Fly to Antarctica and Sail Back to Puerto Williams
Day 1: Punta Arenas, Chile
Arrive in Punta Arenas, the farthest-south town in Chile at the bottom of Tierra del Fuego. Overlooking the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas was a gold rush boomtown in the late 19th century. By the early 20th century it had become a center for large-scale sheep farming, which remains an important economic enterprise today. Meet your Expedition Leader and fellow adventurers at a welcome dinner this evening.
Day 2: Magallanes National Reserve / Rio Seco Natural History Museum
There's plenty to see around this scenic region, and we begin with a hike in Magallanes National Reserve. This nearly 50,000-acre nature preserve contains a diverse range of native flora and fauna, including Andean and gray foxes, Darwin's leaf-eared mouse and abundant birdlife—look for Magellanic woodpecker, Chilean flicker, black-chested buzzard eagle, austral thrush and more. On a walk through the mixed deciduous forest, we observe native trees such as lenga and Magellan's beech and stunted nirre, an Antarctic beech with crinkled, irregular leaves.
Return to Punta Arenas for lunch, then visit the Rio Seco Natural History Museum, housed in an old cold storage warehouse. With more than 5,000 vintage botanical and zoological specimens from the Magallanes region, the museum aims to educate visitors about the region's rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. Imaginative displays use fine naturalist drawings and painstakingly restored skeletons of seabirds, sea lions and whales to give a picture of life on the strait. After our visit, there's free time to explore town before dinner.
Day 3: Fly from Punta Arenas to King George Island—Embark Ship
The only airstrip on the Antarctic Peninsula archipelago that can reliably be served by the South American continent on a regular basis is located on King George Island in the South Shetland archipelago. We plan to fly here today to meet our intrepid expedition yacht, the Hanse Explorer, where our real adventure begins. Built and outfitted to navigate the daunting conditions in the world's polar regions, this elegant vessel has been designed with every conceivable amenity to make our experience comfortable and inspiring. After introductions and a safety orientation, we set sail into the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula with an eminent polar mariner, seasoned crew and Nat Hab Expedition Leader at the helm.
Please note: It is our intention to fly to King George Island today, but occasionally weather conditions may delay us. If that is the case, we will spend today exploring Punta Arenas and attempt to fly tomorrow. Other times, the flight schedule might be pushed up and some activities missed so we can fly during a clear weather window.
Days 4–10: Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula by Luxury Expedition Yacht
In the South Shetlands, step ashore for our first encounter with penguins and other wildlife of this southern polar wonderland. From here we follow the best weather and safest water, exploring the bays and fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula. Our small vessel gives us a distinct advantage for exploring. Able to navigate narrow fjords inaccessible to larger vessels, or easily change course in response to the presence of whales or other sea life, or having the option to simply stop and observe, our intimate ship delivers the utmost freedom. Unconstrained by a fixed itinerary and led by expert guides with unsurpassed navigation skills on sea or land, we discover this wild and austere place away from crowds, where the loudest noises come from nature.
Kayaks on board allow opportunities to observe wildlife at eye-level, and where landings permit, we step ashore to hike. Some walks are gentle, and others take us through deep snow to geographic high points. Our highly attuned guides ensure that activities are appropriate for the group, and participation on excursions is always optional. For the most daring, plunging in the polar waters may be an option. And, with our special permits, we have the option to camp, weather and local conditions permitting. On these on pristine polar beaches, we share solitude with the legions of wildlife
Though our environs are austere, these waters are a haven for a remarkable array of wildlife, including vast penguin rookeries and beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. Taking advantage of the perpetual light, we spend long days cruising among the icebergs, watching for whales and seals. Sometimes, we get so close we can hear a whale blow, and we may even feel the spray from its spout. Birdlife is extraordinary, with huge populations of albatross, petrel, skua, gull, tern and cormorant. There are few places on the planet where the natural world feels more intact and grandiose, while we have never felt smaller.
