Antarctica is one of the most beautiful and unexplored places in our planet. For over two centuries, the White Continent has attracted scientists and adventurers for its unmatched natural beauty. Nowadays, this frozen land has opened its doors to world travelers who have become mesmerized with its unique wildlife, its majestic icebergs and its superb scenario. The austral summer, from November to March, with its endless daylight renders the exploration unique.
 
Day 1: Arrive Santiago, Chile (November 22, 2008)

Arrive Santiago.
Meet and greet at the airport.
Transfer from airport to hotel.
Dinner at restaurant.
Relax and overnight at hotel.

 
Day 2: Santiago (November 23, 2008)

Breakfast at hotel.
Begins in the heart of Santiago, the Plaza de Armas where we will spend approximately 20 minutes walking and talking about the historic significance of the location and the importance of the surrounding buildings. We then continue our tour, passing the ex-National Congress to arrive at the Plaza de la Constitucion and the infamous Palacio La Moneda. Chile's presidential palace and the site of the coup d'etat of 1973. If we are there during open hours we will walk through La Moneda. We then continue through the cobble-stoned streets of Barrio Paris-Londres and arrive at Iglesia San Francisco, the oldest church in Santiago, dating back to the early 1600s. We will wander through the interior of the church and learn about its history. Driving down the Alameda we will observe many additional historic sights in Santiago on our way to the artistic and colorful barrio of Bellavista. Here we will ride the funicular to the top of Cerro San Cristobal for a scenic vista of Santiago. Leaving the top, we will drive down through Parque Metropolitana, Santiago’s largest and most interesting park.
Lunch at restaurant.
Continue to visit the museum Precolombino .
Evening dinner at restaurant.
Relax and overnight at hotel.

 
Day 3 : Santiago – Easter Island (November 24, 2008)

Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer from hotel to airport.
Fly from Santiago to Easter Island.
Visit the Orongo National Park.
Dinner at restaurant.
Relax and overnight at hotel.

 
Day 4 : Easter Island (November 25, 2008)

Breakfast at hotel.
A full day tour, along the Moai route, visiting: Vaihu , a place which is surrounded by enormous statues which have fallen face down; the ruins of Akahanga, which are in their natural condition and where the first king of the island was buried.
Lunch included.
Further along, we will see the Rano Raraku volcano, situated close to the southern shore of the island, and at the base of Poike, which is the most spectacular crater in the zone and where the former island-people carved the giant statues from the volcano's quarry. Here we can see the different stages in the construction of the Moais, the biggest of which still remains at the base of the quarry and which is more than 20m long and weighs just under 200 tons. We carry on towards the beautiful beach of Anakena, where we will see Ahu Tongariki, which was the biggest of the 15 Moais on the island. They weighed an average of 50 tons and were destroyed by a tidal wave in 1960.
Evening return to hotel.
Relax and overnight at hotel.
   
 
Day 5 : Easter Island – Santiago (November 26, 2008)

Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer from hotel to airport.
Fly from Easter Island to Santiago.
Arrive Santiago and transfer to hotel.
Dinner at restaurant.
Relax and overnight at hotel.

 
Day 6: Santiago – Ushuaia (November 27, 2008)

Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer from hotel to airport.
Fly from Santiago to Ushuaia.
Arrive Ushuaia. Transfer to hotel.
Visit End of the World Train with National Park Ushuaia Argentina, transfer to "End of the World" Station, head of the "Fuegian Southern Railway" depart from Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego province. This statioin is a privileged spot, surrounded by mountains, at the verge of River Pipo. Its architecture has followed the typical style of Ushuaia, wood and roofs that slope so as to ease the detaching of the snow.
Evening return to hotel.
Dinner at restaurant.
Relax and overnight at hotel.

 
Day 7: Depart from Ushuaia (November 28, 2008)

Breakfast at hotel.
Embark the USHUAIA and meet your expedition and lecture staff. After you have settled into your cabins we sail along the famous Beagle Channel and the scenic Mackinlay Pass.

