Falkland Islands, South Georgia & Antarctica

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. You can explore this lively Patagonian town or take a walk in the nearby forests. Consider a trip into Tierra del Fuego's raw, natural landscape. Tierra del Fuego, the island, is an ideal hiking destination with its rugged mountains and glaciers. It also has flower-filled fields, boggy wetlands, and meadows. We board the vessel that is waiting for us to arrive in port.

Our expedition starts after our safety drill. We navigate the Beagle Channel, named for Charles Darwin’s ship. The steeply-sided Strait that divides Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina and Chile has served as the starting point of thousands of explorations. As we enter the Drake Passage, keep an eye out for dolphins and whales.

We follow the South Atlantic ocean currents to the seldom-visited Falkland Islands.

The indigenous Yaghans of Tierra del Fuego might have been on the Falklands (Malvinas), but there was no native population in those islands when Europeans first arrived, at the beginning of the 16th century. Since then, the sovereignty of these islands has been contested by historical Spanish, French and British claims. The islands were politically established as a British Colony in 1840. In 1982, tensions led to a dispute between Britain and Argentina over the islands. Conflicts have a long-lasting impact. While the United Kingdom provided much needed development aid, it also heavily mined many of the islands. The islands are flourishing since the conflict, and have sold lucrative fishing rights in their rich waters. In 2020 the de-mining was complete. The islands' Governor and the Zimbabwean team that has made Falklands home played a friendly football game on the final patch of the de-mined land.

Binoculars are a must! The Falklands waters have some of the most diverse wildlife in the world. Huge populations of whales, seals and penguins feed where the cold Antarctic waters mix with the warm waters of South Atlantic. Join your Expedition Team lecturer to learn about the fascinating history and biology of these islands, as well as their unique culture, or join them for a tour.