After each monumental day, settle into the exceptional comfort and hospitality provided on board the Hanse Explorer. Relax with a cocktail in the lounge, or if you're not quite ready to retreat from the open air, take a soak in the hot tub on the top deck and watch the iceberg parade drift past. Each evening, the chef and culinary team prepare memorable dinners, while the expanse of windows in the dining room ensures you won't miss a thing happening beyond. With the late light of the austral summer lingering until well after dinner, it's tough to pull away from the magnificent scenery surrounding our ship, but a restorative night's sleep awaits in well-appointed staterooms, renewing us for the next day's slate of adventures.
Days 11 & 12: Sailing the Drake Passage / Puerto Williams / Fly to Punta Arenas
Eventually it’s time to leave the sheltered seas of the Antarctic Peninsula and sail north, heading into the open Southern Ocean and the legendary Drake Passage. Named for renowned explorer Sir Francis Drake who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake is notorious for its often-fierce gales, creating large, wind-whipped swells. But the Hanse Explorer is a hardy vessel and we are in good hands, embracing a journey that is sure to be exhilarating. The southern portion of the Drake marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological zone where a great upwelling of nutrients draws an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses that follow in our wake. The exact timing of our 600-mile Drake crossing depends on weather and sea conditions, but we generally expect it to take approximately two days.
As we sail northward, eventually we may be able to discern Cape Horn in the distance, with the mass of Tierra del Fuego rising ahead. Land ho! As the southernmost peaks of Patagonia come into view, Hanse Explorer enters the protected waters of the Beagle Channel, our scenic marine route to Puerto Williams where we disembark. Drink in the vista of endless mountain ridges lining either side of the channel as we cruise toward civilization once more. Once safely docked in the harbor, we saying farewell to our ship, skipper and crew, then head to the airport for our chartered flight north to Punta Arenas, where we spend a final night in one of the world's southernmost cities. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with our Expedition Leader, reflecting on the indelible memories we've made on this truly singular adventure.
Day 13: Punta Arenas / Depart
Fly homeward today from Punta Arenas, with a cache of memories to last a lifetime and then some!
Arrive in Punta Arenas, the farthest-south town in Chile at the bottom of Tierra del Fuego. Overlooking the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas was a gold rush boomtown in the late 19th century. By the early 20th century it had become a center for large-scale sheep farming, which remains an important economic enterprise today. Meet your Expedition Leader and fellow adventurers at a welcome dinner this evening.
Day 2: Magallanes National Reserve / Rio Seco Natural History Museum
There's plenty to see around this scenic region, and we begin with a hike in Magallanes National Reserve. This nearly 50,000-acre nature preserve contains a diverse range of native flora and fauna, including Andean and gray foxes, Darwin's leaf-eared mouse and abundant birdlife—look for Magellanic woodpecker, Chilean flicker, black-chested buzzard eagle, austral thrush and more. On a walk through the mixed deciduous forest, we observe native trees such as lenga and Magellan's beech and stunted nirre, an Antarctic beech with crinkled, irregular leaves.
Return to Punta Arenas for lunch, then visit the Rio Seco Natural History Museum, housed in an old cold storage warehouse. With more than 5,000 vintage botanical and zoological specimens from the Magallanes region, the museum aims to educate visitors about the region's rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. Imaginative displays use fine naturalist drawings and painstakingly restored skeletons of seabirds, sea lions and whales to give a picture of life on the strait. After our visit, there's free time to explore town before dinner.
Day 3: Fly from Punta Arenas to King George Island—Embark Ship
The only airstrip on the Antarctic Peninsula archipelago that can reliably be served by the South American continent on a regular basis is located on King George Island in the South Shetland archipelago. We plan to fly here today to meet our intrepid expedition yacht, the Hanse Explorer, where our real adventure begins. Built and outfitted to navigate the daunting conditions in the world's polar regions, this elegant vessel has been designed with every conceivable amenity to make our experience comfortable and inspiring. After introductions and a safety orientation, we set sail into the waters of the Antarctic Peninsula with an eminent polar mariner, seasoned crew and Nat Hab Expedition Leader at the helm.
