17 Day Antarctica Small Ship Expedition With Iguazu Falls
A portion of this tour runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is self-guided, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
This tour is conducted at a medium-fast pace. Some long travel days may be required to complete this itinerary and you will typically spend two nights at each destination, with some one night stays required. This trip includes a mix of sightseeing and free time to explore at your own pace. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage.
For the true explorer, expedition small-ship cruising is the best way to get off the beaten track.This experience is not just about the ship’s creature comforts but very much the destination, its nature and wildlife. Daily shore excursions by Zodiac inflatable boats allow you to step onshore and explore. A world-class, expert expedition team will help you discover each exciting destination. Onboard you’ll enjoy informative and educational lectures. These trips will be a mix of fully guided or self-guided depending on your chosen package. There’s a land touring component with shared sightseeing and transfers.
✓ 10 Night cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula aboard an ice-strengthened expedition vessel
✓ Small ship expedition with no more than 108 or 170 passengers (subject to ship/date selected)
✓ Incredible sightseeing, typically with 2 excursions per day while in Antarctica including shore landings & zodiac cruising, visit both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides of awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls, plus time in glamorous Buenos Aires.
✓ Experience up-close wildlife encounters with penguins, seals & whales
✓ Expert guides with a ratio of 1 guide for every 13 passengers
✓ Program of lectures by noted naturalists and leadership by experienced expedition staff
✓ Complimentary loan of rubber boots
✓ 6 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia and Iguazu Falls
✓ Solo passenger option to travel twin share on expedition cruise
✓ Breakfast Daily, 9 lunches, 10 dinners
✓ Return economy flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and
✓ Economy flight from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Inspiring Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Argentina! Make your own way to the starting point hotel.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Hotel check-in time is at 3pm. If arriving prior to this, you will be able to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for the night, in preparation for your expedition cruise tomorrow.
Known as the gateway to Antarctica, this small town boasts an array of restaurants serving typical Patagonian fare and delicious seafood. If time permits, why not visit the Museo Maritimo (not included) where you can experience the rich history of Tierra del Fuego. Discover the lives of indigenous peoples and the encounters with European seafarers during their expeditions. Uncover the stories of missionaries, ranchers, gold prospectors, and the explorers who set out from this remote land en-route to Antarctica.
Please note that your internal flights within Argentina have a luggage limit of 15kg per person (33lbs). Unfortunately, Inspiring Vacations cannot increase this limit and is limited by the airlines luggage policy. Any fees for excess baggage incurred at the airport will be the responsibility of the traveller and payable directly to the airline during check in.
Today is free to explore town further or pick up any last minute essentials for your voyage. Boarding commences at 4pm.
You may wish to book an optional tour to explore this remote town further.
This afternoon, make your way to the port (located within a short walk from your hotel. Alternatively a taxi will cost approx USD10.00). After settling into your cabin, take some time to explore the ship, your home for the next 10 days. This evening, begin your Antarctic journey south, passing through the infamous Beagle Channel. Named after the famed ship on which Charles Darwin voyaged, the channel presents great photo opportunities of landscapes and seabirds.
Note: Hotel checkout time is approximately 11am. The hotel can store your luggage until you go to the port.
Depending on the date selected, you will travel on either the m/v Plancius (maximum 108 passengers), m/v Ortelius (maximum 108 passengers or the m/v Hondius (maximum 170 passengers).
This morning you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the Fuegian Southern Railway to join the End of the World Train. This quaint train travels the same route that was built by convicts to supply the town with firewood. Nowadays the wagons are heated, modern and glazed so as not to lose the best view of the route. The ride also makes a stop at the Macarena waterfall, before entering Tierra Del Fuego National Park
The group will meet again inside the Park to continue with the tour to Ensenada, a bay where the Andes, the sub-Antarctic forest and sea meet, defining a unique ecosystem. In this area of the park, native people used to live and their archaeological evidence remains. There is also the southernmost post office in the Americas. If open, you can send postcards to anywhere in the world.
Your tour continues to a variety of other panoramic points to make short walks to appreciate the flora and fauna of the area; Acigami Glacier Lake shared with Chile, and Lapataia Bay, the end point of the Pan American Highway.
