South America Polar Expeditions and Cruise Trips 2025/2026
Great polar expeditions and cruise trips in South America in 2025/2026. Compare prices for 40+ polar expeditions and cruise tours with 70+ trip reviews. Book today and save up to 30% on Bookmundi.com!
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8 days24 days
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Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
For those drawn to the planet’s wildest frontiers, the 'Antarctic Express: Cruise South, Fly North' tour offers a ten-day polar expedition like no other. Cruise the legendary Drake Passage, then fly northbound for a more comfortable return. Along the way, encounter minke and humpback whales, playful penguins, and surreal icescapes near the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. Guided group excursions ensure you witness the best of this stark yet teeming wilderness. The USP: minimized travel time across the Drake, maximizing your immersion in Antarctica’s dramatic beauty and rare wildlife—ideal for experienced travelers seeking both adventure and convenience.
Few journeys rival the thrill of crossing the Antarctic Circle—a feat at the heart of the "Across the Antarctic Circle - M/V Greg Mortimer" cruise trip. Over 13 days, this relaxed expedition for seasoned adventurers sets sail from Ushuaia, threading through the legendary Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. Marvel at surreal icebergs, soaring mountain ranges, and ethereal snow petrels as you navigate icy waterways, aiming for Crystal Sound at The Gullet’s mouth. Wildlife enthusiasts will thrill to sightings of orca, leopard seals, and feeding humpbacks. Each day brings opportunities for guided Zodiac excursions and landings, with transport, meals, and accommodation included. The unique selling point? Achieving the milestone of crossing latitude 66°33' South—a true Antarctic adventure that combines pristine wilderness with unforgettable wildlife encounters, all in the hands of expert guides.
Crossing the Antarctic Circle at 66’30 is a polar milestone achieved by relatively few. Because innovation is in our DNA, we wanted to make this experience even more memorable. The result is this exciting adventure, which includes the chance to soar above the Antarctic landscape in one of Ultramarine’s twin-engine helicopters. Your helicopter-supported excursions feature multiple opportunities for heli flightseeing, as well as a heli landing. Learn what it’s like to step out of a helicopter onto Antarctica and gaze upon polar landscapes previously only seen by a few fearless explorers and mountaineers. You’ll also explore the southern heart of the Antarctic Peninsula. And you’ll experience it all from sea and air.
Revel in the excitement of crossing the famed Drake Passage after embarking from Ushuaia, with the convenience of a northbound return flight at the end of your expedition. Minke and humpback whales or Adélie penguins floating on ice floes may greet you as you travel to the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The surreal silence in this vast wilderness may overwhelm at first, but playful, charismatic wildlife and your intrepid travelling companions keep you grounded. You’ll develop a new appreciation and understanding of Antarctica’s extreme contrasts – harsh mountain peaks and fragile ecosystems; stark, lonely icescapes; and populous, gregarious penguins.
For expeditioners who prefer to focus their energy on adventures in Antarctica, flying over the Drake Passage in both directions is the ideal way to reach the Great White Continent. In the safe hands of experienced pilots, your pulse will quicken as you glimpse the first icebergs in the Southern Ocean, where your vessel awaits, ready to take you on an exhilarating adventure.
Venturing below the Antarctic Circle is about more than just earning bragging rights, it is the chance to enter a different world more rarely seen, it feels more isolated and colder than further north, with great swathes of pack-ice and dreamlike icebergs.
Celebrate the crossing of the Antarctic Circle - at latitude 66° 33&39 South
Visit some of Antarctica's historic huts - enjoy visits to scientific research stations
Get up-close - with humpback and minke whales
Enjoy the freedom of Antarctica - being in the vast, ice-sculpted Antarctic wilderness
Stroll through the quaint English village of Stanley in the Falklands, wander the dunes, and birdwatch at rugged seabird cliffs. In South Georgia, discover beaches where king penguins breed and discover the rich historical legacy of the places you visit. Both islands are known for their wildlife with animals congregating by the thousands. Then, explore the Antarctic Peninsula and enter a world of ice and snow. Pursue your personal passions with a choice of rewarding activities and our extensive educational program.
Journey deep into Antarctica into the lesser-visited Weddell Sea. This is a pristine area of Antarctica, where only a fortunate few have visited. It boasts huge tabular icebergs and an uncompromising environment reserved for rare and unique wildlife. It was here that polar explorer Ernest Shackleton travelled on his quest to conquer this inhospitable environment. During your cruise, you'll have time to explore these eastern flanks of the peninsula and to observe penguins, seals, whales and sea-birds at close quarters.
Follow the route of famous explorers - travel in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton
Journey deep into Antarctica - explore the less visited Weddell Sea
Explore by Zodiac - sail beneath huge icebergs and towering glaciated peaks
Imagine crossing the legendary Antarctic Circle, a milestone reached by only the most intrepid travelers. The "Antarctic Circle - M/V Ocean Victory" tour begins and ends in Ushuaia, embarking on a 12-day polar expedition cruise through the Drake Passage and the South Shetland Islands. Tailored for seasoned explorers seeking a relaxed yet immersive adventure, this trip offers the rare opportunity to journey south of 66°33'—a feat often thwarted by dense pack ice but made possible by your robust expedition vessel. As you sail ever deeper into the Antarctic Peninsula, relish extended time ashore thanks to the itinerary's two extra exploration days. Marvel at the surreal phenomenon of the midnight sun, where daylight lingers almost endlessly, and savor encounters with seals, whales, penguins, and a vibrant array of birdlife. With comfortable accommodations, all meals included, and expert guidance throughout, this small group tour package is ideal for those who want to experience the majesty of the Great White Continent beyond what most expeditions offer. The unique selling point: crossing the Antarctic Circle itself—an achievement few travelers can claim—paired with ample time to witness the region's untamed wildlife and dramatic landscapes.
The South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula form one of the most spectacular wilderness areas on Earth. A remarkable collection of wildlife lives in the shadow of snow-capped mountains and blue icebergs; penguins, whales and a rich diversity of birdlife await you an this exploratory journey into the Great White Continent.
Travel into scenic Antarctica - explore the islands of the peninsula
Enjoy a variety of penguins - walk amongst vast penguin rookeries of gentoo, Adelie and chinstrap penguins
Incredible scenery - enjoy the freedom of being in the vast, ice-sculpted, Antarctic wilderness
A voyage into the Antarctic Circle will take you as far south as the ice will allow. Our small ships allow access to this inhospitable and impossibly beautiful area, which only the lucky few will ever see. Imagine being encircled in rookeries of chinstrap, Adelie and gentoo penguins, so close to colossal glaciers and icebergs towering high above you.
Travel even further into Antarctica - join an expedition cruise to cross the Polar Circle
Superb wildlife - excellent viewing opportunities from our Zodiacs and on-shore landings
Incredible landscapes - immerse yourself in the vast icescapes of Antarctica
Marine wildlife - sail with whales and past seals basting in the sun on passing ice floes
