19 Days Puerto Williams to Puerto Williams

Puerto Williams is located on the Chilean island of Navarino on the southern shore of the Beagle Channel. The small settlement calls itself the “southernmost city in the world” – a title also claimed by the larger Argentine Ushuaia on the opposite side of the channel. The landscape around Puerto Williams is spectacular with wind-swept, snow-covered mountains. Particularly impressive are the “Dientes de Navarino” (Navarino Teeth), a striking mountain range with jagged peaks. This region was originally the home of the Yaghan, an indigenous people of hunters and gatherers, whose culture unfortunately declined after the arrival of European settlers.

During the travel days on the open sea, you have wonderful opportunities to relax, unwind, and finally find time for all the things that often come up short in everyday life.

New Island is a remote, pristine island in the western part of the Falkland Islands. On this rugged patch of land, very few people live, but there is an impressive diversity of birds along the rugged coast. In the midst of the stormy South Atlantic, the island provides a protected habitat for numerous animal species. Here you can observe large colonies of rockhopper penguins, experience elephant seals during their rest periods on the beach, and follow the elegant flight of majestic albatrosses.

Although Stanley is strongly influenced by British culture, its landscape is more reminiscent of South American Patagonia than an English city like Portsmouth. The Falkland Islands impress with their wind-swept, vast, and breathtaking nature. Nevertheless, you can enjoy a typical British beer or traditional fish and chips in the cozy pubs of the capital – an interesting cultural mix at the end of the world.

During the travel days on the open sea, you have wonderful opportunities to relax, unwind, and finally find time for all the things that often come up short in everyday life.

The snow-covered black mountains and massive glaciers make South Georgia one of the most impressive natural islands in the world. In this wild paradise, animals come first, while humans are only visitors. The island greets you with a symphony of bird calls, the deep roars of elephant seals, and endless colonies of colorful king penguins stretching to the horizon. As a British Overseas Territory, South Georgia has a turbulent history. The abandoned whaling stations bear witness to the island’s industrial past. South Georgia became particularly well-known through Ernest Shackleton and his Endurance expedition – after a dramatic rescue operation, he reached these shores in 1916. A museum documents his legendary story, and you can visit his grave, where the famous polar explorer found his final resting place. In addition to the colorful king penguins, the striking macaroni penguins with their yellow crests and the majestic wandering albatrosses with their impressive wingspans are also at home here.

During the travel days on the open sea, you have wonderful opportunities to relax, unwind, and finally find time for all the things that often come up short in everyday life.

Elephant Island combines adventure, history, and the unspoiled beauty of Antarctica. This rugged island, mostly in shades of gray, is one of the most well-known places on the Antarctic continent and owes its fame primarily to early polar explorers. The island probably got its name from the elephant seals that the first discoverers found on the rocky beaches. However, Elephant Island gained its historical significance in 1916 when Ernest Shackleton and his crew sought refuge here from the inhospitable weather conditions – a dramatic chapter in polar history that made the island world-famous.

Antarctica offers an incomparable nature experience that impresses with its wildness, remoteness, and overwhelming beauty. The Antarctic Sound, named after an expedition ship from 1902, is often the first point of contact with this icy continent. In these waters, huge icebergs drift, broken off from the massive Larsen Ice Shelf. The seemingly lifeless ice landscape is surprisingly enlivened by chinstrap penguins and cape petrels, which have perfectly adapted to this extreme environment. Those who visit Antarctica experience nature in its most pristine form. Be sure to bring your camera – the untouched beauty of this icy paradise offers unique photo opportunities that will stay with you for a lifetime.

The Antarctic Peninsula, pointing like a finger towards South America, is the destination of many Antarctic expeditions. It lies only about 1000 kilometers from Tierra del Fuego and offers breathtaking panoramas with snow-covered mountains and fascinating ice formations. This region was only discovered in 1820, and today it is a focus of scientific research. Numerous research stations here study the unique ecosystem and document human influences on this largely untouched continent. As a visitor, you can marvel at impressive icebergs, experience turquoise-blue shimmering glaciers, and observe thousands of lively Adelie penguins that live perfectly adapted to this extreme environment.

The South Shetland Islands are located near the Antarctic Peninsula and are under the Antarctic Treaty. The island group is home to international research stations and a diverse wildlife including elephant seals and various penguin species. King George Island is the largest island with the most year-round occupied stations. On Deception Island, you can explore a volcanic caldera and bathe in naturally heated waters – a unique experience in Antarctica. Elephant Island gained fame through Ernest Shackleton, whose crew survived here under extreme conditions in 1916 after their ship was destroyed in the pack ice.

On the return journey through the famous Drake Passage, you experience once again the majestic wildness of this legendary waterway. As the cliffs of Antarctica disappear on the horizon, you gradually approach the southern tip of America again. This transition from the icy continent back to the inhabited world is a special moment – you leave the pristine Antarctica behind while the memories of its epic beauty are still fresh. The Drake Passage offers valuable time on the return journey to process the overwhelming impressions and reflect on what you have experienced before reaching civilization again.

Puerto Williams is located on the Chilean island of Navarino on the southern shore of the Beagle Channel. The small settlement calls itself the “southernmost city in the world” – a title also claimed by the larger Argentine Ushuaia on the opposite side of the channel. The landscape around Puerto Williams is spectacular with wind-swept, snow-covered mountains. Particularly impressive are the “Dientes de Navarino” (Navarino Teeth), a striking mountain range with jagged peaks. This region was originally the home of the Yaghan, an indigenous people of hunters and gatherers, whose culture unfortunately declined after the arrival of European settlers.