Depart to the airport this morning for the flight to Ushuaia, the capital of Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province, and your gateway to the White Continent.

Known as “El fin del mundo” or “the end of the world,” the city is set against a backdrop of towering mountains and fertile plains, Ushuaia is a haven for wildlife and nature enthusiasts. Here, the Andes plunge straight into the sea, creating a stunning landscape that invites exploration and wonder.

Late this afternoon, board your ship and set sail, an incredible journey awaits!

Use the days spent in the Drake Passage to familiarize yourself with the ship and deepen your knowledge of Antarctica. The Expedition Leader will first present the IAATO rules of conduct that must be observed during landings in the region and will explain everything you need to know about the zodiac outings. Lectures about the history and wildlife of Antarctica will offer an opportunity to learn more about this magical region, where every cruise is a unique experience. Enjoy exceptional sailing moments on board and join the naturalist-guides on the ship’s exterior decks to look out for albatrosses, cape petrels, and other seabirds flying over the Drake Passage.

Weather permitting, cross the mythic line of the Antarctic Polar Circle, located at 66°33’ south of the Equator. This iconic area marks the point where you can witness the midnight sun during the December solstice. Within this circle, the sun remains above the horizon for 24 consecutive hours at least once a year. Crossing this line, an experience known to few, will be an unforgettable highlight of your polar adventure.

The breathtaking landscapes of the narrow channel between Adelaide Island and Graham Land captivate all who sail towards Marguerite Bay. This passage, resembling an ice palace with its immaculate white walls reflected in the frozen mirror of the Southern Ocean, is scattered with icebergs and gleaming blocks of ice. First explored by the Jean-Baptiste Charcot expedition in 1909 and surveyed by the British expedition under John Rymill in 1936, it is steeped in history. In this magical setting, some of the first subaquatic images of the Antarctic were captured during Philippe Cousteau’s four-month expedition to Antarctica between 1972 and 1973.

In 1910, Jean-Baptiste Charcot discovered this island surrounded by sea ice from aboard the Pourquoi Pas? while mapping Alexander Island. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t get closer than 60 km from it. Located in an area frequently beset by low-pressure systems and regular cloud cover, the island remains an enigma. It is entirely covered in ice and sheer cliffs, except for the rocky outcrops extending over a dozen kilometres in the far northwest.

Recently, the ice in the narrowest part of Wilkins Sound has been cracking, officially detaching this island from its neighbour, Alexander Island, 50 km away. Very few people have set foot on this largely untouched island, whose waters attract numerous seabirds, such as petrels, Antarctic terns, and skuas.

Stretching from the west of the Antarctic Peninsula to the Amundsen Sea, the Bellingshausen Sea is named after the Russian admiral and explorer who made the first confirmed sighting of mainland Antarctica in 1820. Its waters surround two of the Antarctic’s largest islands: Alexander Island and Thurston Island. Explore this sea amid ice floes, blocks of sea ice, and majestic icebergs. The coastal areas along the Bellingshausen Sea are also home to colonies of emperor penguins. Depending on the month of the southern summer, you may be fortunate enough to observe isolated adults, adolescents seeking independence, or newly independent young adults.

Enjoy exceptional moments sailing aboard Le Commandant Charcot, the first PC2-class polar cruise ship capable of navigating into the heart of the ice, on seas and oceans inaccessible to ordinary ships due to frozen conditions. Le Commandant Charcot is equipped with oceanographic and scientific tools selected by a committee of experts. Take advantage of on-board lectures and discussions with these specialists to deepen your knowledge of the poles. Participate in advancing scientific research and together, let’s uncover the secrets these fascinating destinations hold.

Icebergs, each more majestic than the last, are dotted across the deep, intense blue waters of Marguerite Bay, one of the most beautiful regions in Antarctica. Surrounded in the north by the mountainous Adelaide Island, in the south by George VI Sound and Alexander Island, and in the east by the Fallières Coast, this bay holds a rich history. Charcot named it after his wife during his second Antarctic expedition between 1908 and 1910. In 1909, during the southern summer when the skies are clearest, he led a significant scientific mission to map and study this region. The bay is home to various cetaceans, and you may have the chance to observe leopard seals or Adelie penguins.

Today, land on the coast of Pourquoi Pas Island, named in the 1930s by John Riddoch Rymill in Honor of Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who discovered it from aboard his ship Le Pourquoi Pas? during his second Antarctic expedition between 1908 and 1910. This mountainous island, located in the north of Marguerite Bay between Graham Land and Adelaide Island, spans 28 km in length and 14 km in width. It is dotted with narrow fjords and snow-covered mountains. Arrive onshore by Zodiac with the expedition team and observe Adelie penguins pottering about on the island’s rocky shores.

Succumb to the allure of a place like no other. The mythical Antarctic Peninsula continues to fascinate and promises visitors unforgettable moments. Throughout your adventure to this icy realm, you will be surrounded by a stunning landscape of blue and white, teeming with wildlife. Penguins, humpback whales, seals, and giant petrels thrive here, alongside elephant seals, fur seals, Antarctic minke whales, and orcas. Depending on the sites you visit, you may have the chance to observe them up close and share in the beauty of this extreme environment.

Based on ice conditions, the Captain and the Expedition Leader will propose zodiac outings or landings to explore the Antarctic Peninsula. Discover glaciers, ice floes, tabletop icebergs, mountain peaks plunging into the sea, volcanic beaches, research stations, enchanting bays, and remnants of the whaling industry. Sail in the wake of great Antarctic explorers like Jean-Baptiste Charcot, Adrien de Gerlache, and Sir Ernest Shackleton, who ventured to conquer these remote and uninhabited lands from the 19th century onwards.

If there is one place, one sea, one waterway that commands respect from tourists, researchers, and seasoned sailors alike, it is undoubtedly the Drake Passage. Located at the latitude of the infamous winds of the Furious Fifties, between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands, this is the shortest route connecting Antarctica to South America. Seasoned navigators will tell you that you must earn your visit to the White Continent!

As the Antarctic convergence zone where cold currents from the South Pole meet warmer equatorial waters, the Drake Passage hosts an incredibly diverse marine fauna. Be sure to look to the sky to catch glimpses of elegant albatrosses and Cape petrels, gracefully riding the winds around your ship.

Your adventure nears its in end, disembark in Ushuaia and transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago