HIGHLIGHTS
- An expedition cruise between Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland
Islands, and the province of Chubut in Argentina, to discover a unique
and unspoiled fauna and flora.
- Outings and shore visits in zodiac inflatables with a team
of experienced naturalist guides.
- Enjoy a magical experience as you are introduced to sea
kayaking. Lead by experienced, State-Certified kayak guides, you will
skim the water’s surface amid the ice. For more information
about your kayak tour, please go to the section ‘PONANT
activities’ and to book your kayak tour, contact your cruise
advisor.
- Take the time to discover the fabulous Falkland Islands and
their unique ecosystem over five unforgettable days, and be among the
first to sail in the Falkland Sound aboard a cruise ship.
- Discover the Valdes Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
due to its exceptional biodiversity.
- If weather conditions allow it, disembark at Cape Horn and
admire its albatross sculpture created by the Chilean artist
José Balcells Eyquem.
- Sailing around Isla de los Estados at the far south of
Argentina.
- Hiking opportunity.
- Landscapes: moors scattered with moss and lichen,
white-sand beaches and turquoise waters in the Falkland Islands; shrub
steppe in southern Argentina.
- Wildlife: Gentoo, king and Magellanic penguins; sea lions,
elephant and fur seals; light-mantled and black-browed albatrosses;
orcas, sei whales, guanacos, Commerson’s dolphins.
- For your comfort, your cruise package includes an overnight
in Buenos Aires the day before embarkation and the outbound flight
Buenos Aires/Ushuaia (for details, see the ‘Included in your
cruise’ tab).
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
ITINERARY
12 MARCH 2024 - USHUAIA
Embarkation 12/03/2024 from 16:00 to 17:00
Departure 12/03/2024 at 18:00
Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered
the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed
“El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this
city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains
surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as
the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes
plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating
places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely
and the inaccessible…
13 MARCH 2024 - SAILING
AROUND CAPE HORN
Arrival 13/03/2024
Departure 13/03/2024
It’s at the meeting point between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans that you enter Chilean Patagonia where you head for the Tierra
del Fuego archipelago and its famous Cape Horn. From the top of its
impressive 425-metre high cliff, South America’s southernmost
tip has, for many centuries, seen merchant ships from the world over
passing by. Because of its legendary storms and rough seas, getting
round this cape has gone down in history as a challenge for all
seafarers.
14 MARCH 2024 - SAILING
ALONG ISLA DE LOS ESTADOS
Arrival 14/03/2024
Departure 14/03/2024
Mountainous and rugged, the Isla de los Estados reveals the last
ripples of the Andean cordillera. At the extreme far-east of the Tierra
del Fuego, this tiny Argentinean island edged with deep, narrow bays,
is a real nature sanctuary. From the sea, admire its relief, covered
with a dense and inaccessible forest, and the rich wildlife that
peoples its waters (Magellanic penguins, Commerson’s
dolphins, etc.). This mysterious island is home to the lighthouse that
inspired Jules Verne’s Lighthouse at the end of the world -
and you may be lucky enough to see it during your journey.
15 MARCH 2024 - BLEAKER
ISLAND
Arrival 15/03/2024
Departure 15/03/2024
The name of the island, a corruption of the word
“breaker”, is in reference to the waves that break
on the shores of this land exposed to the turbulence of the Atlantic
Ocean. On the southeastern edge of the Falkland Islands, the swells
pounds the low cliffs of this narrow strip of land interspersed with
vast beaches of white sand or pebbles. Covered in pasture where a few
sheep and bovines roam, the island is, in part, a National Nature
Reserve. From gentoo penguins to king penguins, blackish
oystercatchers, and large colonies of imperial shags, a total of some
fifty bird species live here. In a Zodiac dinghy or on foot, discover
the beauty of the Falklands with this unique port of call.
