We suggest that you consider travelling to Buenos Aires one day earlier, if flights permit. This will give you an opportunity to rest, after the long overnight flight, and perhaps explore Buenos Aires on your own.

QUEST FOR THE : ANTARCTIC CIRCLE
Itinerary
(Breakfast - B, Lunch - L, Dinner - D)

Day 1
Departure from North America
We depart on our flight from North America to Buenos Aires, Argentina, the gateway to Tierra del Fuego and the Port of Ushuaia.

Please note that the international flight to Buenos Aires is not included in the cost of this tour, however Quest Nature Tours can assist you with booking this flight.

Day 2
Arrival in Buenos Aires
Upon arrival we will be met and transferred directly to our comfortable hotel in the heart of Buenos Aires.  We’ll get together this evening for a welcome dinner at the hotel.
o/nHotelReconquistaGarden (D)

Day 3
Fly to Ushuaia
After breakfast, we’ll fly south to Patagonia and the frontier town of Ushuaia, nestled in the shelter of the snow-capped Andes Mountains.  We’ll have lunch followed by a city tour including a visit to the End of the World Museum.  We’ll have dinner together this evening.
o/n Hotel (TBA), Ushuaia(B, L, D)

Day 4
Tierra del Fuego NP / Board Vessel
We will enjoy a morning scenic drive into Tierra del Fuego NP, followed by lunch.  In the late afternoon, we will board our expedition ship, the R.V. Akademik Ioffe and enjoy a welcome cocktail with our friendly expedition staff before we set sail along the Beagle Channel on the first part of our journey to Antarctica.
o/n R.V. Akademik Ioffe (B, L, D)

Days 5 – 6     
Crossing the Drake Passage
As we set out to cross the famed Drake Passage, our naturalists and the expedition staff will be out on deck, or on the bridge, to help spot whales and identify the many albatrosses, petrels and other pelagic birds that will be accompanying us.  A series of lectures covering wildlife, ice, and south polar history will be offered by the expedition staff to enhance your adventure to the “White Continent”.  As we near the halfway point of the crossing, we’ll reach the Antarctic Convergence, the biological barrier where cold polar waters meet the warmer waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  After this, we’ll continue south towards the South Shetland Islands, keeping our eyes open for our first icebergs.
o/n R.V. Akademik Ioffe (B, L, D)

Days 7 – 13
Antarctic Peninsula / South Shetland Islands / Antarctic Circle
For the next seven days, we will cruise among the volcanic South Shetland Islands and the waterways of the Antarctic Peninsula.  It is during this time that, weather and ice conditions permitting, we will sail deep into Antarctic waters and explore the region south of the Lemaire Channel, and then on to the Antarctic Circle.
 
The western flank of the peninsula is a rugged, mountainous spur flanked by ancient glaciers and massive ice shelves that creep down to the water’s edge.  In the lee of the peninsula lie dozens of islands, home to an abundance of wildlife, including Crabeater and Weddell Seals, Antarctic Skuas, Giant Petrels and rookeries of Gentoo, Adelie and Chinstrap Penguins.  During a recent voyage, we were very lucky to find a single Emperor Penguin, well out of its range, on the beach of Neko Harbour, and Macaroni Penguins nesting at Hanna Point.

At Paradise Bay, dotted with spectacular icebergs that seem to reflect every colour of the rainbow, we will observe Gentoo and Chinstrap Penguins, and perhaps a lingering Leopard Seal. We will sail through the narrow Lemaire Channel, with glacial walls rising high on both sides, to an awesome archipelago of icy islands, harbouring penguin rookeries, Southern Elephant Seal wallows and a myriad of seabirds. As we navigate Crystal Channel on our way to the Antarctic Circle, we’ll be rewarded with a spectacular show of recently-calved icebergs.  This is also where, in the past, we have enjoyed terrific sightings of Orcas and Humpback Whales.

On one of our later days, we may sail into the vast, sunken caldera at Deception Island, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, where we explore an abandoned whaling station and perhaps take a dip in the thermal waters at Pendulum Cove.

Each day we will venture out in our inflatable Zodiacs to explore this wonderful world of ice.  We hope to make two landings or Zodiac cruises each day and, in the company of our expert naturalists, we will enjoy superb close-up views of beautifully sculpted icebergs, and creep quietly to the edge of noisy penguin rookeries. 

There are also other exciting experiences available on this voyage.  You will be invited to spend an optional night out ‘on the ice’; an incredible experience, with sleeping bags provided at no charge.  In addition, we’ll take up to 16 paddlers to experience Antarctica waters in sea kayaks.  All equipment and clothing is provided along with a qualified kayak guide.  Please check with us for details and prices of this exciting option.
o/n R.V. Akademik Ioffe (B, L, D)

Days 14 – 15
Crossing the Drake Passage / Cape Horn
It is with regret that we leave Antarctica, sailing north to the South American coast through the Drake Passage.  Again, we will be observing a rich variety of sea birds and enjoying a final series of lectures.  Our ship plots a course towards Cape Horn and the thrilling climax of our voyage will take place as we round South America’s most southerly and legendary landmark – which we hope to see in good weather. 
o/n R.V. Akademik Ioffe (B, L, D)

Day 16
Disembarque, Fly to Buenos Aires
After picking up our Argentinean pilot, and travelling up the Beagle Channel during the night, we will arrive in Ushuaia, the port that marks the end of our Antarctic adventure, at 7:00am.

Farewells completed, we’ll be taken to the Ushuaia airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. On our arrival, we’ll be transferred to the hotel.  We’ll have dinner this evening at the hotel.
o/nHotelReconquistaGarden (B, D)

Day 17                       
City Tour / Flights home
This morning, we’ll have a half day Buenos Aires city tour followed by lunch.  In the afternoon, we’ll be transferred to the airport for our international flight.
(B, L)

Day 18
Arrive North America

Please Note: The voyage itinerary listed is an example only.  Due to the nature of this expedition, weather, ice or other conditions may require changes to be made to the itinerary and/or cancellation of certain shore excursions.


"Hightlights of Antarctica - - the whole trip/experience was fantastic. The ship, the accomodation, the food, the staff and the lectures!"
~ Ann K. Summerland, B.C

"The whales didn't mind getting close and will be a memory to never forget"
~ Dave T. Owen Sound, ON