Antarctica Cruise

Buenos Aires is one of the largest cities of Latin America, a major world port, and Argentina’s commercial and social center. Heavily industrialized, he city is one of the world’s leading exporters of processed foods. It was founded in 1536, abandoned, then resettled in 1580, and was the first Latin American city to revolt (1810) against Spanish rule.

Officially independent in 1816, it became the capital of a united Argentina in 1862. It grew into an urban colossus in the late 19th century, when railroads into the agriculturally abundant pampa to the west began to supplement the great inland river transportation system that linked the city with Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil, and immigration from Europe increased. Famous landmarks include the 19th century cathedral, the opera house, and the many beautiful municipal parks.

The Drake Passage is the body of water from Cape Horn to the Antarctic Peninsula. During the crossing of the Drake Passage, you pass your first icebergs, wildly carved by the wind and water, and observe wandering albatross and other seabirds skimming the swell, while whales breach the surface. Passing through Drake Passage is a scenic adventure.

Montevideo is on of South America’s major ports, and Uruguay’s only large city, with nearly half its population. It is a specious beautiful city with amazing architecture and spectacular beaches.

A Chilean naval base on Navarino Island. Navarino is home to virgin forests, snow covered mountains, massive glaciers and rich bird life. The island is unspoiled and offers exceptional hiking opportunities.

The South Shetland Islands are a group of Antarctic islands, consisting of 11 major islands and several minor ones. Several nations maintain research stations on various islands, including Argentina, Chile, Spain and more. Most can be found on the largest, King George Island, otherwise known as Isla 25 de Mayo in Argentina, Isla Rey Jorge by Chileans, or Vaterloo to the Russians.

Stanley is a miniature capital, where the masts of old sailing ships stick up haphazardly out of the little harbour and the government house is a little more than a medium-sized Victorian home. There is little to remind visitors of the Falklands war.

Be sure to visit the post office to purchase the extraordinary Falklands commemorative stamps. Many of them depict the Island’s rich variety of wildlife. Unhampered by human encroachment, the Falklands’ huge populations of penguins, black-browed albatross, sea lions, fur seals and elephant seals are totally unafraid of visitors.