15 MARCH 2024
16 MARCH 2024 - PORT STANLEY
Arrival 15/03/2024
Departure 16/03/2024
Situated at the far eastern end of the Falklands' largest island, Port
Stanley, is the capital of this remote archipelago in the South
Atlantic, composed of nearly 700 islands and islets. In 1764, Louis
Antoine de Bougainville settled the first pioneers here and the port
grew rapidly. Placed under the Spanish crown in 1767, then under
British sovereignty since 1833, the town has retained some South
American features fused with the Victorian style that punctuate the
city, and the houses with their colourful roofs brighten the moorland
landscapes with their windy and harsh climate reminiscent of the
Scottish islands of Orkneys or Shetland. In front of the Cathedral,
built in 1933, an arch made of whale jaw bones reminds us that Port
Stanley was once a whaling port.
16 MARCH 2024 - SAILING
IN THE FALKLAND SOUND
Arrival 16/03/2024
Departure 16/03/2024
Between the two main lands of the Falkland Islands, West Falkland and
East Falkland, your ship will cut a path to the heart of these remote
islands. For the first time, a cruise ship will sail on the Falkland
Sound, a channel where the deep blue of the water merges with the
distinctive green of the peat-covered moors. Admire this peaceful
prairie landscape punctuated by coves and bays which you will discover
as you sail along.
17 MARCH 2024 - CARCASS
ISLAND
Arrival 17/03/2024
Departure 17/03/2024
Situated in the north-west of the Falklands, Carcass Island was named
after the ship HMS Carcass, which visited the island in the late 18th
century. Its landscapes, combining steep rocks, sheer cliffs, wild
expanses and white-sand beaches, form a rich and varied panorama that
amateur or experienced bird watchers will appreciate. On this island,
one of the few where no predators have been introduced, numerous
species of birds live, breed and are born in total serenity. Due to the
fresh, windy and humid subarctic oceanic climate, a fauna and flora
similar to those of Patagonia, situated 460 km (286 miles) away, thrive
here. You could get the chance to observe royal or southern rockhopper
penguins.
17 MARCH 2024 - THE NECK,
SAUNDERS ISLAND
Arrival 17/03/2024
Departure 17/03/2024
The Neck is a narrow stretch of land connecting the two sides of
Saunders Island, located on the north-western edge of the Falklands.
You'll safely enter these blustery surroundings with the assistance of
your naturalist guides. And once there, a reward awaits you: a
veritable paradise of endless shoreline lapped by turquoise waters.
Several bird species, also attracted to this stunning location, have
settled here. At the other end of The Neck, you'll encounter Magellanic
penguins, southern rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatross and king
penguins, all basking in the beauty of their surroundings.
18 MARCH 2024 - GRAVE COVE
Arrival 18/03/2024
Departure 18/03/2024
Make your way through the turbulent Woolly Gut strait and emerge in the
stillness of Grave Cove. Located in the northern edge of the Falkland
Islands, this bay owes its name to the vestiges of whalers’
graves that overlook the beach. As you step off the boat and onto the
white-sand beach, you might find yourself escorted by a few hospitable
Commerson's dolphins, elegantly adorned in black and white. A
stroll along the grassy dunes will lead you to a vast plain of lush
green grass, tended by a few sheep. On the other side of the island
you'll find one of the largest gentoo penguin colonies in the area.
With some luck, you'll also glimpse a sea lion scouring the waves for
his next meal.
18 MARCH 2024 - NEW ISLAND
Arrival 18/03/2024
Departure 18/03/2024
This island with its distinctive jagged relief is located on the
western edge of the Falkland Islands and is home to a tiny village of
two families. Step onto the golden sand of its flower-lined beaches,
beside which an old stone house still stands, and you'll feel like
you've entered a natural paradise. A narrow pathway weaves around
typical Falkland moorlands. Follow it and in under 20 minutes you'll
find yourself at the heart of a colony of southern rockhopper penguins,
black-browed albatross and imperial shags. It's the perfect opportunity
to watch the albatross swoop down from the cliffs and skim the waves
that crash against the rocks on the exposed side of the island.
