Antarctica: Through the Lens

Arrive in Punta Arenas, where you will be met by a representative of Aurora Expeditions and transferred to ourhotel. We ask that you arrive no later than 2.00 pm so that you may attend our important briefing this evening.Please visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the lobby between 10.00 am – 6.00 pm to collect your luggagecabin tags. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide youwith information about where to dine or purchase last minute items.Overlooking the Straits of Magellan, the city sits astride one of the world's most historic trade routes. Today, PuntaArenas reflects a great blend of cultural backgrounds, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors. It remainsan utterly fascinating testament to Chile's rich history. Modern day Punta Arenas is home to many popularrestaurants, and bars, offering a mix of local and international fare (meals at your own expense today).At 7.00 pm this evening, meet your fellow expeditioners at a voyage briefing where we will reconfirm your transfertimes for tomorrow, explain the procedures for your flight to King George Island and outline important IAATOregulations for visitors to Antarctica.Accommodation: Hotel Cabo de Hornos or Hotel Dreams

It’s almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deepbreath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, andwe have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hoursof daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to designyour voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlifeopportunities.We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruisesalong spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins.Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic hutsand explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines tovantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optionalactivity, you will have the option to do participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keenpolar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters - conditions permitting! The polarplunge can take place at any time during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the expedition teamand get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your life!In addition to Zodiac cruises and shore excursions, we may ship cruise some of the narrow, dramatic straitsseparating offshore islands from the mainland, or linger in scenic bays to watch whales travelling or feeding. This is agreat time to enjoy the observation lounge or make your way to the bridge (open at the captain’s discretion) foruninterrupted views of Antarctica in all its splendour. Listen out for the creak and deep rumble of glaciers as theycarve. Take a quiet moment to experience the wonder of the pristine paradise of the splendid white continent.On this voyage, under favourable conditions, we plan to cross the Antarctic Circle, an imaginary line located atlatitude 66°33' south. This is certainly a special highlight for many expeditioners, and the moment will be celebratedwith a toast on deck (conditions permitting). You have earned some boasting privileges, joining a small group oflucky adventurers who have ventured to this part of the world. As we approach The Circle, you will notice subtleTRIP NOTESchanges in the landscape and in the distribution of wildlife. The waters at this time of year are rich with krill and wehope to see plenty of whales - particularly humpbacks and minkes. We also hope to enjoy the spectacle of penguinsfeeding their ravenous chicks.

Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we re-enter the Drake Passage for our returnjourney to South America.With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy themagic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about whatwe have seen and experienced. We hope you become ambassadors for Antarctica telling your family, friends andcolleagues about your journey to this magical place, advocating for its conservation and preservation so that theymight one day visit the region to experience what you have been lucky to see and do here.As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and timepermitting.

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia, where wewill be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continueour onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arrangedexclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtownareas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12:30 pm will be directly transferred to UshuaiaAirport, those with flights after 12:30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airporttransfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation.Note: At the conclusion of the voyage, we do not recommend booking flights departing Ushuaia prior to 12.00 pmon the day of disembarkation in case there are delays.