Itinerary: Virtual Antarctica

Each Terraquest passenger will be able to appreciate the scenery, the wildlife, the personal interaction with crew and passengers that the actual passengers aboard the RV Livonia will enjoy. Be sure to join us whenever you can for our live chats and other interactive features! And think about joining us next year -- in real time, in the real world!

Itinerary

Day 2: (December 11) -- Arrive Santiago in the morning. The remainder of the day is free to rest, relax or explore on your own. Santiago is a pleasant blend of 19th-century European, Spanish colonial, and increasingly modern architecture. The major attractions are the Pre-Colombian Museum, the beautiful central square called the Plaza de Armas, and San Cristobal, an 1,800-acre park with a zoo and botanical garden.

Day 3: (December 12) -- Transfer to the airport and board our flight over the snow-covered Andes to Ushuaia, Argentina, the world's southernmost city. Here we will be met and transferred to the Hotel del Glaciar. The evening is free to enjoy downtown Ushuaia and sample the local cuisine, which includes a variety of fresh seafood.

Day 4: (December 13) -- In the morning we plan our first live chat as we visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, a beautiful landscape of forests, glacial lakes, rivers and streams. Late in the afternoon, we board our expedition vessel, the Livonia, and enjoy a warm welcome. We begin our journey to Antarctica with a scenic sail through the Beagle Channel.

Days 5-6: (December 14-15) -- Sail across the 620 miles of the Drake Passage, passing over the Antarctic Convergence. Here the cold waters of the Antarctic meet the warmer seas of the Atlantic, and the surfacing nutrients attract a variety of seabirds and whales.

Day 7: (December 16) -- Land at Half Moon Island in the morning, and after lunch and a short sail, arrive at Deception Island.

Day 8: (December 17) -- After an overnight sail, we enter beautiful Charlotte Bay for an ice cruise and possible landing at Portal Point. In the afternoon and evening we visit Cuverville and Rongee Islands.

Day 9: (December 18) -- Morning visit to pretty Neko Harbor in Andvord Bay. Later we continue to Paradise Bay, where another landing and Zodiac cruise are possible. Alternate stops might include Orne Harbor or possibly Two Hummock Island.

Day 10: (December 19) -- Sail through the spectacular Lemaire Channel. We hope for good conditions and a landing at Petermann Island (65 degrees South).

Day 11: (December 20) -- After sailing back across the Bransfield Strait, we try to land at Port Lockroy and Melchior Island. This afternoon we begin our return journey to Ushuaia as we head out again across the Drake.

Days 12-13: (December 21-22) -- Across the Drake Passage.

Day 14: (December 23) -- We plan to arrive back in Ushuaia by early morning, just in time for our last live chat. After breakfast, the real passengers will find time to explore Ushuaia before an early afternoon flight to Santiago.

Day 15: (December 24) -- Full day to explore Santiago. Late evening transfer to the airport where we board our Ladeco flight to Miami.

Day 16: (December 25) -- Arrive in Miami early on Christmas morning. Clear U.S. customs, and transfer to homeward-bound flights. For Terraquest tourists, be sure to visit our site on Christmas Day for a special event -- the award of our Grand Prize, a free trip to Antarctica! (See registration page for details ... )

For more details on Traveling in Antarctica, search out the other resources on the Terraquest site!