Ushuaia
In the afternoon, we will embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southern city of the world, which is surrounded by the last mountain chain (Cordillera de los Andes) and it is bathed by the Beagle Channel waters. We will navigate through the strait.

In the sea...
In the sea, in the west side, several species of albatrosses and petrels, such as the Diving Petrel, will follow the ship.

Falkland Islands
In the third day, we will arrive in the Falkland Islands where we will spend the whole day in the west side of the archipelago. We will do a trekking by the shores of the Carcass Island, where we are going to watch magallánicos and Gentoo penguins, apart from an encounter with night birds and herons. In the Saunders Island we will be able to watch Rockhopper Penguins, black head albatrosses and King Cormoran.

Stanley Port
We will make a tour in the Faklkand Islands city, Stanley Port, where we will be able to experiment the Falkland´s residents culture, which has some southamerican characteristics as well as victorian charm. In Stanley and surroundings we will be able to see an important quantity of grounded sails which dates from a century ago.

South Georgia, Antarctic Convergence
We will navigate on the high seas again, in our way to South Georgia, we will cross the Antartic Convergence. We will enter into antartic waters, the temperature will descend 10º C approximately in a very few hours. Closer to the Convergence, we will see a great quantity of birds, next to the ship which will take part of the navigations, as if they were members of the ship, There will be many species, such as albatrosses, petrels, skuas, seagulls, among other bird species.

South Georgias´Islands
We will get to South Georgias´Islands, where we must visit Elsehuel Bay, with its active seal raising and then, go on to Right Whale Bay, Salisbury Plain, the Gold Harbour and Cooper Bay will give you the great opportunity to see many beautiful landscapes and wild life, such as sea elephants, Papua penguins, King penguins and Macaroni penguins, Grey Head penguins, dark albatrosses, antartic pigeons and even the introduction of a non native animal as the reindeer in the Drygalski Fjord is..

Navigating by the sea...
We will continue navigating by the sea, where the ship is followed again by a crowd of sea birds. In some point, we will find frozen sea and it is the edge of the ice where we will able to watch some species, like the MacCormick Skua, Snow Petrel and the evasive Emperor Penguin.

Orcadas Station, Laurie Island
Our next objective will be visiting the Orcadas station, an Argentinian base located in the South Orcadas Islands. The base personal is very welcoming and they will show us the facilities, very close to them, there is a huge colony south petrels and we can enjoy the wonderful views of the glaciers which surround us. When we arrive to the Orcadas, we will anchor in Laurie Island. We can go to Cormoran Point to watch an important colony of Adelia penguins.

Ice Barrier
We will continue again our navigation route in the high seas to get closer to the ice barrier, we will be able to watch species of the High Antartic, such as the Snow Petrel or the Emperor Penguin. We may find the Sperm Whale of the South, because they start to appear as we are getting closer to the ice barrier.

Weddell Sea , Paulet Island, Deception Island, Neko Port
We will navigate in the Weddell Sea through the blocking ice sound of the Antartica, watching impecable icebergs with a tabular shape. Huge icebergs will anounce our arrival to the east side of the Antartic Peninsula. We plan the visit to Paulet Island where we will find ourselves with millions of Adelie penguin couples and the remains of the Nordenskjöld expedition.

In Brown Bluff we can descend to the antartic continent for the first time. In Mikkelsen Port, located in the south of Trinity Island, it is possible to watch an important colony of Papua penguins and Weddell Seals, apart from the antartic seal with their strong sound which we can hear from the beach. In Carlota Island we go to Portal Point and watch crab seals, in this region of Gerlache Strait we may find hunchbacked whales and sperm whales. In Deception Island, we will try to dock in Baily Head, habitat where there is a hundred thousand colony of Chistrap penguins.

Deception is a crater sub-channel which opens to the sea, creating a natural port for the embarkation. Here we will find hot springs, an abandoned whaler station, thousands of pigeons, dominican seagulls, polar skuas and bifurcate tail chestnut and seagulls of the Antartica. We will watch petrel Wilson´s Storm nests and black belly Storm Petrels in the whaler station ruins in the Whalers´ Bay. For those persons who enjoy walking, it can be done by Baily Head to the top of the crater in Whalers´Bay to visit the remains of Hektor station, while our brave ships get into the crater through the espectacular Neptune´s Bellow in the circle of Deception Island.

