Wonder will engage you all during your family-friendly tour to Antarctica. Explore together with a cruise that promises to unveil the picturesque drama of the Seventh Continent as you pass through iceberg rattled channels and into the depths of the Weddell Sea. Enjoy the historical tales of shipwrecks around Elephant Island, and then listen to emperor penguins call out from the rocky beaches of Snow Hill Island. Watch for whales as they migrate through the Drake Passage and slap their tails against...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Ushuaia – Arrive in Ushuaia and Embark on the Beagle Channel
The port at the southern tip of the South American continent bustles with life unique with dramatic weather and a fascinating landscape shaped by the waters of the Beagle Channel. A briny aroma sweeps through the streets of the city and surprises newcomers with contemporary comforts set amidst the backdrop of snow-capped peaks hiding the Martial Glacier. Fishing trawlers and large ships depart and enter the port bound for either the Pacific or Atlantic seas. The Selk’nam Indians arrived in the land of Tierra del Fuego over 10,000 years ago and succumbed to British settlements of the region in the 19th century, mostly British missionaries who founded the city of Ushuaia. The slopes of the Andes Mountains run along the southern edge of the Tierra del Fuego National Park and plunge into the sea. The climate reaches an average temperature of 49 degrees Fahrenheit in summer and 34 degrees Fahrenheit in winter.
Your private transfer will greet your family at Malvinas Argentinas International Airport and escort you to the port to board your luxurious cruise ship that is limited to around 100 passengers. The aroma of the briny water will grow stronger as you walk along the deck, and the view of the foothills of the Martial Range lead into the northern tip of the Ushuaia’s suburbs that sprawl away from the seaside. The ship weighs anchor, and your family will wave goodbye to the southerly tip of the South American continent and the last signs of civilization you will expect to see during your family-friendly cruise to Antarctica.
What's Included:
Day 2
Drake Passage – Marine Life in Fascinating Waters
Day 3
Drake Passage – Hear Intriguing Lectures and Search for Wildlife
Day 4
Weddell Sea – Pass Tabular Icebergs and Discover Antarctic Ice-Shelves
Day 5
Weddell Sea – Travel Antarctic Sound, Hope Bay, and Esperanza Station
Day 6
Weddell Sea – Search for Whales and Seals near the Peninsula
Day 7
Antarctic Peninsula – Explore Paradise Bay and Cuverville Island
Day 8
South Shetland Islands – The Unique Caldera of Deception Island
Day 9
South Shetland Islands – Dramatic History on Elephant Island
Day 10
Drake Passage – Sail along the Drake Passage back to Argentina
Day 11
Drake Passage – Make the Relaxing Journey to Ushuaia
Day 12
Ushuaia – Departing for Home
Trip Highlights
- Reach the secluded waters of the Weddell Sea situated against the northern edges of the Antarctic Peninsula and pass over the Arctic Circle
- Explore the narrow, watery passageways and towering coarse icebergs on zodiac tours that will connect your family to the shores of Antarctica
- View four different species of penguins as you visit the distinctive islands around the Arctic Peninsula, including the famous emperor penguins
- Relish the unforgettable family moment of plunging into a thermal hot spring on Deception Island in view of the tepid waters of the volcanic caldera
- Visit the residents of Esperanza Base, one of two permanent civilian settlements on Antarctica
- Search for whales, seals, penguins, dolphins, and birdlife as you sail across the infamous waters of the Drake Passage
- Delight in the stories and tales of the Antarctic, including the memorable story of Ernest Shackleton and the Yelcho at Elephant Island
Detailed Description
Your family will receive the gift of a lifetime with unforgettable memories of time spent adventuring across the iceberg-laden waters and snowy shores on your 12-day Antarctica tour. Whether familiar with the wildlife and whaling legends of the Arctic Circle, or just eager to travel along the mythologized waves of the Drake Passage, your cruise between Ushuaia, Argentina, and the Antarctic Peninsula will offer the perfect blend of custom-tailored excitement and fascinating, immersive information. Discover the daily habits of Antarctic seabirds, seals, whale, and bustling penguin colonies. Pass towering icebergs and mesmerizing mountain ranges blanketed with snow. Capture picturesque scenery, engage in specialized zodiac tours, and indulge in the family-friendly ambiance shaped by your welcoming captain and his crew.
Your luxury experience will begin with your arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina. Your private transfer will escort you from the airport to the port of Ushuaia to board your modified Antarctic ship that is meant to hold less than 100 passengers for an intimate and informative adventure. Travel through the Beagle Channel, named for the ship on which Charles Darwin first sailed around South America. Enter into the famous and infamous waters of the Drake Passage, known to many around the southern continent as Mar de Hoces in a dispute about which European navigator first traveled across the waterway, Sir Francis Drake or Francisco de Hoces.
Listen to family-oriented seminars on the intriguing life of whales, penguins, seals, and dolphins, and learn about the ways in which the current of the passage affects the waves and climate in the area. Watch for icebergs and passing minke or humpback whales as you travel closer to the Antarctic Circle at Antarctic Sound and Hope Bay. Stop at Esperanza Station to meet local families in one of the world’s most southerly civilized settlements before traveling northbound to visit Paradise Bay and Cuverville Island.
Venture into distinctive straits and view chinstrap, Gentoo, Adelie, and emperor penguins. Use the zodiac boats to travel through the South Shetland Islands, including the Deception and Half Moon islands. Depending upon the seas, you may have time to stop at Elephant Island to learn more about the 1916 shipwreck of the Endurance and the ways the crew survived the stranded on the shores before traveling back through the Drake Passage to reach Ushuaia, ending your adventure on the open waters and beaches of the Antarctic continent. Begin planning your dream Antarctica tour by connecting with one of our Antarctica travel specialists.
Starting Price
$15,600 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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