Wild Nature Between Argentina and the Falkland Islands

Description

From Tierra del Fuego to the flamboyant capital of Argentina, via the fabulous archipelago of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), set sail to discover a wild and exceptional nature during a brand-new 15-day PONANT cruise aboard Le Lyrial.

You will begin your voyage in Ushuaia, the mythical embarkation port located at the extreme south of the Andes cordillera.

Le Lyrial will chart a course around the legendary Cape Horn before sailing in the direction of the Isla de los Estados for an unforgettable journey. The island is home to the famous Lighthouse at the end of the world, which gave its name to a novel by Jules Vernes.

You will then reach the archipelago of the Falkland Islands. Discovered by a Spanish expedition at the beginning of the 16th Century, the Falkland Islands will enchant you with their unique panoramas of undulating hillsides and lush green moors. Offering a fascinating panoply of wildlife, the islands have the largest population of black-browed albatrosses in the world. You will have the opportunity to explore New Island, Carcass and Saunders islands and to maybe see the various species of penguin that people Volunteer Point. Fall under the charm of your last port of call, in the islands’ discreet and charming capital, Port Stanley.

Then you will set a course for the North to discover the small city of Camarones in Chubut province, southern Argentina. A veritable nature refuge, there you will discover unique marine animals and will be able to observe sealions, elephant seals and Commerson’s Dolphins.

The last call in your journey will take you to Puerto Madryn, where wildlife reigns supreme. An optional excursion will allow you to visit the Valdes Peninsula, a peninsula listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999 thanks to its substantial population of marine mammals, including the threatened Southern Right Whale, Orcas and South American sea lions.

Finally, you will reach vibrant Buenos Aires. The cosmopolitan Argentinean capital is the perfect blend of magnificent architecture with European influences and a joyful Latin American atmosphere.

Trip Name

Wild Nature Between Argentina and the Falkland Islands

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 224 Launched: 2015 A sleek silhouette, a welcoming intimate atmosphere, discover aboard this new ship the philosophy that has made our sisterships such a success: the spirit of Yacht Cruises. Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 122 staterooms and Suites, with balconies, will join our fleet in April 2015. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the our destinations and the blue light of the Vega star in the Lyra constellation. The result is a subtle variation around a palette of blues, ranging from the luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in Mediterranean coves A refined ambiance is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat’s hull, while the central sculpture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonymous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 USHUAIA

Capital of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, Ushuaia is considered the gateway to the White Continent and the South Pole. Nicknamed “El fin del mundo” by the Argentinian people, this city at the end of the world nestles in the shelter of mountains surrounded by fertile plains that the wildlife seem to have chosen as the ultimate sanctuary. With its exceptional site, where the Andes plunge straight into the sea, Ushuaia is one of the most fascinating places on earth, its very name evocative of journeys to the unlikely and the inaccessible…

Day 2 - Day 2 SAILING AROUND CAPE HORN

It’s at the meeting point between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that you enter Chilean Patagonia where you head for the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and its famous Cape Horn. From the top of its impressive 425-metre high cliff, South America’s southernmost tip has, for many centuries, seen merchant ships from the world over passing by. Because of its legendary storms and rough seas, getting round this cape has gone down in history as a challenge for all seafarers.

Day 3 - Day 3 SAILING ALONG ISLA DE LOS ESTADOS

Mountainous and rugged, the Isla de los Estados reveals the last ripples of the Andean cordillera. At the extreme far-east of the Tierra del Fuego, this tiny Argentinean island edged with deep, narrow bays, is a real nature sanctuary. From the sea, admire its relief, covered with a dense and inaccessible forest, and the rich wildlife that peoples its waters (Magellanic penguins, Commerson’s dolphins, etc.). This mysterious island is home to the lighthouse that inspired Jules Verne’s Lighthouse at the end of the world - and you may be lucky enough to see it during your journey.