In the afternoon, we can descend to Half Moon Island, where we can watch Weddell elephants and seals, as well as Chinstrap penguins, Blue eyes Shags, Wilson´s Storm petrels, Kelp seagulls, Snowy Sheatbills, antartic bifurcate tail seagulls and antartic chestnut skuas. In our way to the west, we will navigate to Cuverville Island, a small and rainy island, located between mountains of the Antartic Peninsula.

There is a big colony of Gentoo penguins and breeding couples of chestnuts skuas. We expect the time and weather conditions are favorable so we can navigate beyond the south until Neko Port in Andyord Bay and Paradise Bay with the multicoloured icebergs and deep cut fjords, while we have the opportunity to watch big whales. We will have the chance to navigate in zodiac crossing between the icebergs and advance into the fjords.

Vuelta en dirección sur hacia el Pasaje Drake
In our way to the north, we will followed again by many species of sea birds, crossing the Sea and Drake Passage.

Malvinas (Falkland Islands)
The archipelago is a treasure for nature lovers and photographers. The islands have diverse wildlife: big rookeries of albatross, five species of penguins, elephant seals and much more. The Falkland Islands offer diverse fauna, apart from the before mentioned: sea lions, southern right whales, dolphins, killer whales, sea gulls, southern crested caracaras, petrels, pigeons, squash, cormorants; great variety of fish such as shellfish, crustacean, and mollusks like octopus.

This place has an interesting geology since its islands consist of a rocky terrain covered by grass and moss with some upland areas such as mountains, ridges and flat surfaces. We could also find these "stream of stones" which are relict landforms that become small glaciers every certain period of time. Here we will find fascinating sea world, excellent excursions and of course the warm hospitality of the people. The place has steppe vegetation; therefore, we will not find many trees. Still the islands are covered by good grass, pastures and marshes which are round cushion-forming plants.

We will also find veronica, a bush with beautiful and yellow scented flowers, and pale virgin having white flowers and wild celery. There are about 163 species of autochthonous plants. The Falkland Islands are at about 500 km (300 miles) east of Argentina, at latitude 52° South. They consist of about 800 islands. The two main islands, East Falkland (Soledad) and West Falkland (Gran Malvina), make up the majority of the area, being comparable in size with Jamaica or Northern Ireland.

The landscape is generally hilly. A typical feature in Malvinas is the rocky coasts; that is to say, large and extended bays which almost divide the bigger islands. There are also smaller bays, some of which are too small and the ones mainly dividing the coasts. There are high cliffs which are over the Strait of San Carlos.

There are many small inlets and islands scattered over the rocky coasts of the bigger islands. The Falkland Islands have been visited by native people living in the Island of Tierra del Fuego, but there is no actual evidence of their arrival. One of the first ones to catch sight of the island was the famous British explorer John Davis in 1592. The first establishment in the islands was started by the French sailor and explorer Louis-Antoine de Bougainville, in 1764.

The name "Malvinas" comes from Malouines, a place name given by the French sailors which refers to the port of Saint-Malos in France, from where they set out. De Bougainville landed there with the French colonizers and started the town of Port Saint Louis in Berkeley, East Island. The sovereignty of these islands is still in dispute between the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom.

Stanley - Puerto Argentino
Port Stanley, located in the East Island, is still known under its former name Port Stanley by the British people and under Puerto Argentino (Argentine Port) by the Argentine people. Today it is the administrative center of the archipelago. About three-quarters of the total population of the islands, around 2500 people, live in this town.

Originally Stanley was a small town, but then in the 19th and early 20th century it grew in importance as a repair port for sailing-ships rounding Cape Horn. Its attractions include the port, church, square, West Store (which is the local supermarket), monument to the fallen soldiers in Malvinas' war, and many little houses with roofs of different colors making them picturesque, located in an arid and rocky terrain.

There is also the blow of the wind. The strong storms around Cape Horn often damaged ships which then used Port Stanley for repairs. Ships that were in a too bad condition were usually scuttled in the harbor. After the Panama Canal was opened in 1914, the Cape Horn route became obsolete and Stanley returned to its former insignificant existence. People there live mainly from wool export. But since 1982 Stanley has boomed again due to the sale of fishing licenses to foreign fishing boats.