Start Time: approx 8.00am from your hotel
End Time: approx 1.30pm
Bring warm clothes and shoes suitable for some gentle hiking
Prepare yourself for Antarctica as we cross the infamous Drake Passage, and trust us – it will take your breath away! During the two-day journey, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray.
After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see.
Today is another day at sea as your ship makes its way to the Antarctic Peninsula. Relax and enjoy your ship’s facilities, or join one of the lectures conducted throughout the day.
Welcome to one of the most remote areas on Earth!
There have been spectacular photo opportunities so far, but Antarctica is in an entirely different category all of its own! Go ashore by Zodiac to explore the breathtaking Antarctic scenery and get close to penguins and seals. You will feel like a real explorer from the moment you set foot on the endless expanse of snow and ice and from the deck there will be ample opportunities to see whales.
Over the next four days we’ll be making various landings in different locations. Enjoy close encounters with wildlife and glaciers, and visit old whaling stations and its relics. You'll join the Expedition Team on landings where we may visit Danco Island, known for Weddell and crabeater seals and gentoo penguins which nest on the island; Paradise Bay where there’ll be a chance to encounter humpback and minke whales; Port Lockroy where we may have the chance to visit the former British research station (now a museum and post office); and the epic landscape of glaciers, endless wind-carved snow, and surrounding alpine peaks of Neko Harbour. We may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags.
Experience the thrill of sleeping overnight on the great white continent. After dinner take a zodiac to a secluded area where a limited number of passengers will have the opportunity to sleep under the stars. Campers will be equipped with a personal waterproof bag containing a sleeping mattress, synthetic sleeping bag with inner liner, and a breathable bivouac bag. Early in the morning, return to the ship for a hearty breakfast. Note that space is limited for this activity and pre booking is essential. This activity is weather dependent.
For a completely different perspective, kayaking is a great option for experienced kayakers. In choosing this option you will have approximately 4-6 opportunities to get out on the water, fully guided in twin kayaks. All equipment is provided. Note that space is limited for this activity and pre booking is essential. This activity is weather dependent
Another day in Antarctic waters learning about the natural flora and fauna, joining Zodiac landings and participating in various activities (weather depending).
Another day in Antarctic waters learning about the natural flora and fauna, joining Zodiac landings and participating in various activities (weather depending).
Another day in Antarctic waters learning about the natural flora and fauna, joining Zodiac landings and participating in various activities (weather depending).
Arriving at the volcanic islands of the South Shetlands you’ll notice how mystical the area is: often windswept and cloaked in mist. There’s a wide variety of flora (mosses, lichens, flowering grasses) here and keep your eyes peeled for gentoo penguins, chinstrap penguins, southern giant petrels. The ship will continue to sail towards Deception Island, the Neptune’s Bellows and into the flooded caldera. Here, you find an abandoned whaling station, and thousands of cape petrels – along with kelp gulls, brown and south polar skuas, and Antarctic terns.
A good hike is a possibility in this fascinating and desolate volcanic landscape. As an alternative, we may be able to participate in some activities near Half Moon Island. Here, chinstrap penguins and Weddell seals often haul out onto the beach near Cámara Base, an Argentine scientific research station.
After our incredible journey, we set our course back to civilisation today. On our return voyage, crossing the Drake Passage again, we’re reunited with the seabirds from the passage south. The next couple of days will be a chance to reflect on your adventure to the seventh continent.
Spend the day at sea recapping your experiences with fellow explorers, sharing photos or chatting with staff.
After breakfast disembark and transfer to Ushuaia Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires.
On arrival in Buenos Aires you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore the city at your leisure.
Today is a free day in Buenos Aires. Explore the vibrant capital which pulsates with life, culture and history. Visit some of the many wonderful neighbourhoods including San Telmo, a haven for antique shops, cafes, and colourful houses, La Boca, a vibrant neighbourhood known for its iconic Caminito street and traditional Argentinian fare, and Puerto Madero, a trendy waterfront district transformed from old docks into a modern haven.
Soak up the vibrant nightlife of Buenos Aires and experience the magic of tango at a traditional milonga, a social dance venue where locals and visitors gather to tango the night away.
This morning you will transfer to the airport for your flight to Iguazu.
Your Iguazu adventure begins upon arrival at Puerto Iguazu International Airport, where your friendly local guide will greet you and transfer you to your hotel. After settling in, get ready to embark on a captivating journey to the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls.
