|  |
Day 1: Santiago, Chile - Arrivals On your arrival at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL), you will be met by our chauffeur for a private transfer to your luxury hotel to refresh and relax after a long flight. The stylish W Hotel is located in one of the most iconic buildings in the city, offering state-of-the-art rooms, excellent service, and outstanding facilities. It is set in the very heart of the city, in the exclusive Santiago neighborhood of Las Condes with stunning views of the snow-capped Andes to the east and the lush, forested San Cristobal Hill to the west. The hotel offers a choice of award-winning restaurants, lush gardens, and a large, rooftop infinity pool. In the evening, we will meet at one of the elegant hotel restaurants for an optional pre-expedition dinner and toast the upcoming adventures that await us in the world's final frontier. Day 2: Santiago to Puerto Williams, Chile After breakfast, we will transfer back to the airport to board our private group charter flight to Puerto Williams, Chile, located on Navarino Island on the southern tip of South America, embracing the shores of the Beagle Channel. The town, with approximately 2,500 residents, claims to be the “southernmost village in the world”, and it's set against a dramatic backdrop of “Dientes de Navarino” (literally “teeth of Navarino”), which rival the famous Torres del Paine in Patagonia, further to the north. The area was originally used by the Yaghan people, hunter-gatherers who despite enduring the harsh climate, could not weather the arrival of Europeans. The current settlement was established as a naval base in 1953 and it honors the British-Chilean naval commander John Williams Wilson of the 16th century. On arrival in Puerto Williams, we'll board our luxurious cruise ship, the Silver Wind, and set sail in the early evening on the ultimate adventure: to Antarctica! Day 3: Drake Passage - International Waters Today, we'll be crossing the infamous Drake Passage, named for English privateer Francis Drake, but first discovered by Spanish navigator Francisco de Hoces. The Drake Passage is an extraordinary voyage of romantic ocean-faring legends, and the 500-mile wide strait which divides South America from Antarctica can be either savagely fierce or fortuitously calm. Crossing this stretch of turbulent waters is a rite of passage that few are lucky to experience, and this is when the excitement of our upcoming adventure begins to build. The southern tip of the Americas already feels like a wild enough environment to experience, but watching the distant cliffs of the peninsula known as the ‘End of the World’ fade into the horizon is a sensation that is equal part epic, eerie, and magical. We'll watch as our expedition ship slowly falls off the bottom of the map, from Cape Horn towards the icy underworld of Antarctica. If the conditions allow, we'll be able to enjoy the ship's amenities while cruising through international waters or attend a lecture on the history of Antarctica-bound voyages, as we sail into its icy realm. Day 4: Drake Passage - International Waters Today, we will continue following in the footsteps of some of history’s bravest explorers as we pass the famed landmasses scattered throughout the Drake Passage: the snow-covered Elephant Island, and Deception Island, where nothing is as it seems. The journey across the Drake Passage may sound daunting, but we'll never be alone, even in rough seas, as we'll often be accompanied on this spine-tingling adventure by soaring albatrosses or even a protective pod of humpbacks and hourglass dolphins, as the converging warm and cool ocean currents attract some magnificent animal life to the passage. Throughout the day, we can enjoy the ship's spa, boutiques, several lounges with panoramic views, a fitness center, or the outdoor heated pool and jacuzzis. As we approach the continent of Antarctica, skyscraper-sized icebergs will salute us, as we traverse the waters of this continent where snow and ice-dwelling creatures like penguins and whales roam undisturbed. Our first sight of this most-unexplored place on Earth will most likely be the South Shetland Islands. Day 5: Antarctic Sound Few voyages ignite the imagination like a journey down to one of the planet’s most remote, extreme, and enchanting wilderness, Antarctica. An adventure in its purest form, with only a handful of people who will ever be lucky enough to experience the spellbinding beauty of these monochrome landscapes in person. The Antarctic Sound will be our first encounter with this whitewash kingdom. It is located at the northerly tip of the Antarctic Peninsula which sprawls up like a tentacle towards Tierra del Fuego, South America’s most southerly point, otherwise known as the ‘End of the World’. Taking its name from the first ship to brave the passageway between the peninsular and Joinville Island back in 1902, the Antarctic Sound is a raw, sensory assault of imposing iceberg slabs, broken away from the disintegrating Larsen Ice Shelf. After spending two days at sea, we will finally come face-to-face with the stadium-sized islands of ice and meet the extraordinary bird life that call this white kingdom home on our first hike with the Silversea expedition team. We will watch as colonies of Gentoo penguins hop around, and cape petrels sweep overhead, as the continent’s unique wildlife thrives around us. After returning to the ship, we will meet again at one of the ship's elegant restaurants to warm up as we set sail to our next destination in the Antarctic Peninsula. Day 6: Antarctic Peninsula As we sail along the Antarctic Peninsula today, we will stop to explore the continent's shores on a zodiac excursion. The Antarctic Peninsula unravels upwards towards South America, reaching out a beckoning finger to the adventurous, who dare to explore this untamed realm. Stretching up from the heart of the world’s southernmost continent, the Antarctic Peninsula lies a mere 620 miles from Tierra del Fuego and offers a spectacular first taste of the snow-blanketed landscapes and colossal ice sculptures, which make up Earth’s least-explored continent. Huge ice formations are everywhere: from icebergs the size of islands to the fragile, nearly invisible layers glistening on the surface where the sea has just begun to freeze, from near-vertical glaciers pouring down the slopes of every mountain to the endless landscapes of sea ice, ice defines the Antarctic. Unseen by humans until 1820, the shores of Antarctica are sure to make your hairs stand on end, as we experience the thrill of the truly unknown and truly extraordinary. Remember to dress according to the climate, wear waterproof foot ware, and apply ample sunscreen to protect yourself