12 nights · Argentina · Departs Ushuaia (Argentina) · Visiting Drake Passage, Antarctic Peninsula, King George Island Antarctica, Punta Arenas · Aboard Aurora Expeditions on the Sylvia Earle
Image courtesy of Aurora Expeditions ©
| Cruise line | Aurora Expeditions |
|---|---|
| Ship | Sylvia Earle |
| Duration | 12 nights |
| Port calls | 5 |
| Departures | 1 sailings |
| From fare | $19,886 per person |
| Year built | 2022 |
| Guests | 160 |
| Cabins | 71 |
| Crew | 74 |
| Length | 104 m |
| Beam | 18 m |
| Cruising speed | 12.0 kn |
Ushuaia sits between the Beagle Channel and the snow-streaked Martial Mountains, at Argentina’s far southern edge. Its harbor has long served as a gateway to Antarctica, while the town itself rewards a slower look. Ride the End of the World Train into Tierra del Fuego National Park, or tour the former prison museum. Here, wild landscapes begin just beyond the last streets.
Few sea crossings carry the weight of the Drake Passage. Here, the Atlantic and Pacific meet between Cape Horn and Antarctica, and conditions can change quickly. Some voyages pass in calm water; others encounter the swells that made this route legendary. Watch from deck for albatrosses and petrels, then settle into the ship’s routines. The passage is no mere transfer: it is the first clear measure of Antarctica’s scale and remoteness.
The Antarctic Peninsula brings you within reach of Antarctica’s most dramatic scenery: mountain-backed glaciers, blue icebergs and sheltered bays. Most voyages cross the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, then explore by expedition ship and Zodiac, weather permitting. Watch for gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins, seals and whales. Shore visits follow strict environmental rules, and plans can change with conditions. Expect few comforts ashore; the reward is a rare encounter with a continent still governed by ice and weather.
King George Island, in the South Shetlands, is one of Antarctica’s most accessible gateways. At Fildes Bay, expedition ships can bring you ashore among research stations, stark headlands and wind-shaped beaches. Look for gentoo and chinstrap penguins, along with seals resting near the waterline. Here, the scale of the continent becomes tangible: ice, ocean and weather set the terms of every visit. This is no town to browse; it is a rare landing on a working scientific frontier.
At the edge of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas feels like a city built for crossing oceans. Its broad avenues and ornate mansions reflect the fortunes of sheep farming and trade. The Maggiorino Borgatello Museum traces Patagonia’s natural and human history. Climb Cerro de la Cruz for views across the harbor and rooftops. From here, boats reach Magdalena Island, home to thousands of Magellanic penguins.
Published August 22, 2026
Last updated October 3, 2026
Author: J. Richard
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