Tierra del Fuego & Antarctica - Argentina - page 418

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money to r each this white wonderland is because of the colonies of emper or penguins

that reside here. Rugged mountains and glaciers are also part of the view.
SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDS Tours to the Subantarctic Islands begin or end with a trip
to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Shetland Islands, which is the reason why these tours
run 18 to 21 days. A fe w of these faraway islands ar e little visited b y tourists, and they
instill a sense of adventure in the traveler for their remoteness and fascinating geography,
not to mention their important historical aspects.
The first stop is usually the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, to view bird life, especially
king penguins, and to tour the Victorian port town of S tanley. Some tours fly dir ectly
from Santiago, Chile, to the Falklands, and then begin the sailing journey ther e.
One of the most magnificent places on earth, South Georgia Island is surely a highlight
of this trip. Its dramatic landscapes, made of r ugged peaks, fiords, and beaches, ar e home
to a staggering array of wildlife. S outh G eorgia I sland is also subject to unpr edictable
weather. Trip landings her e risk cancellation far mor e fr equently than other sites. S ome
tours tack on visits to the South Orkney Islands (with their dense ar ea of Antarctic hair-
grass—an indigenous flowering plant) and the actively volcanic South Sandwich Islands.
Tour Operators
Prices vary depending on the length of the trip, the company you choose, and the sleep-
ing arrangements you require. A 9-day journey in a room with three bunks and a shared
bathroom runs about $4,500 (£3,040) per person. A 21-day journey with lodging in a
corner-window suite runs between $12,000 (£8,100) and $15,000 (£10,130) per person.
Shop around to find something to suit y our needs and budget.
Prices include passage, meals, guides, and all ex cursions. Some tours offer scuba div-
ing, kayaking, o ver-flights, or alpine tr ekking, usually at an additional cost. When
researching trips, also consider the siz e of the ship: Tour companies offer space for any-
where fr om 50 to 600 passengers. M ost trav elers like to shar e their space with fe wer
people; even for those who enjo y the camaraderie of a cr owd, more than 100 to 150
guests is o verkill. The I nternational Association Antar ctic Treaty O rganization limits
landings to 100 people, meaning large ships must conduct landings in turns.
A few well-known tour operators include:
• A bercrombie & Kent, 1520 Kensington Rd., Ste. 212, Oak Brook, IL 60523-2141
( & 800/544-7016 or 630/954-2944; fax [phone]; www .abercrombiekent.
com). Like Quark, A&K offers deluxe journeys, with trips that last 11 to 20 days.
• Antar ctica Expeditions, Guido 1852, Office B, 4th Floor, Buenos Aires C1119AAB
( & 54-11/4806-6326; fax [phone]; www .antarcticacruises.com.ar). Based
in Buenos Aires, Zelfa Silva and her husband Gunnar are seasoned Antarctica travelers
and expert trip-planning consultants.
• Antar ctic Shipping, E bro 2740, Las Condes, S antiago, Chile ( & 877/972-3531;
www.antarctic.cl). With a newly remodeled boat, this Chilean company began trips in
2004.
• Antarpply Expeditions, Gobernador Paz 663, Ushuaia 9410 ( & 54-2901/433636;
fax [phone]; www.antarpply.com). From their office in U shuaia, Antarpply
runs 10-night, 11-day cruises that start at $6,410 (£4,328).
• A urora Expeditions, 182A C umberland S t., The R ocks, NSW 2000, A ustralia
( & 02/9252-1033; fax [phone]; www.auroraexpeditions.com.au). This Austra-
lian company organizes a variety of educational, photographic, and climbing tours for
small groups.

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