When you arrive in this lively South American city, known for its rich Argentinian culture, European-style architecture, and cosmopolitan atmosphere, you'll make your own way to your pre-expedition hotel for the night. This stay is included in the Charter Flight and Hotel Package.

After an early breakfast at the hotel, the group heads to the airport and board a private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Upon arrival, you'll be taken to a central downtown location, where you’ll have free time to explore this charming port town. When ready, head to the designated meeting spot near the pier for your transfer to the ship. After boarding in the late afternoon, you'll sail through the historic Beagle Channel, which cuts through the Tierra del Fuego archipelago at the southern tip of South America. Excitement builds as you depart—your next sight of land is the remote Antarctic wilderness.

Crossing the 800-km Drake is considered a rite of passage for many travelers. Traversing this legendary waterway means you’ll experience the Antarctic Convergence, where the cold, northward-flowing Antarctic waters meet the warmer, southward-flowing water of the sub-Antarctic. The mixing of cold and warm waters creates a nutrient-rich feeding ground, especially for whales and other marine mammals. Guests are encouraged to keep binoculars close at hand—and to be prepared for Expedition Team members to announce any whale sightings. The team of guest scientists is introduced early in the voyage. Ari Friedlaender, who co-developed this itinerary, and members of his team from the Friedlaender Lab, are global authorities on the underwater behavior and ecology of marine mammals, particularly whales. Guests also meet a research associate with the Happywhale platform, which enables citizens to upload their whale photos to help identify species and, possibly, individual whales.

The second day of your Drake Passage crossing is an ideal time to attend scheduled polar presentations that enhance your Antarctic experience. It’s also an excellent opportunity to visit the Science Hub on Deck 4, an instrumental part of your voyage. Spend time on deck watching for whales, which increase in number as you approach the Peninsula—and remember to upload your whale photos to the Happywhale platform.

The timing of this voyage maximizes opportunities to observe various whale species along the Antarctic Peninsula. After the ice recedes in October and November, the food chain begins to reestablish itself. Whales, seals, and other marine mammals are drawn to these rich feeding grounds—especially for the krill. By February and March, these creatures, which have been intensely feeding, are satiated and relaxed, making them easier to spot. In addition to the Zodiac and paddling excursions, you plan to spend a lot of time on the outer decks and other vantage points on the ship to spot—and photograph—wildlife. You’ll spend your days in key marine mammal habitats of the Gerlache Strait and remote inner glacial bays. Over the next three days, you aim to explore whale hotspots such as Charlotte Bay, Portal Point, Graham Passage, Errera Channel, Cuverville Island, Andvord Bay, Fournier Bay, and Dallmann Bay. Past whale sightings in these areas have included minke, humpback, fin, orca, and the elusive, deep-diving Arnoux’s beaked whale. Antarctic Marine Mammals: The World of Whales & Seals is the only itinerary during which you’ll deploy hydrophones— underwater microphones that detect and record sound below the surface. You have opportunities—during Zodiac cruises and paddling programs—to accompany Friedlaender Lab scientists as they deploy hydrophones to monitor and study marine mammal behavior, such as the vocalizations of whales. Four scientists accompany guests in Zodiacs, with one hydrophone shared between two groups. Speakers enable participants to listen for and, hopefully, hear whale sounds beneath the ocean surface. Engaging with scientists who are actively collecting and collating data that can be shared in real-time on the water, and, through digital visual aids, brings marine biology to life in a way that transcends the water line. This activity is also available to World Voyager guests who join the Stand-Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) program. In addition to the citizen science programming, this itinerary also features the wonders of Antarctica: penguins, seals, immense glaciers, snowcapped mountains, icebergs, shore landings, and the polar plunge.

Rounding out the marine mammal experiences, you hope to witness southern elephant seals in the rugged and fabled South Shetland Islands. You’ll also keep your fingers crossed for sightings of fin whales. You’ll explore this geological and historic archipelago while prioritizing shore landings, which offer further opportunities for wildlife sightings. Arriving in March allows you the rare opportunity to potentially explore key excursion sites such as Hannah Point, which is deemed a Restricted Area from early to mid-season. Massive populations of elephant seals and southern giant petrels make for awe-inspiring experiences. As with any expedition, shore landings along the coast are dependent on favorable weather.

Today is the start of the journey back across the Drake Passage. This is an excellent opportunity to spend more time engaging with the Friedlaender Lab scientists, or attend one of the scheduled polar presentations.

Today is your last opportunity to visit Quark Expeditions’ new Science Hub and contribute to citizen science that supports marine mammal conservation efforts. In the words of Sir David Attenborough: “No one will protect what they don’t care about. And no one will care about what they have never experienced.”

Arrive in Ushuaia in the morning and disembark after breakfast. You'll be transferred to the airport for the return group charter flight to Buenos Aires.