Em busca do Círculo Polar

Sailing from Ushuaia, the voyage crosses the Drake Passage toward the South Shetland Islands and the western Antarctic Peninsula. Guests explore iconic sites like Paradise Bay, Cuverville Island, and Port Lockroy, encountering penguins, seals, and abundant whales. The itinerary includes a rare attempt to cross the Antarctic Circle, with visits to Vernadsky Station, Yalour Islands, and Detaille Island. Spectacular waterways such as the Lemaire, Neumayer, and Gerlache Channels provide stunning glacier and iceberg views. Wildlife-rich Deception Island and Half Moon Island mark the return north before crossing the Drake Passage to Ushuaia.

Dia 1: partida de Ushuaia

Embarque no USHUAIA à tarde e conheça a equipe de expedição e os palestrantes. Depois de se acomodar na cabine, navegamos pelo famoso Canal de Beagle e pelo cênico Paso Mackinlay.

Dias 2 e 3: No mar, travessia da Passagem de Drake

Named after the renowned explorer, Sir Francis 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 with 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 favourable conditions in the Drake Passage our lecturers and naturalists will accompany you ashore as you experience your first encounter with the penguins and seals on Day 3.

Dias 4 a 9: Explorando a Península Antártica e as Ilhas Shetland do Sul, com a tentativa de cruzar o Círculo Polar

Exquisite beauty and pristine landscapes are waiting for you on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Myriads of icebergs with different shades and shapes are floating free in the waterways around the continent. The Antarctic Peninsula's remarkable history will also 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 and a wide variety of wildlife. Apart from Adélie, Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins and other seabirds you are likely

to encounter Weddell, crabeater, fur and leopard seals as well as Minke whales and orcas at close range. At this time of year it is also very likely to encounter big cetaceans, such as humpback, Fin and Sei whales in the area.

We hope to navigate some of the most beautiful waterways the area has to offer, such as the Gerlache Strait, Errera Channel, Neumayer Channel and the extremely narrow Lemaire Channel. Possible landing sites may include Paradise Bay, which is perhaps the most aptly named place in the world with its impressive glacial fronts and mountains, Cuverville Island, home of the biggest Gentoo Penguin colony in the Peninsula surrounded by glaciers and castellated icebergs, and the British Museum and Post office Port Lockroy.

As further exploration will lead us far South of the Lemaire Channel in quest of the Polar Circle, we might also visit the Ukrainian Station Vernadsky, the former British base Faraday, where the ozone hole was first spotted, the rugged Yalour Islands and south of the Polar Circle Detaille Island.

On our way North we plan to explore the South Shetland Islands. The volcanic island group is a haven for wildlife. Vast penguin rookeries and seals hauling out on the shorelines make every day spent here unforgettable. Sailing through the narrow passage into the flooded caldera of Deception Island is truly amazing, so is visiting the crescent-shaped island Half Moon, home to Chinstrap Penguins in breathtaking surroundings.

Dias 10 e 11: No mar, travessia da Passagem de Drake rumo ao norte

Deixamos a Antártica e seguimos para o norte pela Passagem de Drake. Junte-se aos nossos palestrantes e naturalistas no deck para procurar aves marinhas e baleias e aproveite as últimas palestras. Aproveite para relaxar e refletir sobre as aventuras fascinantes dos últimos dias no caminho de volta a Ushuaia.

Dia 12: chegada a Ushuaia

Chegamos ao porto de Ushuaia de manhã cedo e desembarcamos do USHUAIA após o café da manhã

O QUE ESTÁ INCLUÍDO

• Cruzeiro de 12 dias com hospedagem
• Todos os desembarques de Zodiac e excursões conforme o itinerário
• Aluguel de botas de borracha
• Guias e palestras com o nosso líder de expedição e a equipe
• Equipe de expedição que fala inglês
• Pensão completa no navio: café da manhã, almoço, jantar e lanches
• Chá e café à vontade 24 horas por dia
• Impostos, taxas portuárias, taxas de documentação
• Diário detalhado pós-expedição

O QUE NÃO ESTÁ INCLUÍDO

• Excursões e atividades extras não mencionadas no itinerário
• Suplemento de quarto individual e upgrades de cabine
• Refeições fora do navio
• Bebidas (exceto café e chá)
• Gorjetas para a tripulação
• Despesas pessoais
• Tudo o que não estiver mencionado expressamente em ’Inclusões’
• Parka impermeável, calças ou outros equipamentos não especificados em ‘Inclusões’

É necessário um sinal não reembolsável de 30% do valor da cabine correspondente para confirmar a reserva do cruzeiro de expedição. O pagamento final (70%) vence 90 dias antes da partida. Os pagamentos podem ser feitos por transferência bancária (forma de pagamento preferida) ou cartão de crédito. Todos os pagamentos devem ser feitos na moeda combinada indicada na fatura.