Hondius

Beginning your journey is Puerto Madryn known for its marine wildlife watching and beachfront location. You will embark the Hondius in the afternoon. The body of water adjacent to Puerto Madryn is known as Golfo Nuevo, a known spot for southern right whales.

During your days at sea, familiarise yourself with the ship layout and head to the deck to spot several species of bird such as albratrosses, storm petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels.

The Falkland Islands is largely known for its flourishing wildlife including various species of birds with Peale dolphins and Commerson’s dolphins can be found in the nearby waters.

Here you may visit the following sites:

Steeple Jason – An uninhabited island and home of the largest colony of black-browed albatross in the world. The island is a birders and photographers paradise where you can observe several species of birds up close.

Carcass Island – Named after the vessel, HMS Carcass, this island gem is the perfect landing for exploration  with steep hills for the intrepid walker to stunning beaches for leisurely strolls.

Saunders Island –  known for its iconic vistas among the Falkland Islands. Here you will see black-browed albatross, imperial shags, rockhopper penguins, the elusive king penguins, Magellanic penguins and Gentoos.

Visit the Falklands capital, Stanley recognised by its brightly coloured buildings many of which are of English- style architecture. Explore this quaint and charming town to see local attractions such as the museum, Jetty Visitor Centre and the Christ Church Cathedral – some attractions may have admission fees which are not included in the voyage.

You make your way towards South Georgia crossing the Antarctic Convergence – where the Antarctic waters mix with the warmer waters of the the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. You may see a variety of seabirds including  albatrosses, petrels, Cape pigeons and southern fulmars.

Today you arrive in South Georgia, known as an Antarctic oasis due to the sheer number of penguins and seals that breed here. Rich in biodiversity and abundant in wildlife – there are many opportunities to visit various sites, if weather and conditions permit, these may include:

Prion Island –  observe the gentle nature of albatross that sit and nurse their chicks during breeding season. This location is closed during the early part of breeding season (November 20 – January 7).

Fortuna Bay – a surreal site surrounded by a panorama of rugged mountains. You can walk the footsteps of the famous explorer, Ernest Shackleton or visit the relics of an abandoned whaling village of Stromness.

Salisbury Plain – a broad coastal plain with snow-capped mountains that line the horizon in almost all directions. This landscape is home to large colonies of king penguins.

St. Andrews Bay – a picturesque site of vast glaciers bordered by snow-capped mountains home to an abundant number elephant seals and fur seals.

Gold Harbour – a great site to see elephant seals, fur seals and light-mantled albatross. Its scenery includes black-sand beaches, blue sheen glaciers splashed with sunset coloured waterfalls.

Grytviken – an abandoned settlement and formerly a whaling station. Stroll through the Grytviken to see king penguins walking the streets and roaming elephants seals throughout.

Today you head south towards South Orkney. Views from the decks may reveal sea ice during this time as well as seabirds such as skuas and snow petrels that trail the vessel.

You may visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine scientific research station located on Laurie Island. Alternatively you may visit Shingle Cove in Signy Island.

If conditions are met, you will sail into the Weddell Sea known for its enormous tabular icebergs. You may stop Paulet Island to see the huge population of Adelie penguins and visit the volcanic island of Brown Bluff.

Alternatively, you will go en route for Elephant Island and head into Bransfield Strait then  continuing to Gerlache Strait known for its blue spiked icebergs as well as spotting humpback whales.

If ice conditions allow, you may sail through the Lemaire Channel – a  natural corridor of calm water reflecting the cliff and glaciers that go along it.

Be greeted by an array of familiar seabirds. Take this time to reflect on the highlights of your trip and take advantage of your final chances to spot whales while you cross the Drake Passage

Say your final farewells to new found friends and the expedition crew as you disembark the Hondius upon arrival in Ushuaia. Take a group transfer from the dock to the airport for your forward flight.

Begin your journey in the southernmost city, Ushuaia embarking the Hondius in the afternoon.