 
Day 8 - 9: Crossing the Drake Passage (November 29 – November 30, 2008)

Breakfast on board.
Named after the renowned explorer, Sir Frances Drake, who sailed these waters in 1578, the Drake Passage also marks the Antarctic Convergence, a biological barrier where cold polar water sinks beneath the warmer northern waters. This creates a great upwelling of nutrients, which sustains the biodiversity of this region. The Drake Passage also marks the northern limit of many Antarctic seabirds. As we sail across the passage, Antarpply Expeditions’ lecturers will be out with you on deck to help in the identification of an amazing variety of seabirds, including many albatrosses, which follow in our wake. The USHUAIA’S open bridge policy allows you to join our officers on the bridge and learn about navigation, watch for whales, and enjoy the view. A full program of lectures will be offered as well. The first sightings of icebergs and snow-capped mountains indicate that we have reached the South Shetland Islands, a group of twenty islands and islets first sighted in February 1819 by Capt. William Smith of the brig Williams. With favorable conditions in the Drake Passage our lecturers and naturalists will accompany you ashore as you experience your first encounter with the penguins and seals

 
Days 10 - 14: Exploring South Shetlands and Antarctica Peninsula (December 1 – December 5, 2008)

Breakfast on board.

Visit The South Shetland Islands are a haven for wildlife. Vast penguin rookeries, beaches ruled by Antarctic fur seals and southern elephant seals make every day spent in this amazing island group unforgettable. Sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island and the chance to swim in the hot springs of Pendulum Cove is truly amazing. King George Island , the largest of the South Shetland Islands , features colonies of nesting Adelie and Chinstrap Penguins, Kelp Gulls, Blue-eyed Cormorants, Antarctic Terns and Southern Giant Petrels and is home to scientific bases of many different countries. Macaroni, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins as well as elephant seals await you at Livingston Island .
The Antarctic Peninsula 's remarkable history will provide you with a type of excitement often only associated with the early explorers. You will have plenty of time to explore its amazing scenery, a pristine wilderness of snow, ice, mountains and waterways, and an incredible wide variety of wildlife. Apart from penguins and seabirds you are very likely to see Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals as well as Minke, killer (orca) and humpback whales at close range.
Conitnue to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways (depending on the ice conditions): the Gerlache Strait , the Neumayer Channel, and the Lemaire Channel , the latter are narrow passages between towering rock faces and spectacular glaciers. We plan to make at least two landings per day. Possible landing sites may include:

Paradise Bay is perhaps the most aptly named place in the world and we attempt a landing on the continent proper. After negotiating the iceberg-strewn waters of the Antarctic Sound, continue to visit the bustling Ade'lie Penguin (over 100,000 pairs breed here) and Blue-eyed Cormorant colonies on Paulet Island . The Nordenskje'ld expedition built a stone survival hut here in 1903. Today its ruins have been taken over by nesting penguins.

Further exploration may take you to Melchior Island, Cuverville Island, Portal Point, Neko Harbour, Ple'neau Island and if ice conditions permit, to Petermann Island for a visit to the southernmost colony of Gentoo Penguins.


 
Day 15 & 16: At Sea crossing the Drake Passage, northbound (December 6 – December 7, 2008)

Breakfast on board.
We leave Antarctica and head north across the Drake Passage. Join our lecturers and naturalists on deck as we search for seabirds and whales and enjoy some final lectures. Take the chance to relax and reflect on the fascinating adventures of the past days on the way back to Ushuaia.

 
Day 17: Arrival at Ushuaia – Santiago (December 8, 2008)

Breakfast on board.
We arrive at Ushuaia in the early morning and disembark the USHUAIA after breakfast.
Afternoon, fly back to Santiago.
Arrive Santiago, prepare for your next departure.
   
  Date Trip
  Jan - April Argentina - Peru - Brazil
  Jan - Dec Mexico - Costa Rica
  Nov - April Chile - Argentina - Antarctica
  Jan - Dec Peru - Galapagos