Please note: It is our intention to fly to King George Island today, but occasionally weather conditions may delay us. If that is the case, we will spend today exploring Punta Arenas and attempt to fly tomorrow. Other times, the flight schedule might be pushed up and some activities missed so we can fly during a clear weather window.
Days 4–10: Exploring the Antarctic Peninsula by Luxury Expedition Yacht
In the South Shetlands, step ashore for our first encounter with penguins and other wildlife of this southern polar wonderland. From here we follow the best weather and safest water, exploring the bays and fjords of the Antarctic Peninsula. Our small vessel gives us a distinct advantage for exploring. Able to navigate narrow fjords inaccessible to larger vessels, or easily change course in response to the presence of whales or other sea life, or having the option to simply stop and observe, our intimate ship delivers the utmost freedom. Unconstrained by a fixed itinerary and led by expert guides with unsurpassed navigation skills on sea or land, we discover this wild and austere place away from crowds, where the loudest noises come from nature.
Kayaks on board allow opportunities to observe wildlife at eye-level, and where landings permit, we step ashore to hike. Some walks are gentle, and others take us through deep snow to geographic high points. Our highly attuned guides ensure that activities are appropriate for the group, and participation on excursions is always optional. For the most daring, plunging in the polar waters may be an option. And, with our special permits, we have the option to camp, weather and local conditions permitting. On these on pristine polar beaches, we share solitude with the legions of wildlife
Though our environs are austere, these waters are a haven for a remarkable array of wildlife, including vast penguin rookeries and beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals. Taking advantage of the perpetual light, we spend long days cruising among the icebergs, watching for whales and seals. Sometimes, we get so close we can hear a whale blow, and we may even feel the spray from its spout. Birdlife is extraordinary, with huge populations of albatross, petrel, skua, gull, tern and cormorant. There are few places on the planet where the natural world feels more intact and grandiose, while we have never felt smaller.
After each monumental day, settle into the exceptional comfort and hospitality provided on board the Hanse Explorer. Relax with a cocktail in the lounge, or if you're not quite ready to retreat from the open air, take a soak in the hot tub on the top deck and watch the iceberg parade drift past. Each evening, the chef and culinary team prepare memorable dinners, while the expanse of windows in the dining room ensures you won't miss a thing happening beyond. With the late light of the austral summer lingering until well after dinner, it's tough to pull away from the magnificent scenery surrounding our ship, but a restorative night's sleep awaits in well-appointed staterooms, renewing us for the next day's slate of adventures.
Days 11 & 12: Sailing the Drake Passage / Puerto Williams / Fly to Punta Arenas
Eventually it’s time to leave the sheltered seas of the Antarctic Peninsula and sail north, heading into the open Southern Ocean and the legendary Drake Passage. Named for renowned explorer Sir Francis Drake who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake is notorious for its often-fierce gales, creating large, wind-whipped swells. But the Hanse Explorer is a hardy vessel and we are in good hands, embracing a journey that is sure to be exhilarating. The southern portion of the Drake marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological zone where a great upwelling of nutrients draws an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses that follow in our wake. The exact timing of our 600-mile Drake crossing depends on weather and sea conditions, but we generally expect it to take approximately two days.
As we sail northward, eventually we may be able to discern Cape Horn in the distance, with the mass of Tierra del Fuego rising ahead. Land ho! As the southernmost peaks of Patagonia come into view, Hanse Explorer enters the protected waters of the Beagle Channel, our scenic marine route to Puerto Williams where we disembark. Drink in the vista of endless mountain ridges lining either side of the channel as we cruise toward civilization once more. Once safely docked in the harbor, we saying farewell to our ship, skipper and crew, then head to the airport for our chartered flight north to Punta Arenas, where we spend a final night in one of the world's southernmost cities. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with our Expedition Leader, reflecting on the indelible memories we've made on this truly singular adventure.
Day 13: Punta Arenas / Depart
Fly homeward today from Punta Arenas, with a cache of memories to last a lifetime and then some!