As you stroll along the footbridges, breathtaking panoramic views of Isla San Martín unfold before your eyes. Witness the majestic waterfalls of Bossetti, San Martín, and the Three Musketeers, each a unique display of nature's power.
Your walk culminates at a remarkable viewpoint, offering a unique perspective of the awe-inspiring Devil's Throat. From this vantage point, a mere 150 metres away, witness the raw power and beauty of this incredible natural wonder. Be mesmerised by the cascading water and the constant formation of rainbows, adding a touch of magic to this breathtaking spectacle.
Please note that your internal flights within South America have a luggage limit of 15kg per person (33lbs). Unfortunately, Inspiring Vacations cannot increase this limit and is limited by the airlines luggage policy. Any fees for excess baggage incurred at the airport will be the responsibility of the traveller and payable directly to the airline during check in.
Today's adventure takes you to the breathtaking Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls, recently named one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Three distinct sets of trails and walkways await, each offering a unique perspective of these breathtaking natural wonders.
Lower Circuit: Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the falls from below. Feel the spray on your face and hear the thunderous roar as you wander through the lush rainforest. This vantage point grants an intimate understanding of the falls' immense power and scale.
Upper Circuit: Ascend to a higher perspective, offering breathtaking panoramas of the cascading waters. From here, you can appreciate the full extent of the Iguazu Falls system, witnessing the interconnectedness of each individual cascade.
The Devil's Throat: No visit to Iguazu would be complete without experiencing the awe-inspiring Devil's Throat. Feel the tremor of the earth beneath your feet as you stand just metres away from the plunging water, enveloped by the mist and rainbows painting the air.
Your adventure concludes at the hotel after breakfast.
At the appropriate time please make your own way to the airport for your flight. A private departure transfer to the airport can be booked at an additional charge.
We hope you have been inspired by your voyage to Antarctica!
Note: Standard check out is 12pm. If you have booked a late departure flight, you are welcome to leave your bags at the hotel until your departure.
Twin Porthole (included)
Twin Porthole cabins have 1 or 2 portholes and are located on the lower decks. Cabins have 2 lower berths with private shower & toilet, desk & chair, flat screen TV, hair dryer, safe deposit box and ample storage space.
Note: If you require a solo use of a twin porthole cabin on the cruise, please ensure you select Optional Single Supplement - Porthole under Upgrade Options in the purchase path. If not selected you will be allocated a Twin cabin, sharing with another passenger of the same gender. Total price will be advised at time of confirmation. Solo porthole cabin supplement from $13,448
Twin Window - Upgrade price from $1,010 per person twin share
Twin Window cabins have 1 large or 2 small windows. Cabins have 2 lower berths with private shower & toilet, desk & chair, flat screen TV, hair dryer, safe deposit box and ample storage space. (Please be aware that the view from some windows on the m/v Hondius are partially obstructed in this category)
Note: If you require a solo use of a twin window cabin on the cruise, please ensure you select Optional Single Supplement - Window under Upgrade Options in the purchase path in addition to selecting the Twin Window Upgrade. If not selected you will be allocated a Twin cabin, sharing with another passenger of the same gender. Total price will be advised at time of confirmation. Solo window cabin supplement from AUD$14,014, in addition to the Window Cabin twin share upgrade cost.
Superior - Upgrade price from $4,376 per person double share
Superior cabins have 2 windows, 1 double bed and a sofa bed, private shower & toilet, desk & chair, flat screen TV, hair dryer, safe deposit box, refrigerator, coffee & tea maker and ample storage space.
Please note: If you select an upgraded cabin or the optional single supplement, an additional deposit will be required. This will be calculated on confirmation and added to your invoice.
For detailed information on the ships, click HERE
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This is a land only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”3”
Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $531.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
It is possible for solo travelers to pay the twin share price with a small single supplement. This small single supplement will provide for single rooms in the hotels Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. You will be paired with another passenger of the same gender for your twin share cabin for the 10 night cruise.
If you require a Single Cabin on the cruise, please ensure you select Cruise Single Supplement under Upgrade Options in the purchase path.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for this tour to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Group Size
Minimum of 2 People
Maximum group size:
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
Click HERE for more information on weather in Argentina.
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