ANTARCTICA PICTURES AND TRAVELOGUE
Austral MD-80 Getting to Ushuaia, the gateway to Antarctica <<-- GO
Some picture from the long trip to Ushuaia, via Madrid and Buenos Aires. Most Antarctica cruises leaves from Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, and getting there is part of the experience.
Land of Fire Day tour to Tierra del Fuego national park from Ushuaia <<-- GO
Tierra del Fuego national park, located in the southernmost tip of the American continent, is interesting for the beautiful landscape and for the unique vegetation that can't be found in other parts of the world.
Prof. Molchanov Review of Prof. Molchanov ship <<-- GO
Because of her small size and versatility in icing conditions, this ship, with a capacity of just 50 passengers plus crew, is ideal to navigate the southern ocean and the Antarctica peninsula.
Glacier in Antarctica Cruise to Antarctica: Paradise Bay <<-- GO
The first zodiac cruise and landing in Antarctica is made at Paradise Bay, near the closed Argentinian station of Almirante Brown, where there is also a nice colony of moulting Gentoo penguins.
Pack ice Cruise to Antarctica: Lemaire Channel <<-- GO
This narrow passage separates Antarctica's mainland with the nearby islands. The severe icing conditions, with a 10/10th pack ice, weren't an obstacle and the ship has navigated through beautifully.
Gentoo penguins Cruise to Antarctica: Port Lockroy and the British base <<-- GO
In Port Lockroy there is a British station with a working post office and a nice colony of Gentoo penguins, in addition to a superb landscape made of glaciers and icebergs.
Fur seals Cruise to Antarctica: Neko Harbour and the Gentoo penguins <<-- GO
A place of amazing beauty in Antarctica, dominated by huge glaciers flowing into the sea and icebergs, full of Fur seals and Gentoo penguins everywhere. One of the best excursion in Antarctica!
Iceberg Cruise to Antarctica: Orne Island <<-- GO
The cruise to Antarctica continues to Orne Island, a place surrounded by nice blue icebergs and where I met the Chinstrap penguins for the first time during the trip.
Deception island Tour to Deception Island and Whaler's Bay in the South Shetland <<-- GO
We disembark at Whaler's Bay, where a Norwegian whaling station was active until a disruptive volcanic eruption happened suddenly. Today is still possible to visit the station's ruins and take a nice hike all around.
Molting penguin Cruise to South Shetland: Half Moon Island and the Chinstrap penguins <<-- GO
Half Moon Island is so called because of its shape and it is interesting for the presence of a vast colony of Chinstrap penguins covering a vast extension of the ground.
Elephant Island Excursion to Elephant Island and to Frank Wild memorial <<-- GO
We are fortunate enough to set foot at Point Wild, where part of the Shackleton's expedition members camped waiting for a rescue. A spectacular zodiac cruise to a nearby glacier and penguin colony follows.
Elephant seal Cruise South Orkney: Shingle Cove and its elephant seals <<-- GO
A nice and welcome short stop during the long way between Antarctica and South Georgia across South Scotia sea. In the South Orkney there are many very colorful icebergs, as well as lot of Fur seals and Elephant seals.
King pengiun Cruise to South Georgia: Royal Bay <<-- GO
Our first landing in South Georgia is close to an enormous colony of King penguins, an absolutely stunning view immersed in a fantastic landscape.
South Georgia Cruise to South Georgia: St. Andrews Bay and its colony of King penguins <<-- GO
If the yesterday view was stunning, what to say about today's, where about 100.000 couples of King penguins live all together in this huge colony? This is easily one of the most beautiful place of the world.
Sir Ernest Shackleton's grave Cruise to South Georgia: Grytviken and Shackleton's tomb <<-- GO
During the first half of the past century, several Norwegian whaling stations were operative in South Georgia and abandoned later. Today is still possible to visit the ruins, as well as the tomb of the "Boss" Sir Ernest Shackleton, located in Grytviken.
Albatross Cruise to South Georgia : Fortuna Bay, Prion Island and its albatross <<-- GO
Our last landings in South Georgia are at Fortuna Bay and Prion Island. They are interesting for the beautiful views, for the presence of penguins, fur seals and, in Prion Island, for the giant albatross.
King cormorant Cruise to the Falkland Islands <<-- GO
The capital Stanley and other points of naturalist interest are our last landings of this Antarctica cruise, before heading back to Ushuaia and say goodbye to the southern seas.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ10 Photography equipment used on this Antarctica cruise <<-- GO
A brief description of the equipment used to take the pictures throughout this Antarctica voyage. Although it's from a trip in 2005, you may still find useful information here.