Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7 Cruising Antarctica
The Subantarctic Islands
Ice-strengthened cruise ships depart from Ushuaia for the vast,
white expanse of the Antarctic continent. There are myriad routes
to choose from but popular ports of call include the Antarctic
Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands and, on longer cruises,
the rugged island chains of Subantarctica. Trips explore a
breathtaking, silent world of gigantic icebergs, tumbling glaciers,
dazzling ice shelves, and marine wildlife that includes numerous
species of whales and dolphins, seals and penguins, and millions
of marine birds. A human history is palpable too, in the haunting
form of abandoned whaling stations and gravesites bearing the
names of Heroic Age explorers.
Planning a cruise
Cruises : (11-13 days) to the
Antarctic Peninsula always
include the South Shetland
Islands. Longer trips (18-20 days)
include South Georgia and the
Falkland Islands.
Ship types : vary, but all are ice-
strengthened. Remote Weddell
Sea and Ross Sea areas are
accessed by icebreaker ships.
Best time : to travel is in summer
from November to March: days
are longer and warmer, and the
wildlife more abundant.
See also pp308-9 .
modern history, the Falkland
Islands (Islas Malvinas) are a
popular stop-off on longer
Antarctic cruises. An archipelago
consisting of two main islands,
East and West Falkland, and
several hundred smaller ones,
the Falklands attract thousands
of visitors each year. Their
marine wildlife is as prolific as it
is spectacular, with over 60
breeding bird species and
numerous marine mammals.
Easily approached, this fauna
is observed in its greatest
numbers on small offshore
islands such as West Point
Island , New Island , and
Carcass Island , all essential
stops on Subantarctic itineraries.
Star attractions include five
kinds of penguin, the rare
rockhopper penguin included,
and the world's largest breeding
populations of black-browed
albatross. Offshore, elephant
seals, sea lions, fur seals,
dolphins, and killer whales
roam the waters.
All cruises to the Falklands
include a stop at the capital,
Stanley . Built on a north-
facing slope to catch the sun
throughout the year and lined
with rows of colorful cottages
and well-kept gardens, Stanley,
with a population of some
2,000, is more reminiscent of an
English village than a capital
city. Tours should start at the
Jetty Visitor Center by the
passenger dock before taking in
the main sights, which include
the Falkland Islands Museum ,
with displays on the islands'
natural and human history;
the cathedral and 1982 War
Memorial; and Government
House, which dates from 1845.
The Maritime History Trail
tours Stanley Harbor, once
an important port of call for
vessels crossing Cape Horn
and today dotted with
hulking shipwrecks. At low tide
visitors can explore a number
of ships and dive to see others.
Outside Stanley, short
excursions include visits to
Gypsy Cove and Volunteer
Point , home to large penguin
colonies, and to Goose Green,
site of fierce fighting in the 1982
Falklands War.
Brightly painted houses around Christ
Church cathedral, Stanley
The Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
310 miles (500 km) NE of Ushuaia.
* 3,140. k weekly flights via Punta
Arenas, Chile, and monthly via Río
Gallegos. g from Ushuaia. n Jetty
Visitor Center, (00500) 22215.
falklandislands.com
Surrounded by the cold South
Atlantic Ocean and shrouded in
controversy throughout their
The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
SOUTH ATLANTIC
OCEAN
Carcass
Island
Gladstone
Bay
West Point
Island
Salvador
Volunteer
Point
Port
San Carlos
Port Louis
Roy Cove
San Carlos
Gypsy Cove
New
Island
Port Howard
East
Falkland
STANLEY
Chartres
West
Falkland
Goose
Green
Mount
Pleasant
Fox Bay
East
Lively
Island
North Arm
Speedwell
Island
0 km
0 miles
50
E Falkland Islands Museum
Holdfast Rd, Stanley. Te l (00500)
27428. @ from jetty. Open 9am-4pm
daily. & 8 7 =
falklands-museum.com
50
Key
Track
Main road
For keys to symbols see back flap
 
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