This was our most epic trip, so we did it twice, in 2008 and 2013! The Antarctica component was nothing short of surreal. A trip to Antarctica begins by departing Ushuaia Argentina by ship and crossing the infamous Drake Passage. Wandering and Giant Albatross began following our wake as soon as we entered the passage and wildlife is viewed up close and personal 24/7 in Antarctica. Upon entering the passage, skuas landed on the ship and stayed for days. Minke Whales, orcas, grey whales, leopard seals, crab eater seals and penguins were not only seen every day, but the deeper one gets into Antarctica, the more curious and fearless they are. Whales were continuously spy hopping alongside the ship watching us with their huge eyes, curious and very unafraid.
Growlers and icebergs, and stupendous tabular bergs (some as big as Rhode Island) became our constant companions for the next eight days as we explored the peninsula. It was very cold, but clear, unbelievably pristine, with fantastic visibility. 16 hour days were the norm in Antarctica with brief breaks taken to eat, use the bathroom and sleep, all of which were done grudgingly. In 2008 we learned that just over 100,000 people had visited Antarctica making it the most pristine, untouched place anyone will ever see on the surface of the planet. Huge fields of snow and ice that have never been marred by human contact are everywhere. It is ethereal and otherworldly. We also had an ice pilot who navigated us through the bergs and growlers, and lectured us on how he achieved this amazingly difficult feat. Everyday we watched his eerie skill with wonder.
A biologist who was a penguin expert gave fascinating spontaneous lectures about the wildlife as it appeared.
We saw penguins by the 100’s of thousands.
In Antarctica we visited the volcanic and warm Elephant Island. We saw Shackleton’s winter shelter and navigated the treacherous Lemaire Channel clogged with shifting ice and fierce winds. We visited the often-impassable Paradise Bay in the sunshine and explored countless bays and channels. We visited a scientific station and had the scientists attempt and succeed a very risky boarding operation by zodiac in high winds and rough seas. We wittnessed leopard seals hunt penguins causing them to leap out of the ocean like burnt toast from a toaster. They usually were toast too, once the leopard seals had them in their sights. When they caught the penguins, the leopards would shake them like rag dolls, effectively skinning them before swallowing them whole.
We skirted a Japanese whaler in close proximity for several days that was hunting Minke whales which was quite dismaying, especially since the animals were so curious and had little fear of humans.
Our luck held out for the entire Antarctica experience as we had spectacular weather the entire time. The Drake Passage is the roughest ocean passage in the world and can be terrifying to cross. Rarely, it is calm as glass. When it is calm it is called the Drake Lake, and this is how both passages were for us.
Leaving Drake on the return trip, we entered the spectacular, glaciated, Beagle channel, teeming with wildlife.
We got off the ship and spent time in gorgeous Ushuaia on the Beagle Channel,
ethereal El Calafate,
and wonderful South American cities like Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
We closed our trips with four nights at the spectacular Iguazu Falls.
We understand that increasing tourist restrictions are being implemented in Antarctica. So, if you want to go, don’t tarry too long, you will be so glad to have this seen this incredible, unspoiled part of our planet, before it is ever altered by global warming.
I would absolutely LOVE to go to Antarctica…! It’s so incredibly expensive though – when I compare how much backpacking I can do for the same money it’s hard to consider spending so much on such a short time… but it sounds like it was definitely worth it for you! Which company did you go through? I’m glad you had such unusually brilliant weather and such a memorable time!
Yes Antarctica is pricey which is why I didn’t get there until age 50! Hopefully you can go sooner as I’m not sure how long it will be there due to global warming. We went in January 2008. If you shoulder your trip on the two months of either December of February it is cheaper. Also leaving out of Usuhuaia saves alot of money. Check out Lonely Planet as they have lots of suggestions about how to go less expensively. Hope you get to go. But if not now, in the near future, and the trips you are doing now sound awesome! Good luck.
Cindy
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2177629
http://www.antarcticconnection.com/
Thanks for the tips! 🙂
Thank you for the like of my post Closing Opening” Love your pictures of Anarctica.
Thanks so much!
Cheers,
Cindy
Hello again. Thanks for the like of “Daisy in Black n White.”
You are welcome. Love your photos. Keep em coming!
Cindy
Thanks for the like of my post “Cabbage anyone?”.
What’s not to like!
You are too nice!
Thanks for the like of my Weekly Photo Challenge post representing Big.
🙂
Photos are awesome. Thanks ever so much for posting. One day I hope to get there too….
Forest-
You are most welcome. I hope you get there soon! I am looking forward to exploring your blog.
Cheers,
Cindy
I bet that was a trip of a life time. I would have loved to have taken trips like that but I guess I was to busy checking out USA. Thanks for all your comments and likes.
MH-
It was and we are due to go back (not to Antarctica) in early 2013. Yes it is a big world and the US has so much beauty also. We spent September in Bryce, Zion, Capitol Reef, The Tetons and Yellowstone. So wonderful! Thanks for commenting.
Hello and thanks for the like of Weekly Photo Challenge:Geometry.
Cindy, I meant to say….. if you want to stay friends with “the Brits” (and you know I am NOT one of those)…. don’t call those island Islas Malvinas in front of a Brit……. they are THE FALKLANDS….. I know that Argentinians call them Malvinas… but the Brits are very proud of them and fought a terrible war over the independence of the Falklands… sorry thought I would mention it…. 😉 😉
Shiver
Yes, tis a tad nippy!
You tell the story in a very pleasant way, as if I were experiencing the journey with you. It must have been a breathtaking experience to meet so many beautiful and unexpected people. The beautiful photos speak for themselves, whereby the one with the flamingos stands out for me personally.
It was nice to take a trip back in time for just 9 years.
Kind regards,
Marc