19 MARCH 2024 - WEST
POINT ISLAND
Arrival 19/03/2024
Departure 19/03/2024
It is no coincidence that West Point Island was once called Albatross
Island. Like everywhere else in the Falkland Islands, seabirds have
taken up residence here. Among them, the huge colonies of black-browed
albatrosses observe your arrival by zodiac dinghy, from the surrounding
cliffs. The gentoo and king penguins are also curious about travellers
arriving by sea. The turquoise waters of the island wash up against the
undulating shores, where the stretches of yellow gorse brighten the
scenery composed by this wild natural environment. On the hill
overlooking the bay stand the dwellings of the few people still living
in this remote land. The calm and serenity of the island is only broken
by the sound of the wind.
19 MARCH 2024 - STEEPLE
JASON ISLAND
Arrival 19/03/2024
Departure 19/03/2024
If one island of the Falklands calls for use of superlatives, it would
undoubtedly be Steeple Jason. Located at the extreme north-west corner
of the Falklands, the island is home to the largest black-browed
albatross colony in the world. You'll be rapt at the sight of these
magnificent birds with black-contoured eyes. Photographers will delight
in immortalising the endless ballet of the albatross, who soars
majestically and then alights awkwardly amidst nests. Caracaras, gentoo
penguins and Magellanic penguins are also abundantly present, as if to
prove to the visitor that here nature is king.
20 MARCH 2024 - AT SEA
Arrival 20/03/2024
Departure 20/03/2024
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and
activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the
spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season,
let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing.
This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to
enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the
activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet
the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the
open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to
admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to
observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort,
rest and entertainment.
21 MARCH 2024 - CAMARONES
Arrival 21/03/2024
Departure 21/03/2024
Camarones is a small town located in Chubut Province, in Southern
Argentina. Chubut stretches from the Atlantic to the Andes, the coast
is marked by high cliffs and sandy beaches. Before the Spaniards
arrived in the Americas, nomadic indigenous people had inhabited the
Patagonia region. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Spanish missionaries
settled. Camarones is the head town of the Florentino Ameghino
department which is noted for its wealth of geological and
paleontological features. People are attracted to the region by its
lengthy unspoiled coastline and its fauna. Camarones means
‘shrimps’ in Spanish, once the town was well-known
for the abundance of shrimps in its bay.
22 MARCH 2024
23 MARCH 2024 - PUERTO MADRYN
Arrival 22/03/2024
Departure 23/03/2024
On the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Argentinian province of
Chubut, stands the city of Puerto Madryn nestling in the Golfo Nuevo
and surrounded by wild and abundant nature. You will be able to follow
the narrow strip of land formed by the isthmus for a few kilometres, to
reach the Valdes Peninsula nature reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. Its microclimate, protected from the extreme conditions of the
Southern Atlantic, makes this an ideal breeding ground for southern
right whales, but also for southern elephant seals, southern sea lions,
and orcas. You may also get the chance to spot numerous birds,
Magellanic penguins, guanacos and Patagonian maras living in this
desert steppe.
24 MARCH 2024
25 MARCH 2024 - AT SEA
Arrival 24/03/2024
Departure 25/03/2024
During your journey at sea, make the most of the many services and
activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the
spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season,
let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing.
This journey without a port of call will also be an opportunity to
enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, depending on the
activities offered, or to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet
the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the
open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to
admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to
observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort,
rest and entertainment.
26 MARCH 2024 - BUENOS
AIRES
Arrival 26/03/2024 early morning
Disembarkation 26/03/2024 at 07:00
A port city built on the south-western shore of the Rio de la Plata,
between the Atlantic Ocean and the vast Argentine Pampas, Buenos Aires
is a unique city in Latin America. Nicknamed “the Little
Paris of South America”, the Argentine capital is a clever
blend of architecture with European influences and a joyful Latin
American atmosphere. Designed on an orthogonal grid plan, it has 48
districts, all of which are as charming as they are different, with a
range of styles such as Belle Époque, gothic and baroque.
With its markets overflowing with treasures, its legendary cultural and
architectural heritage, and tango providing its background music, the
Argentine capital will delight you on every street corner.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED