Discover Argentina's rugged eastern coast as we seek out secluded ports, wildlife-rich estuaries, and the vibrant waters of World Heritage-listed Península Valdés, where our arrival coincides with the whale breeding season. Get immersed in a sea of black and white amid tens of thousands of king penguins on a remote beach in South Georgia, then hike the rocky shores of the Falkland Islands among fur seals and the world's largest colony of black-browed albatrosses.
Antarctica
Wild Coasts of Argentina, South Georgia, and the Falklands
25 Days aboard National Geographic Endurance. From USD $40,715pp.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Travel aboard National Geographic Endurance to experience the stunning beauty of Argentina’s rugged east coast and isles of the South Atlantic
- Seek out the whale-rich waters of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Peninsula Valdés to observe southern right whales in their annual breeding grounds—one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles
- Capture the windswept beauty of the Falklands—and the black-browed albatrosses and penguins that thrive here—with guidance from a National Geographic Photography Expert
- Trace the spellbinding story of Shackleton’s fateful expedition on South Georgia and get immersed in a sea of black and white amid tens of thousands of stately king penguins
- Discover the burgeoning wine region of Bahia Bustamante and visit Patagonia Austral National Park and Blue Patagonia UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1-2: Buenos Aires, Argentina / Embark Ship
- Day 3: Montevideo, Uruguay
- Day 4: At Sea
- Day 5-6: Bahía Blanca / At Sea
- Day 7-8: Puerto Madryn
- Day 9-10: Bahía Bustamante
- Day 11: Puerto Deseado / At Sea
- Day 12-13: Falkland Islands
- Day 14-15: At Sea
- Day 16-20: South Georgia Island
- Day 21-22: At Sea / Falklands
- Day 23-24: Falklands / At Sea
- Day 25: Ushuaia / Disembark Ship / Fly to Buenos Aires
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1-2: Buenos Aires, Argentina / Embark Ship
Arrive in Buenos Aires and check into the Alvear Icon Hotel (or similar). Set out on a guided tour of the city's beaux-arts palaces. Visit Recoleta—the final resting place of Argentina's iconic first lady, Eva Perón—and enjoy a private visit to El Zanjon de Granados, one of the city’s premier museums. In the early evening, we gather for an informal reception and a drink at the hotel. After a choice of explorations the following day, set sail on National Geographic Endurance.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on Day 2.
Arrival Time: Arrive before 11:30 a.m. local time.
Day 3: Montevideo, Uruguay
Arrive in Uruguay’s vibrant capital city and discover its elegant mix of architectural styles, ranging from Spanish colonial to art deco, or opt to join a bird-watching excursion in nearby wetlands. Later, travel outside the city to a family-owned estancia, or ranch, where we enjoy a traditional asado barbecue lunch accompanied by gaucho music and dancing.
Day 4: At Sea
As National Geographic Endurance sails south along the Argentinian coast, hear talks from our onboard naturalists and visit the ship's open Bridge to learn about navigation. Unwind with a massage in the spa or a session in the fitness center, get lost in a book in the library, or simply soak up the views from the rooftop observation deck or one of the outdoor infinity hot tubs.
Day 5-6: Bahía Blanca / At Sea
Dock in the port city of Bahía Blanca. Travel into the hills and discover the flora and fauna of the Argentinean pampas on a guided hike. As we make our way back to the coast, visit one the world’s largest colonies of burrowing parrots. Scan the cliffs to see thousands of the colorful birds that make their nests here. Once back on board, spend time on deck with our naturalists or relax and enjoy the ship’s many amenities.
Day 7-8: Puerto Madryn
Granted UNESCO World Heritage status as a marine sanctuary in 1999, Península Valdés is the world's most important breeding ground for endangered southern right whales. Our arrival coincides with the height of whale season, optimizing our chances for spotting these magnificent creatures in their natural environment. Set out by local boat to seek out whale calves and their often-curious mothers, which can grow up to 50 feet long. Set foot on secluded beaches frequented by southern elephant seals, nesting Magellanic penguins, and frolicking sea lions. Scan the shores for orcas, which are known to beach themselves here to hunt for prey. During walks and hikes, keep an eye out for terrestrial wildlife such as the guanaco, armadillo, and the ostrich-like rhea.
Day 9-10: Bahía Bustamante
Included in Patagonia Austral Marine National Park and the UNESCO-listed Patagonia Azul Biosphere Reserve, Bahía Bustamante is a hidden gem along the southern coast of Argentina. Steppes of inland Patagonia meet the sea, providing a rugged backdrop to the white-sand beaches and clear waters. Take a Zodiac cruise or kayak along the coast to observe an abundance of wildlife, such as blue-eyed and rock cormorants, Magellanic penguins, sea lions, and more. Learn about the rugged ranchers who settled in the region–remote and still largely wild–in the 1950s and built sustainable wool production on the grasslands and harvested seaweed from the sea.
Day 11: Puerto Deseado / At Sea
Travel in small boats into the Reserva Natural Ría Deseado, a submerged estuary that is home to the black-and-white Commerson's dolphin–one of the smallest cetaceans in the world–and the only rockhopper penguin colony in Patagonia. Seek out these rare marine species and discover the reserve's unique geology. Later, at a local museum in Puerto Deseado, learn about the famous explorers who passed this way and peruse a collection of well-preserved artifacts retrieved from the shipwrecked H.M.S. Swift, a British sloop of war that sank in 1770. Spend the afternoon sailing Argentina's southern coast.
Day 12-13: Falkland Islands
Discover the remote South Atlantic archipelago of the Falkland Islands, where some 200 islands each offer a distinct variation on rugged coastal beauty. White-sand beaches, soaring cliffs, windswept moors, and swaying tussock grass set a stunning natural backdrop to encounters with thriving wildlife–from thousands of gentoo, rockhopper, and Magellanic penguins to black-browed albatrosses, elephant and fur seals, and sea lions hauled out on rocks. Enjoy a variety of excursions with our naturalists and take in sweeping views at every turn.
Day 14-15: At Sea
As we journey across these southern waters, deepen your understanding of this far-flung region. Learn about the history of Antarctic exploration and join our naturalists on deck to identify seabirds soaring overhead.
Day 16-20: South Georgia Island
Spend five incredible days exploring the spectacular coastlines and abundant wildlife of South Georgia. Our schedule is flexible, and we anticipate opportunities to walk, hike, kayak, or explore by Zodiac most days. Take in unforgettable wildlife spectacles: the antics of elephant seals, leopard seals, and fur seals; cliffs inhabited by hundreds of nesting albatrosses; and shores peppered with tens of thousands of king penguins. Our stops may include visits to the abandoned whaling station at Grytviken, which played a part in the extraordinary story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated expedition and is now the explorer's final resting place, as well as Stromness Bay, where Shackleton, Tom Crean, and Frank Worsley finally reached help after a year and a half stranded in Antarctica.
Day 21-22: At Sea / Falklands
After time at sea, we return to the Falklands archipelago and its natural wonders. Stroll around the lively Victorian town of Port Stanley, the largest and most populated city in the Falklands, and mingle with islanders at a local pub in this remote outpost.
Day 23-24: Falklands / At Sea
As we sail back to Ushuaia, an albatross or two may join the escort of seabirds that cross our bow and follow in our wake. Soak up final vistas of these southern waters, share photos with fellow travelers, and toast our epic voyage at a farewell dinner.
Day 25: Ushuaia / Disembark Ship / Fly to Buenos Aires
Disembark in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Take a charter flight to Buenos Aires and connect with your flight home.
- Day 1-2: Buenos Aires, Argentina / Embark Ship
- Day 3: Montevideo, Uruguay
- Day 4: At Sea
- Day 5-6: Bahía Blanca / At Sea
- Day 7-8: Puerto Madryn
- Day 9-10: Bahía Bustamante
- Day 11: Puerto Deseado / At Sea
- Day 12-13: Falkland Islands
- Day 14-15: At Sea
- Day 16-20: South Georgia Island
- Day 21-22: At Sea / Falklands
- Day 23-24: Falklands / At Sea
- Day 25: Ushuaia / Disembark Ship / Fly to Buenos Aires
Next Departure Date: 07 Oct 2025
| Dates | Cabin | From | Special Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07 Oct 2025 - 31 Oct 2025 | USD$40715pp | ||
| Category Solo A | USD$40715pp | Contact us | |
| Category 1 | USD$40715pp | Contact us | |
| Category 2 | USD$41920pp | Contact us | |
| Category Solo B | USD$41920pp | Contact us | |
| Category 3 | USD$48811pp | Contact us | |
| Category 4 | USD$54625pp | Contact us | |
| Category 5 | USD$62806pp | Contact us | |
| Category 6 | USD$72149pp | Contact us | |
| Category 7 | USD$80077pp | Contact us |
*Please note the charter flights from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires is not included on the cabin price listed. This will be extra.
**Prices are per person based on twin / shared accommodation.
**Single supplements may apply
Cabin Details
Category 1
183 square feet, 1 double bed, two large windows, alcove seating, desk, armchair, fore deck location.
Category 2
205 square feet, 1 double bed, two large windows, alcove seating, desk, armchair, fore deck location.
Category 3
205 square feet, 1 double bed, TV, desk, balcony, main deck location.
Category 4
205 square feet, 1 double bed, TV, desk, balcony, lounge deck location.
Category 5
205 square feet, 1 double bed, TV, desk, balcony, sofa, bridge deck location.
Category Solo A
140 square feet, solo cabin with balcony and sofa, located on the main deck.
Category Solo B
140 square feet, solo cabin with balcony and sofa, located on the lounge deck.
Category 6
344 square feet, 1 double bed, TV, desk, balcony, sofa, bridge deck location.
Category 7
430 square feet, 1 double bed, TV, desk, large balcony, sofa, bathtub, walk-in closet, bridge deck location.
National Geographic Endurance Deckplan
Specifications
- Guests: 138
- Crew: 112
- Cabins: 71
- Length: 124.4m
- Beam: 21m
- Draft: 5.3m
- Speed: 16.6 knots
- Decks: 5
- Ice Class: 5
Whats included?
- Activities/shore excursions as specified
- Lectures and presentations by expedition leaders and naturalist staff
- Group transfers
- All meals during your voyage
- Selected alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages
- Use of kayaks
- Port fees and service taxes
- Gratuities
What’s not included?
- International airfares
- Internal airfares mentioned in itinerary are optional and not included*
- Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance
- Any item not listed as included
Notes
*Please note the charter flights from Ushuaia to Buenos Aires is not included on the cabin price listed. This will be extra.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Antarctica
On any cruise to Antarctica you can expect to experience a wide variety of landscapes, unprecedented wildlife viewing opportunities and a healthy mix of historic landing sites. Be astounded by the sensory overload of the huge amount of ice-bergs, glaciers, high mountains and the abundant and tame wildlife.
Downloadable travel guide
Planning your next adventure has never been easier with our free downloadable travel guides. Get in-depth insights into local attractions, dining options, and hidden gems, all curated by our team of travel specialists with decades of experience.
