Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula and Tierra del Fuego

This tour offers a wonderful opportunity for visiting the Great White South in comfort...
This tour offers a wonderful opportunity for visiting the Great White South in comfort...
As well as great pelagic birding, with albatrosses sometimes at eye level—like this Antipodes Wandering Albatross!
As well as great pelagic birding, with albatrosses sometimes at eye level—like this Antipodes Wandering Albatross!
Of ten albatross species we have seen on this route, our first is likely to be the widespread Black-browed,
Of ten albatross species we have seen on this route, our first is likely to be the widespread Black-browed,
And Southern Right Whales are regular in these waters.
And Southern Right Whales are regular in these waters.
As we head south off the coast of Argentina, a Spectacled Petrel may stand out among large rafts of Great Shearwaters, but the poorly known Cape Verde Shearwater is easily missed—can you spot it?
As we head south off the coast of Argentina, a Spectacled Petrel may stand out among large rafts of Great Shearwaters, but the poorly known Cape Verde Shearwater is easily missed—can you spot it?
Our first landing is Punta Arenas, Chile, where we’ll look for the odd little Magellanic Plover, in its own family Pluvianellidae (and for which ‘Ruby-eyed Pluvianellus’ would be a much sexier name!)
Our first landing is Punta Arenas, Chile, where we’ll look for the odd little Magellanic Plover, in its own family Pluvianellidae (and for which ‘Ruby-eyed Pluvianellus’ would be a much sexier name!)
Next stop Ushuaia, southernmost town in the world, where with luck we’ll find the impressive Magellanic Woodpecker, here an adult male (right) with begging juvenile male.
Next stop Ushuaia, southernmost town in the world, where with luck we’ll find the impressive Magellanic Woodpecker, here an adult male (right) with begging juvenile male.
And these will be our last trees for more than a week!
And these will be our last trees for more than a week!
After passing by Cape Horn we’ll head into the Drake Passage, where we should encounter the majestic Snowy Wandering Albatross.
After passing by Cape Horn we’ll head into the Drake Passage, where we should encounter the majestic Snowy Wandering Albatross.
As well as large whales, we have been lucky enough to see Gray’s Beaked Whale in these waters.
As well as large whales, we have been lucky enough to see Gray’s Beaked Whale in these waters.
Who knows where or when our first iceberg will be, or what it will look like.
Who knows where or when our first iceberg will be, or what it will look like.
Groups of Pintado Petrels joining the ship (spot the Antarctic Prion) usually mean land is not far off...
Groups of Pintado Petrels joining the ship (spot the Antarctic Prion) usually mean land is not far off...
And glacier-cloaked islands may appear from the mist
And glacier-cloaked islands may appear from the mist
As Chinstrap Penguins porpoise alongside us...
As Chinstrap Penguins porpoise alongside us...
We may even see penguins flying—through water, their true element.
We may even see penguins flying—through water, their true element.
The constantly changing scenery can be mesmerizing, fifty shades of white...
The constantly changing scenery can be mesmerizing, fifty shades of white...
...and counting.
...and counting.
As we enjoy penguins on icebergs...
As we enjoy penguins on icebergs...
And hope for a close pass by the ethereal Snow Petrel
And hope for a close pass by the ethereal Snow Petrel
Or perhaps a pod of Killer Whales, here practice-hunting a Gentoo Penguin!
Or perhaps a pod of Killer Whales, here practice-hunting a Gentoo Penguin!
Heading back to sea across the Drake we should see the iconic Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
Heading back to sea across the Drake we should see the iconic Light-mantled Sooty Albatross
And with luck the dapper and dashing Blue Petrel
And with luck the dapper and dashing Blue Petrel
The colorful waterfront (and famous whale-bone arch) of Port Stanley herald our arrival to the remote Falkland Islands....
The colorful waterfront (and famous whale-bone arch) of Port Stanley herald our arrival to the remote Falkland Islands....
Where the spectacular King Penguin colony will be an undoubted highlight
Where the spectacular King Penguin colony will be an undoubted highlight
Even for non-birders!
Even for non-birders!
Gentoo Penguins, ...
Gentoo Penguins, ...
Rufous-chested Plover...
Rufous-chested Plover...
And White-bridled Finch may add extra color.
And White-bridled Finch may add extra color.
Deep offshore waters on our homebound route add new pelagic species, such as Soft-plumaged Petrel...
Deep offshore waters on our homebound route add new pelagic species, such as Soft-plumaged Petrel...
And Atlantic Petrel, before return to ‘the real world,’
And Atlantic Petrel, before return to ‘the real world,’
Where memories of our amazing voyage will last a lifetime.
Where memories of our amazing voyage will last a lifetime.
Photo credit: Steve Howell and Luke Seitz
Jan 8-25, 2026
Tour Price to be Determined
Maximum group size 14 plus leaders.
Tour balances paid by check/bank transfer may carry a 4% discount

Have you dreamed of taking an extended pelagic trip to the southern tip of South America and cruising off the Antarctic Peninsula—traveling to such legendary places the Beagle Channel, the Strait of Magellan, and the Falkland Islands, while seeing up to 8 species of penguins and 8 albatrosses, plus many other species of tubenoses?  If so, you may not have imagined that this can be done brilliantly on a Princess cruise ship which is of course both comfortable and well-appointed and is also stable enough to permit telescope use even in these turbulent waters. We believe that this cruise offers the best access to a unique and memorable seabirding experience in South America and probably one of the best in the world. 

Now that we have your attention, we should also say that, in addition to spending six full days at sea, we’ll arrange land-based expeditions to such intriguing areas as the Patagonian steppe around Punta Arenas, the penguin colonies on the Falklands, and the wetlands near Montevideo. During our landings we’ll look for specialties such as Magellanic Plover near Punta Arenas; Magellanic Woodpecker near Ushuaia; King Penguin, Falkland Steamer-Duck, and Ruddy-headed Goose on the Falklands; and Giant Wood-Rail and White-throated Hummingbird near Montevideo.

The short pre-tour extension in Argentina will sample the birds of the Ceibas area, north of Buenos Aires, with an impressive diversity of landbirds, especially the ovenbirds (Furnariidae) that characterize South America. Details on booking space with both WINGS and Princess Cruises can be found in the information section below.

Tour Team
Daily Itinerary (Click to see more)
Tour Information (Click to see more)
Map
Past Narrative (Click to see more)
Tour Notes

* The cruise price noted above covers only the four land excursions during the cruise plus the leaders’ time on-board ship. It does not include your berth on the ship, which must be booked directly with Princess Cruises. Details on booking space with both WINGS and Princess Cruises can be in the Tour Information dropdown above.

** In 2026 the cruise will start and end in Buenos Aires.

Maximum group size 14 plus leaders.

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