Our itinerary has been finalized. Most importantly we have chosen the ship to take to Antarctica. We have decided upon Quark's Adventure ship departing Ushuaia, Argentina on December 31. Yes, this is the smallest ship of the choices that made our short list. However, we expect this to be a once in a lifetime trip. So we will endure the Drake Passage on a small ship, but we will have a maximum of 68 other passengers with us, we will have 5 days to explore the Antarctica Pennisula, and we have one night of camping. That's right, we are taking a camping vacation this year. In Antarctica!
The advantage of having only 68 passengers on board is that all passengers can go ashore at one time. If there are more than 100 passengers on the ship then the shore excursions have to be broken up into groups of 100 people or less (I believe this includes guides). This is part of a voluntary code of conduct to which members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Opertators (IAATO) abide. This limits the environmental impact of tourism on Antarctica. The Obama administration has recently expressed a desire to incorporate the 100 person limit into the International Antarctic Treaty. That is one reasons we rushed into this trip. You never know the future impact of government regulations. More regulation always has the potential of limiting access and/or increasing costs.
All of our flights have been booked. As soon as I know the hotels/activities, I will post a more detailed itinerary.
Let me also make an open invitation to any our familiy and friends that might like to join us while we are in Argentina. You can wander Buenos Aires, taste Argentine beef, take in a Tango, shop, enjoy the nightlife, and sip on Malbec in the wine country. Also, don't forget that it is the austral summer in January.
| Argentina/Antarctica Dec. 27 - Jan. 17 | ||
| Date | Activity | Overnight |
| Dec. 27 | Depart SFO 11:55am | |
| Dec. 28 | Arrive in Buenos Aires 10:15am | Sleep in Buenos Aires |
| Dec. 29 | Buenos Aires | Sleep in Buenos Aires |
| Dec. 30 | Travel to Ushuaia | Sleep in Ushuaia |
| Dec. 31/ Jan. 09 | Antarctica Adventure ship | Sleep on board |
| Jan. 10 | Disembark/travel to Buenos Aires | Sleep in Buenos Aires |
| Jan. 11 | Buenos Aires | Sleep in Buenos Aires |
| Jan. 12 | Buenos Aires | Sleep in Buenos Aires |
| Jan. 13 | Travel to Mendoza | Sleep in Mendoza |
| Jan. 14 | Mendoza/Wine Tour | Sleep in Mendoza |
| Jan. 15 | Travel to Santiago | Sleep in Santiago |
| Jan. 16 | Depart Santiago 11:05pm | |
| Jan. 17 | Arrive in SFO 9:40am | |
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