Climate on the Falkland Islands
These islands have cold maritime climate. Winds are often strong, and temperatures generally range between 5º and 10º C (40º and 50º F). Rain, though sporadic, and sleet can happen at any time of the year.

Flora and Fauna
Since the islands are located far away from the continent, unique wildlife species have developed. The rocky coasts and white-sanded beaches make it an ideal environment for a number of animal species to grow. There are about 60 endemic species of birds on the islands.

People going to the islands should visit the black-crowned albatross rookery, since it is also an unforgettable experience. There are also five species of penguins, three of which cannot be found in the Antarctica: yellow-crested penguins, Magellan penguins and King penguin.

SOUTH ORKNEY ISLANDS

Overview of the South Orkney Islands
The South Orkney Islands form an archipelago located east of South Shetland Islands at latitude 60 ° 35' South, and consist of four major islands. The most famous ones are Coronation and Laurie Islands. They were discovered in 1821 when sighted by the British and American hunters George Powell and Nathaniel Palmer. These islands are mainly made of rock and ice (85% are glaciers), and have scarce vegetation. Argentina and the United Kingdom have scientific stations on the islands, Orkney and Signy stations respectively. In the West the Orkney Islands are surrounded by the Big Island of Tierra del Fuego, in the south by the Aurora Islands, and in the North by the Antarctic Peninsula.

Climate on the South Orkney Islands
The climate on the South Orkney Islands is somewhat similar to the one on South Shetland Islands: humid and windy. This is defined as a snowy climate because the place is ice-covered for long periods.

The average summer temperature ranges between 0º and 3º C (32º and 37º F). On the Signy Island snow falls about 280 days a year. These islands can be ice-covered for long periods. The highest temperatures registered are 12° C in summer and -45° in winter.

Flora and Fauna on the South Orkney Islands
There we will not find big penguin rookeries. The landscape on the South Orkney Islands is very spectacular. In summer cetacean and pinnipeds grow, as well as Antarctic birds: penguins, petrels, albatross, cormorants and Antarctic pigeons. Sometimes whales can be seen in the area. In winter ice covers a bigger area, so the surface fauna decreases significantly.

Frequently Visited Places

Laurie Island
On this island we should visit the Argentine Station "Orkney Base," in which we could watch baby southern giant petrels. With the authorization of the base staff, who could also visit Punta Cormorán, where is a rookery of Adélie Penguins.

SOUTH SHETLAND ISLANDS

Overview of the South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are a group of islands (540 km) located at 800 km from Tierra del Fuego and 120 km from the Antarctic Peninsula. The volcanic archipelago comprises 11 bigger islands and a number of smaller islands. Most of them are mountains, and 80 percent of the area is permanently glaciated.

The first record of a person who sighted the archipelago dates from 1819, when the ship of the British sailor William Smith sail off course when traveling through Cape Horn. From then on, the islands were visited by seal hunters looking for their fur. These animals practically disappeared after a few years due to the indiscriminate killing. Today they are totally protected, and very few of them can be seen on the islands.

Climate on the South Shetland Islands
The islands are located at latitude 62º South, north of the Antarctic Circle. Curiously, the Shetland Islands and North Orkney Islands are at the same latitude in the Northern hemisphere. However, their climates are quite different.

Located within the Antarctic Convergence and near the Antarctic Continent, the climate on these islands is so much colder. However, they have fairly mild climate compared to the Antarctica. Average summer temperatures are 1.5º C. Snow and rain fall during this season.

Flora and fauna
Seabirds such as petrels, skua birds and penguins of different kinds can be seen there. Regarding mammals, we could find diverse seals and whales.

Interesting Places on the South Shetland Islands

Barrientos Island and Aitcho Islands
These are mainly rocky islands where we could find giant petrels. On many of their beaches, we could find penguins and elephant seals. Aitcho Islands are inlets whose vegetation comprises moss and lichens. The most famous islands include Barrientos, Emeline, Jorge, Rocas Morris, Cecilia and Pasaje Roca Islands.