As you cross the Drake Passage familiarise yourself with the layout of the ship. You will cross the Antarctic Convergence – when the Antarctic waters mix with the warmer waters of the the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Enjoy the variety of  albatrosses, petrels, Cape pigeons and southern fulmars.

Antarctica is absolutely stunning with snow-capped islands, towering blue-white ice and home to a variety of wildlife on land and in the sea. You will sail pass Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel while cruising between Brabant and Anvers Islands.

During your time here you may visit the following areas:

Danco Island – located in the middle of the Errara Channel home to a large colonies Gentoo penguins that nest on the island. Nearby you may see Weddell seals , crabeater seals, humpbacks and mine whales in the nearby waters.

Neko Harbour – nestled in a little corner on the Antarctic Peninsula with landscape of enormous glaciers. Zodiac cruising and landings offers closest views of the alpine.

Paradise Bay – this bay is surrounded by glaciated mountains that reflect fascinating shades and shapes of blue against the icy Antarctic waters.

Pleneau & Petermann Islands – If ice conditions permit, you may sail through one of the highlights of Antarctica, the Lemaire Channel. This narrow passageway is a natural corridor with water between this natural corridor so calm that the reflecting cliffs and glaciers create a perfect mirrored pictured against the crystal blue water.

Port Lockroy – a former Bristish research station located on Goudier Island. Today Port Lockroy is a museum and post office. This area offers fantastic opportunities to kayak and camp . Meet the blue-eyed shags, gentoo penguins and partake activities in Jougla Point.

Wilhelmina Bay & Guvernoren – spot the humpback whales in the nearby sea while boarding a Zodiac cruise may take you to see the remnants of the whaling vessel, Guvernoren. You may encounter even more whales, leopard seals and crabeater seals around the Melchior Islands.

Be greeted by an array of familiar seabirds as you sail across the Drake Passage once again. Take this time to reflect on the highlights of your trip and take advantage of your final chances to spot whales while you cross the Drake Passage

Say your final farewells to new found friends and the expedition crew as you disembark the Hondius upon arrival in Ushuaia. Take a group transfer from the dock to the airport for your forward flight.

Take this time to familiarise yourself with the layout of the ship or head to the deck to watc albatross, petrels, shearwaters and diving petrels that follow the vessel into the westerlies.

The Falkland Islands is largely known for its flourishing wildlife including various species of birds with Peale dolphins and Commerson’s dolphins can be found in the nearby waters.

Here you may visit the following sites:

West Point Island – located on the north-west tip of West Falkland best known home for thriving birdlife among the tussac grassses to the rocky ledges. In the waters below whales, fur seals and sea lions can be observed below.

Saunders Island –  known for its iconic vistas among the Falkland Islands. Here you will see black-browed albatross, imperial shags, rockhopper penguins, the elusive king penguins, Magellanic penguins and Gentoos.

Visit the Falklands capital, Stanley recognised by its brightly coloured buildings many of which are of English- style architecture. Explore this quaint and charming town to see local attractions such as the museum, Jetty Visitor Centre and the Christ Church Cathedral – some attractions may have admission fees which are not included in the voyage.

You make your way towards South Georgia crossing the Antarctic Convergence – where the Antarctic waters mix with the warmer waters of the the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. You may see a variety of seabirds including  albatrosses, petrels, Cape pigeons and southern fulmars.

Today you arrive in South Georgia, known as an Antarctic oasis due to the sheer number of penguins and seals that breed here. Rich in biodiversity and abundant in wildlife – there are many opportunities to visit various sites, if weather and conditions permit, these may include:

Prion Island –  observe the gentle nature of albatross that sit and nurse their chicks during breeding season. This location is closed during the early part of breeding season (November 20 – January 7).

Fortuna Bay – a surreal site surrounded by a panorama of rugged mountains. You can walk the footsteps of the famous explorer, Ernest Shackleton or visit the relics of an abandoned whaling village of Stromness.

