South Georgia and the Falklands

Arrive in Buenos Aires (National Geographic Endurance) or
Santiago (National Geographic Resolution).

Transfer from the airport to the Alvear Icon, or similar (National Geographic Endurance) before setting out on a guided tour of the city’s Beaux-Arts palaces and parks. Visit Recoleta—the final resting place of Argentina’s iconic first lady, Eva Perón—and enjoy a private visit to El Zanjon de Granados, one of the city’s premier museums.

Or transfer to the Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, or similar (National Geographic Resolution) before our
guided overview of this vibrant city backed by the inspiring Andes. Discover sites like the Plaza de Armas and get a feel for the mix of old and new that makes this city so great. In the early evening, we gather for an informal reception and a drink at the hotel.

Fly southward to Ushuaia. Sandwiched between ice-mantled peaks and the frigid waters of Beagle Channel, this is a fittingly wild place to be known as “El Fin del Mundo” or “The End of the World.” Before departing, visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, clad in dense beech forest just as much of Antarctica was millions of years ago. Savor lunch onboard a private catamaran as you cruise the Channel, keeping an eye out for plump South American sea lions and sleek seabirds like the imperial cormorant. By day’s end, you’ll be comfortably on board your ship and ready to meet the White Continent.

Feel the excitement build as we depart South America and enter the chilly realm of the Far South Atlantic. Visit the Bridge (nerve center of the ship and ideal for spotting wildlife), enjoy a massage, and listen in on informal gatherings with our naturalist staff as they discuss what to expect in the wilds of the Falklands. Spend time on deck scanning the horizon for petrels, penguins, and albatross.

Everything we love about expedition travel seems to come together in the western Falkland Islands. Where else can you land on a beach tucked into a rocky cove, hike out across a rolling green pasture, and suddenly find yourself at the crest of a sea cliff looking out over the South Atlantic surf? Just a few steps further and you’re standing at the edge of a breeding colony of black-browed albatross, so close that you can hear the wind on their wings as they swoop in to land beside you. Check out the thousands of irresistible gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins that congregate here, along with fur seals.

Expedition days at sea are an invitation to pause, catch a breath, and absorb some of the experiences we’ve already accumulated—before marching off on a range of all-new ones. It’s a great time to get some background on the history of Antarctic exploration and the flora, fauna, and geology of our next destination: South Georgia. And to learn from our naturalists how to identify the seabirds that inevitably follow us there: wandering albatross, prions, and others.

Simply put, there is nowhere else in the world like South Georgia. King penguins, the second largest species in the world, are unquestionably the most iconic wildlife of South Georgia. Exact numbers are not known, but the largest single colony on the island may have as many as 500,000 of these amazing birds nesting together on a single two-mile-long beach.

Explore the spectacular coastline of South Georgia Island. In keeping with the nature of an expedition, our schedule is flexible with opportunities for walking, hiking, kayaking, and Zodiac excursions. Sailing along the coast, we plan to offer activities every day including visits to Grytviken—the final resting place of Shackleton—and Stromness Harbour, where Ernest Shackleton, Tom Crean, and Frank Worsley finally reached aid at a whaling station.

The island is also home to huge elephant seals and thousands of king penguins. South Georgia is sometimes called “the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean”, but even that description seems inadequate; this lonely island is unique in the world, so rich and so beautiful that it defies any comparison.

Relax onboard and enjoy the ship’s amenities. Head up to the Bridge to observe expert navigation at work as our skilled Captain and officers sail these historic waters. There’ll also be time to enjoy a massage in the wellness center, work out in the gym, and browse in the library. Each day our naturalists offer talks that add depth to your experience.

With whales beneath and birds above, head up to the bridge, or spend these days enjoying the ship’s spa, fitness center, library, and observation deck. After time at sea, our journey across the South Atlantic Ocean takes us once more to the island archipelago that teems with nature. In the afternoon, we visit Stanley, the bright, pretty capital of the Falkland Islands, a charming outpost of British culture tucked into a small bay on the shore of these windswept islands in the far South Atlantic. Many Falkland Islanders still live in very traditional ways, and we’ll have a chance to visit a small farm to see some expert sheep shearing and learn about the best techniques for cutting blocks of peat for the fire. The rocky hills and white sand beaches outside town offer some excellent hikes, and afterward a cup of tea or a pint at the local tavern goes down very nicely.

After breakfast, disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for our private charter flight to Santiago or Buenos Aires to connect with your flight home.