Punta Arenas by 15:00 hours at the latest.
We strongly recommend our clients to arrive in Punta Arenas a day prior to the cruise start date to allow enough time in case of any unforseen flight disruption.

Day 2

Punta Arenas / King George Island

Our Antarctic adventure will begin with the flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands). The flight takes a little over one and half hour. Upon arrival, we will be able to tour around the area where the Frei Chilean Base and the Bellingshausen Russian Base are located. We will gather at the beach on Fildes Bay for embarkation by Zodiac boats on board our expedition vessel.

Day 3 - 4

Antarctica Cruise

While cruising between the South Shetland Islands and the western coat of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and between spectacular icebergs, we will enjoy the company of sea birds, penguins, seals and whales. Our adventure will be very active, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats, lectures and a very enjoyable time on board.

Day 5

Antarctica Cruise

After a last visit in the region, in the afternoon our ship will set sail northwards across the famous Drake Passage en route to Ushuaia.

Day 6

Antarctica Cruise

We invite you to relax and enjoy life on board and to take the time to watch wildlife from the bridge or outside decks. We may spot magnificent birds such as albatrosses and petrels, as well as Humpback and Minke whales swimming on their way down to Antarctica.

Day 7

Antarctica Cruise

After spending the last hours sailing through the Drake Passage, we will finally have Cape Horn and the American continent in sight. Our ship will sail along the calm waters of the Beagle Channel towards the southernmost Chilean settlement of Puerto Williams, located on Navarino Island. Here, we will have the time to tour around before sailing during the in the night towards Ushuaia.

Day 8

Ushuaia

In the morning, arrival at the port of Ushuaia and disembarkation. End of the program.