Salisbury Plain – a broad coastal plain with snow-capped mountains that line the horizon in almost all directions. This landscape is home to large colonies of king penguins.

St. Andrews Bay – a picturesque site of vast glaciers bordered by snow-capped mountains home to an abundant number elephant seals and fur seals.

Gold Harbour – a great site to see elephant seals, fur seals and light-mantled albatross. Its scenery includes black-sand beaches, blue sheen glaciers splashed with sunset coloured waterfalls.

Grytviken – an abandoned settlement and formerly a whaling station. Stroll through the Grytviken to see king penguins walking the streets and roaming elephants seals throughout.

Today you head south towards South Orkney. Views from the decks may reveal sea ice during this time as well as seabirds such as skuas and snow petrels that trail the vessel.

You may visit Orcadas Base, an Argentine scientific research station located on Laurie Island. Alternatively you may visit Shingle Cove in Signy Island.

From this point you have roughly travelled the same route (in the opposite direction) as the famous polar explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton. Elephant Island is best known as the site of the legendary rescue of Ernest Shackleton and his crew, following the loss of their ship, Endurance. Since conditions on Elephant Island are severe, it is ideal place to explore for adventurers with vertical rock and ice cliffs make up a majority of its coastline. You may take Zodiacs to Point Wild – the specific spot where Shackleton’s expedition survived as it offered better protection from rockfalls and the sea.

Ice permitting, you will sail into the Antarctic Sound located at the northwestern edge of the Weddell Sea, where you will see the enormous tabular icebergs. Once through the Weddell Sea you make your way to the eastern edges of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Brown Bluff is a possible landing during this time. Brown Bluff – an iced-capped volcanic island with sheer canyon walls and fallen boulders unique it its structure of a flat-topped and steep-sided volcano that has erupted from within a glacier. Adelie and Gentoo penguins as wells nesting snow petrels live here.

Often misty and blanketed with flora, is the South Shetland Islands home of Gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins and southern giant petrels which can be observed here.

In Deception Island, the vessel plunges through Neptune’s Bellows then into the flooded caldera where you can find hot springs, an abandoned whaling station and cape petrels. You may visit the ruins of an abandoned whaling station in Whalers Bay or alternatively you may head to head to Telefon Bay.

These next couple of days will spent exploring the best that Antarctica has to offer beginning by entering the pristine and strikingly beautiful, Gerlache Strait. The Gerlache Strait is a famous body of water known for its blue spiky icebergs, towering mountains and for spotting humpback whale spotting.

Sites around this area may include:

Neko Harbour – Known for its mountains, glaciers and abundant wildlife. Board a Zodiac for a closer experience to the stunning landscape and encountering wildlife.

Paradise Bay – This spectacular bay is surrounded by glaciated mountains that reflects fascinating shaped and shades of blue against the icy Antarctic waters. Was once a whaling station is now home to an abundant of cormorants, seals and gentoo penguins.

Pleneau & Petermann Islands – Petermann Island is one of the less visited islands on the Antarctic Peninsula, travelling further down south leads to one of Antarctica’s highlights, the Lemaire Channel. The Lemaire Channel is a narrow passageway, a natural corridor that the passageway reflects a perfect mirrored image thanks to the still water in between cliffs and glaciers. Adelie penguins, blue eyed shags, humback whales, minke whales and leopard seals may be seen here.

After sailing Pleneau and Petermann Islands, the vessel aims to cut south  reach the Crystal Sound and the Antarctic Circle where landing at Detaille Island (an abandone British research station) maybe possible. After this, you head back around the Lemaire Channel and the Gerlache Strait.

Be greeted by an array of familiar seabirds as you sail across the Drake Passage once again. Take this time to reflect on the highlights of your trip and take advantage of your final chances to spot whales while you cross the Drake Passage.

Say your final farewells to new found friends and the expedition crew as you disembark the Hondius upon arrival in Ushuaia. Take a group transfer from the dock to the airport for your forward flight