from sunburn as the glistening ice and water can create harsh sun rays. Day 7: Antarctic Peninsula Today, we will have the option to go on either a hike or a zodiac ride with the expedition team as we continue to explore the vast Antarctic Peninsula further. The sturdy zodiac landing boats are the heart and soul of Antarctic explorations. These tough and stable motorized boats maneuver easily through ice-choked waters, getting everyone ashore safely in even the most remote and challenging locations. Simply cruising in the zodiacs is fun, seeing leopard seals relaxing on an ice floe or an exquisite arched iceberg that no one has ever seen before. The Antarctic Peninsula is sprinkled with research bases, which are at the frontline of human scientific endeavor, pushing to study and understand this unique environment, its exceptional wildlife, and the impact that humans are having on this pristine continent. On today's expeditions, we will witness cathedral-sized icebergs up close, blue-hued glaciers, slowly slipping from imposing locations like Hope Bay, as well as enjoy more encounters with whales and dolphins. Blanched mountain peaks cover the peninsula, and if we are lucky, we’ll find the adorable Adelie penguin pairs thriving undisturbed in this unique setting. Day 8: Antarctic Peninsula As we spend another day exploring the Antarctic Peninsula, you will be able to choose from the three expedition options based on your comfort and fitness level: Zodiac Cruise with Silversea Expedition Team, Hiking with Silversea Expedition Team, or Kayaking with Silversea Expedition Team. Each excursion will feature slightly different adventures. Without a doubt, penguins are the most popular residents of Antarctica, and we will have many chances to get to know them well. Their colonies are almost always close to the beach, so it’s very easy to get great photos. In the short Antarctic summer, these amazing birds are always busy with the many tasks of breeding and raising their chicks, so every month brings something new. In February, the chicks have left their nests and are very active, learning to swim and getting ready to fend for themselves. Day 9: South Shetland Islands The ice-coated Antarctic Peninsula forms perhaps the most accessible region of mainland Antarctica. Close to the northwestern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the Bransfield Strait, the South Shetland Islands fall under the jurisdiction of the Antarctic Treaty, suspending claims on their sovereignty. Several countries maintain research bases here, and with plump elephant seals, and crowds of Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adelie Penguins also calling the islands home, it can even feel a little crowded at times. King George Island is the largest and most hospitable island, hosting the majority of the research stations, some of them inhabited all year round by tiny, hardy crews. The South Shetland Islands offer extraordinary adventures in one of the most remote locations on Earth. Today, we'll set out on a zodiac ride to explore the triple peaks of Mount Foster that tower above the archipelago, sail into the core of Deception Island’s magnificent collapsed volcano caldera, hike the lunar landscapes within, and even dip into the improbably warm, geothermally-heated waters of Pendulum Cove. Elephant Island, meanwhile, is written deep into the annals of Antarctic expedition legend, as the site where Ernest Shackleton and the stricken crew of the Endurance miraculously survived a harsh Antarctic winter, in 1916. Day 10: Drake Passage - Cape Horn, Chile Today, we can spend the day resting, reflecting on our adventures, attending lectures or enjoying the ship's amenities, as we start our journey back towards Chile and South America, across Drake Passage. As we sail through international waters, closer and closer to civilization, we'll watch, from one of the observation decks, the scenery of the ice-crowned wonders of Antarctica fade into the distance. We will then round the southernmost tip of South America and see the meeting of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, reflecting on the turbulent history of this remote area. In the past, no two words conjured up more fear in sailors than Cape Horn. With its reputation for ferocious storms and mountainous seas, it was a place where a seafarer earned respect for bravery against the odds. And if he lived to tell the tale, he got to wear a gold hoop earring and dine with one foot on the table. The Cape Horn is the rugged insular tip of South America that projects into the storm-swept Drake Passage. The Dutch sailor Willem Schouten and merchant Jacob Le Maire, both from the town of Hoorn (hence Cape Horn), put it on the map in 1616 when attempting to circumvent the trade monopoly exercised by the Dutch East India Company over the Straits of Magellan. Once an unavoidable physical gateway to adventure and commerce in the Pacific Ocean, Cape Horn nowadays has more of a spiritual attraction, drawing intrepid travelers to pay homage to the brave sailors who, by necessity, attempted to pass this wild and inhospitable headland. Day 11: Puerto Williams, Chile Today, we will make our way back to Puerto Williams, arriving in the late evening. Initially, the settlement of Puerto Williams served to protect territorial possessions and fishing rights of the area, as well as offering logistical support to Antarctic bases. More recently it has become a departure point for scientific and adventure trips to the Antarctic region. In contrast to the bustle and traffic of the commercial Ushuaia, Puerto Williams offers a quieter, more relaxed experience. It charms the visitor with a small village feel, complete with rustic buildings and the homely smell of drifting wood smoke. A haven of peace at the end of the world. As we sail back towards land, we will toast and celebrate our Antarctic expedition and share memories of our journey through the ice-covered desert during our farewell dinner in one of the ship's elegant restaurants. We will spend our final night on the ship before returning to land tomorrow. Day 12: Puerto Williams to Santiago This morning, we will say goodbye to the Silver Wind Luxury Expedition Ship, and transfer to the Puerto Williams airport for our charter group flight to Santiago. On arrival at the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile we will transfer to our luxury hotel to rest before our flights home tomorrow or later tonight. Day 13: Departures Depending on your return flight departure time, you may have some free time in the morning, before your transfer to the Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) which will be scheduled according to your flight departure time.
|