Deception Island
This ring-shaped island is in fact the summit of an active volcano. On one of its coasts, there is a narrow entrance from where ships can enter the crater. On some beaches the waters are warmed by the geothermal energy of the still-active volcano. We could see the remains of a whaling station from the beginning of the 20th century. Deception Island is the most important active volcano of the Bransfield Strait's basin. There are many thermal baths there.

Hannah Point (Livingston Island)
There are many penguins, seals and petrels. Due to environmental reasons, the access to this island is restricted. Livingston Island is the second biggest one of the South Shetland Islands, which is north of Deception Island. The terrain on the island is fairly irregular with high coasts not often visited.

Media Luna Island
This is one of the South Shetland Islands, near Livingston Island. Rookeries of chinstrap penguins and cormorants can be seen there, as well as kelp gulls and Arctic terns. There we will find a small Argentine station: Cámara Lieutenant station. This island became famous at the beginning of the 20th century because of the arrival of seal hunters.

All rates are per person in american dollars, in double twin accommodation. The prices in dollars apply for all the sales made outside Europe. A 5% of discount will be granted for bookings of one or more consecutive voyages (except for the programa "Atlantic Odyssey"). Please, consider that all the dates and prices are subjet to possible changes. All the trips operate with a minimum of 70 passengers. The "Plancius" can accommodate a top of 110 passengers.

Individual occupancy (single base)
All the cabins are available for Single occupancy to 1.7 times the price for this cabin.

The rates includes:

? Trip on board as indicated in the itinerary.
? All meals during the trip on board, including snacks, coffee and tea.
? Free use for rubber boats and snowshoes.
? Regular Transfer from the cruise to Ushuaia Airport (right after the disembarkation)
? All land tours and activities during the voyage in Zodiac boats.
? Conference programs by well known naturalists and coordination by the experimented team expedition.
? All taxes and port expenses during the program.
? Informative reading material before embarking.

The rates do not include:

Any air prices (regular or charter flights), any previous and/ or later service to the cruise, transfers to the cruise; passport and visa expenses; any arrival or return govern taxes in the country, meals on land, luggage, cancellationa and personal insurance (which is advisable), expenses for excess luggage and any other aditional expense, such as laundry, bar, drinks or calls; also the tips to waitresses and other personal service on board, after the trips.

It has been arranged that, in case, the fuel prices rise or exceed 80 dollars per barrel 90 days before departing, around the world, OceanWide Expeditions keeps the right to charge 25 dollars for fuel, per passenger, per night, which must be paid by the contracting part of OceanWide.

Itinerary
The itineraries published are for reference only. The programs are subject to weather and ice conditions and the Expedition Leader decisions to take advantage for all the opportunities to watch wild and vegetal life. Flexibility is essential for expedition cruises. The disembarkations are always subject to weather conditions, the availability in every place where we descend and environmental regulations (IAATO).

Navigation and disembarking plans will be fixed with IAATO about 5 months before beginning the season. The final navigation plan will be stablished by the Expedition Leader on board. The application of the navigation plan is subject to embarkation capacity and the Captain´s judgement.

Considering the high prices on fuel, it has been arranged that OceanWide Expeditions keeps the right to reduce the engine speed (even navigating with one engine), if this is possible, unless these affects the essencial development of the voyage which has been programmed or the ship security, the crew and the passengers would be in danger.

Rubber Boots and coats during the expedition
On board the "Plancius" all the passengers can use a pair of tough rubber boots for free. Sizes must be requested to OceanWide´s booking department, al least 8 weeks before departing. A voucher with all the final travel documents will be sent approximately, 4 weeks before departing. All demand about the necessary equipment for the land tours and navigations, will not be accepted without order or voucher, once we are embarked in the cruise.

Boots must be returned to the expedition team once the trip has finished. Rubber boots are of high quality, which help to keep feets warm and they are very comfortable. All coats which will be used during the expeditions can be requested also at a special price. Termins and conditions are on the request form.

Land tours and Zodiac Navigations
Guided land tours, hiking, fauna-watching and navigations in Zodiac are included in the price and they are offered to all the passengers during the cruise. The objective is to experience wild life and its nature as much as possible.

