Expedition Cruises to Antarctica and Patagonia

Cruises on different routes around Antarctica and Patagonia, setting sail from Ushuaia in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego to the Antarctic continent. Or from Punta Arenas or Ushuaia to the Beagle Channel, the Strait of Magellan, reaching Cape Horns. Cruises around Patagonia are completed by voyages to the Continental Ice Fields and the Chilean Fjords. These itineraries start at Puerto Montt towards Puerto Natales and vice versa, or else from Puerto Montt returning to Puerto Montt itself.

Cruises Introduction

Expedition Cruises

Argentinian Explorer offers expedition cruises around South America. The top four expedition destinations are: Antarctica, at the "end of the Earth" and Patagonia at the southern continental. These are expedition trips including talks by specialists in the matter, such as biologist, scientists and naturalists. These voyages are not similar to the luxury cruises offered by most tourist operators. On the contrary, these ships take no more than 200 passengers. Also, their main objective is to get to know the natural areas on each destination. Ports of arrival on these programs are places where environmental preservation is essential. In general, ports of arrival are ecological reserves or national parks, such as the Antarctic areas.

Expedition Cruises to Antarctica

Cruises around Antarctica have a number of different versions, from the classic 10/12- day tour, arriving in the Atlantic Peninsula, to extended cruises such as the 31-day cruises semi circumnavigating Antarctica and arriving in New Zealand. You can also choose a short 6-day trip such as the express air cruise of M/V Ocean Nova. The advantage of air cruises is that you avoid crossing the Drake Passage, which means 2 days less to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. The disadvantage is the price as these are the most expensive programs to the white continent. In this program you will fly from Punta Arenas to King George Island in the South Shetland archipelago, and then take a ship to the Peninsula. You will enjoy an aerial view of Cape Horns and the Sea of Drake.

There are also different, more complete itineraries on the classic routes to the Atlantic Peninsula carried out by MV USHUAIA, M/V Polar Pioneer or M/V Plancius. Those trips reach the Falkland Islands, South Shetland Islands, South Georgia Islands, South Sandwich Islands and Orcadas Islands. One of the traditional tours by M/V Plancius offers an adventure trip to Antarctica which includes camping, kayaking, hiking, scuba diving (for an extra fee), mountain climbing and snow racketing. This is the most popular classic program. Other cruises to Antarctica offer expedition trips to the South Georgia Islands exclusively, in order to emulate Ernest Schacketon skiing on perpetual snow. Other programs go further into the Weddell Sea or sail as far as the Antarctic Circle.

You can also choose a VIP itinerary, such as the Atlantic-Antarctic Odyssey, sailing to Antarctica and then northbound on the Southern Atlantic Ocean as far as Ascension Island, with the option of continuing your trip to Cape Verde. This cruise is a great value. As you can see, there are different options for expedition cruises to Antarctica depending on your budget and your number of available days for this great adventure.

Classic Antarctica - Classic Antarctica<br />Antarctic Spirit<br />M/V Greg Mortimer
Classic Antarctica

Classic Antarctica
Antarctic Spirit
M/V Greg Mortimer

A classic trip to Antarctica starting from the port of Ushuaia in a southerly direction towards the Antarctic continent to discover the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. Depart from Ushuaia by boat and return to the same destination...

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Classic Antarctica - Adventure in Antarctica with the M/V Plancius/Ortelius
Classic Antarctica

Adventure in Antarctica with the M/V Plancius/Ortelius

The traditional trip to the Antarctic Peninsula, but with a special bonus: adventure tourism activities fully included in the cruise, from kayaking, snowshoeing, hiking, camping, Leika photography ...

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Classic Antarctica - Classic Antarctica <br />in the M/V Ushuaia
Classic Antarctica

Classic Antarctica
in the M/V Ushuaia

M/V Ushuaia is one of classic expedition trips to Antarctica, navigating the typical route to the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands. In these departures the crew is bilingual Spanish-English, ideal for...

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Classic Antarctica - Weddell Sea <br />in the M/V Ushuaia
Classic Antarctica

Weddell Sea
in the M/V Ushuaia

This cruise to Antarctica aims to reach the Weddell Sea, knowing the sub-Antarctic archipelago, as well as the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland. Weddell is synonymous with the sounds of Antarctica...

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Expedition Cruises to Patagonia

Cruises around Patagonia take different routes. Australis travels the cold waters of the Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan, arriving in Cape Horns. Skorpios sails Patagonia's channels and explores Patagonia's fiords as far as the continental ice fields.

Australis cruises sail the Beagle Channel to Cape Horns from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas on the same route that captivated Charles Darwin long ago. These programs can be done departing from Puerto Arenas and arriving in Ushuaia either way around. You can depart from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas and come back to your departing port or stay at your destination port. From Ushuaia to Ushuaia, you will visit Garibaldi and Pía Glaciers and the Avenue of Glaciers, reaching Cape Horns and Wulaia Bay. From Puerto Arenas to Puerto Arenas, you will visit Brookes Glacier and Ainsworth Bay, and then Almirantazgo Bay and Perry Glacier as far as Magdalena Island. From Ushuaia to Punta Arenas, you will also enjoy the visit to Seno de Agostini and Aguila Glacier and Piloto and Nena Glaciers. From Punta Arenas to Ushuaia you will reach Tucker Islet.

Skorpios sails through the fiords and channels of Southern Patagonia. Their programs are a few days long and they offer 2 different itineraries – the Chonos Route, which explores the North Continental Ice Fields and the Kawaskar Route traveling the South Continental Ice Fields. The first program departs from Puerto Montt and arrives in San Rafael Glacier. Along this route, you will cross the archipelagos of Llanquihue, Chiloé and Aysén, the hot springs of Quitralco, Puerto Aguirre and Castro. The south route starts at Puerto Natales and explores Magellan channels and fiords, disembarking at glaciers Amalia, El Brujo, Bernal, Alsina and Calvo Fjord. M/N Skorpios II offers a 6-day program to the North Continental Ice Fields and M/N Skorpios III offers a 4-day trip to the South Continental Ice Fields.