I had the chance to visit the peninsula in November 2009, one of the best months for top wildlife encounters – an enormous whale mama and her baby, colonies of charming penguins, a nandu (less rhea) dad with his flock of chicks, and got up close and personal with a wide-eyed curious baby elephant seal. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, to say the least!

The peninsula is reached by a flight to Trelew, in the province of Chubut. There is then a 2 1/2 hour drive to reach the peninsula. The largest town on the peninsula is a the tiny hamlet of Puerto Piramides, which is also the launching place for boat rides to spot whales. However, the best accommodations, the ones that let you sample a luxurious version of ranchers’ traditional lifestyles combined with access to some of the most breathtaking sites, are outside town and deep in the peninsula’s arid grasslands.

My favorite is Estancia Rincon Chico, an owner-operated property near the coast, which continues to operate as a traditional sheep ranch. A charming guest house has rustic, elegant rooms and a cozy living room where guests can relax by the fire with an Argentine vintage. A collection of treasures found while beach-combing is displayed in the entryway, and books and magazines in the living room are perfect evening reading material. Within the estancia property there is access to several private beaches for elephant-seal expeditions. In fact, the owners have been involved in preservation efforts and scientific studies of these enormous creatures for the past 15 years, and both are locals. Watching the big bull seals fight, and seeing the sweet faces of the babies at short range makes for an exciting day.

An ideal stay at Rincon Chico is 2-3 nights, with visits around the property, and a day of whale-watching from Puerto Piramides.

Or, combine Rincon Chico with El Pedral, with two nights at each property. El Pedral is another favorite, located at Punta Ninfas (not on the peninsula). El Pedral is an early 20th century Norman-style house that was shipped piece by piece to Argentina from France in the 1920s. Lovely gardens surround the house, and there are views to the ocean. The estancia has activities like ATV rides along the beach (where you can beachcomb to your heart’s delight), horseback riding, bike riding, and hikes along the beach. They have a boat for whale-watching, and there is a small but growing penguin colony at one end of the beach.

Contact us for information on these properties and others, as well as visits to the Punta Tombo penguin colony, tea houses in Gaiman and the paleontology museum in Trelew – all fantastic activities for all ages. The best season for visiting this area is September-December.

Board your cruise vessel in Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world, before spending two days crossing the legendary Drake Passage. From there, you’ll have several days to cruise around the Antarctic Peninsula, with activities and visits to areas like the South Shetland Islands, the Gentoo Penguin colony on Cuverville Island, Danco Island for wildlife watching and Neko Harbour for your first step on the Antarctic Continent. There will also be zodiac cruises to Foyn Harbour, inNeko Harbour, and between icebergs on the way to Paradise Bay. You’ll also visit stations on the continent to get an idea of modern life for scientists living in Antarctica.

Finish the trip by sailing back through the Drake Passage, and returning to Argentina.

Ask us about extending your time in Argentina, and details on booking this trip!

Begin your Antarctica adventure with a flight to King George Island, where you’ll board your expedition vessel to begin a four day cruise along the Antarctic Peninsula to visit the stunning landscapes and the best wildlife areas.

Explore glacial landscapes, enormous penguin colonies, and go whale and bird watching with land excursions each day, led by professional guides. Cruise between the South Shetland Islands, through ice-filled fjords and between imposing icebergs. Possible destinations, depending on weather, include Hannah Point, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Cuverville and Deception Islands.

This itinerary is perfect for travelers short on time, with a total of seven nights in Chile, including an arrival night in Santiago. Contact us for details on reserving this trip!