Bilingual Trips
English is the predominant language in the ship. There will be also german-speaking staff on board for bilingual trips (english-german). Security instructions, welcome on board, every announcement about activities inside or outside the cruise, daily meetings to give information, will be provided in english and german. Conferences given in english and german may change in content. During them, there will not be translated at the same time, however a resume will be given in the second language when these are finished.

Direction and guide during the different land activities, will depend on each passenger´s chosen group according to their own skills as for physical conditions. In the Artic, the objective is to divide the group in three groups: one group for intense hiking, one group for intermediate rhythm level to have more time to take pictures and one last group with free time to visit the region. One member of german language team might not be always available for each group. During the navigations in Zodiac botes, may not have bilingual guide necessarily.

Camping
Some of the cruises to Antartica offer an exciting option to open air which gives an intensive experience about wild life in the Antartica. All camping equipment and needed tools will be provided, such as tents, sleeping bags to water and wind proof. This refuge protects from weather conditions during the night to open air in the Antartica. The mattresses and sleeping "polar" bags provide comfort during all night.

The maximum number of participants for this camping optional is 15 passengers per night. An expedition guide will guide us during the land activities. Campings are subject to wether conditions, to camping availability and environmental regulations, of course. One of those nights must be reserved before the voyage, any other aditional night can be organised on board. These prices are indicated in the exit and price list.

Hiking and trekking
During the hiking and trekking tours, they will be a bit more extensive than tradicional tours. Generally, there are 3 possibilities to offer so they can be more energetic. There will be easy, intermediate and more intense trekking around the disembark region. There will be also tailor made trekking for each person, according to their own skills. In the Antartic, the main point is an average of 2 trekking per day, each one of 2 and 3 hours duration, during the disembarkation made either in the morning or in the afternoon.

In the Artic, several full day trekking are offered with lunch included. The final decision about this tours will depend on the Expedition Leader, the same day these activities are fixed. It is advisable to bring a pair of special boots for trekking and warm polainas. Snowshoes will be provided on board according to available number of boots and they can be used together with the rubber boots provided by OceaWide. These hiking and trekking activities are for free.

Kayak (K)
In general, it is planned to offer 4 days for kayaking at least. Basical experience in kayak is required and a very well physical condition is essential. Parallel to all the activities, the main objective is to do these kayak activities during the disembarkations which are made either in the morning and/ or in the afternoon.

The final decision about this tours will depend on the Expedition Leader, the same day these activities are fixed. OceanWide will provide the Kayaks and neopreno suits. Those persons who do Kayak must bring their own warm polainas. Kayaking is subject to weather and ice conditions. These prices are indicated in the exit and price list.

Diving (D)
Divers must have an advanced experience in dive suits and dive in cold waters. It is expected to do among one and two different diving activities per day, at the same time that the other activities. Diving depends on weather and ice conditions. Diving professional and guides will be responsible for the passengers´security who choose this exciting activity. The basical equipment is on board, such as diving tanks, compressors, weights and other essential diving elements. They have to bring their own warm polainas. These prices are indicated in the exit and price list.

Ski Trekking(T)- Shackleton Crossing
A group of 12 hikkers will carry their sledges with the needed equipment (food, heaters, fuel, between 20 and 30 kg) through mountain lands. During the journeys where there is no snow, the sledge can be carried as a backpack. The Ski Trekking involves bringing mountain and ski equipment, winter camping for walks on the glaciers.

A very well physical condition is required for the participants and they must have some experience to do this exhausting activity in an alpine environment, sometimes with extreme temperatures. Besides, they must be familiar with ski and rescue crack techniques. The activity will be done in alpine land, which is difficult to access sometimes, it is very cracked and potentially dangerous. There is no climbing activities in this trips, because climate conditions and strong wind can make these tours very challenging.

There is always the possibility to keep inside the tents because of bad weather. Mountain guides with UAIGM approval, will lead the journeys and they will be in charge for the expedition security; there will be also one person with medical experience. There will be a minimum of one guide every 4 passengers. Basical equipment is available on board (sledges, snowshoes and essential elements to practise alpine mountain activities).

The trekkers must bring their own ski equipment (a pair of skis, skiing boots) and adecuate clothing. They have to fill in a form with medical and personal information, so they can do this activity. Besides, they must hand in an experience in mountain skiing and trekking report. The applications will be studied for their admission. These prices are indicated in the exit and price list.