Day 4 - Day 4 NEW ISLAND

This island with its distinctive jagged relief is located on the western edge of the Falkland Islands and is home to a tiny village of two families. Step onto the golden sand of its flower-lined beaches, beside which an old stone house still stands, and you'll feel like you've entered a natural paradise. A narrow pathway weaves around typical Falkland moorlands. Follow it and in under 20 minutes you'll find yourself at the heart of a colony of southern rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatross and imperial shags. It's the perfect opportunity to watch the albatross swoop down from the cliffs and skim the waves that crash against the rocks on the exposed side of the island.

Day 5 - Day 5 CARCASS ISLAND & THE NECK, SAUNDERS ISLAND

The Neck is a narrow stretch of land connecting the two sides of Saunders Island, located on the north-western edge of the Falklands. You'll safely enter these blustery surroundings with the assistance of your naturalist guides. And once there, a reward awaits you: a veritable paradise of endless shoreline lapped by turquoise waters. Several bird species, also attracted to this stunning location, have settled here. At the other end of The Neck, you'll encounter Magellanic penguins, southern rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatross and king penguins, all basking in the beauty of their surroundings.

Day 6 - Day 6 VOLUNTEER POINT & PORT STANLEY

A peninsula located at the far north-east of the Falkland Islands, Volunteer Point, named after the ship The Volunteer which called there in 1815, promises moving encounters in the heart of totally unspoiled nature. Due to its exceptional birdlife, the spot is identified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and is, above all, renowned as the home of the island’s largest king penguin colony. These elegant birds, which are expressive and not particularly timid, will offer you moments of pure awe and the opportunity to take magnificent photos. You’ll certainly be touched by the fledglings, dressed in their thick brown plumage.Situated at the far eastern end of the Falklands' largest island, Port Stanley, is the capital of this remote archipelago in the South Atlantic, composed of nearly 700 islands and islets. In 1764, Louis Antoine de Bougainville settled the first pioneers here and the port grew rapidly. Placed under the Spanish crown in 1767, then under British sovereignty since 1833, the town has retained some South American features fused with the Victorian style that punctuate the city, and the houses with their colourful roofs brighten the moorland landscapes with their windy and harsh climate reminiscent of the Scottish islands of Orkneys or Shetland. In front of the Cathedral, built in 1933, an arch made of whale jaw bones reminds us that Port Stanley was once a whaling port.

Day 7 - Days 7 - 8 AT SEA

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 8 - Day 9 CAMARONES

Camarones is a small town located in Chubut Province, in Southern Argentina. Chubut stretches from the Atlantic to the Andes, the coast is marked by high cliffs and sandy beaches. Before the Spaniards arrived in the Americas, nomadic indigenous people had inhabited the Patagonia region. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Spanish missionaries settled. Camarones is the head town of the Florentino Ameghino department which is noted for its wealth of geological and paleontological features. People are attracted to the region by its lengthy unspoiled coastline and its fauna. Camarones means ‘shrimps’ in Spanish, once the town was well-known for the abundance of shrimps in its bay.

Day 9 - Day 10 PUERTO MADRYN

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Day 10 - Days 11 - 13 AT SEA

Day 11 - Days 14 - 15 BUENOS AIRES

Disembarkation.

Day 12 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Outings and shore visits in Zodiac® inflatables with a team of experienced naturalist guides.
A brand-new itinerary between Tierra del Fuego and the fascinating Buenos Aires, at the heart of wild and exceptional nature.
If weather conditions allow it, disembarking at Cape Horn and discovering its albatross sculpture created by the Chilean artist José Balcells Eyquem.
Sailing around Isla de los Estados at the far south of Argentina, giving the chance to maybe see the Lighthouse at the End of the world, or the San Juan del Salvamento lighthouse, inspiration for the novel by Jules Vernes.
Discover the wild archipelago of the Falkland Islands during five ports of call: New Island, Carcass, Saunders, Volunteer Point and Port Stanley.
Wildlife: Magellanic penguins in the Falkland Islands, sea lions and Commerson’s dolphins in Camarones, southern right whales and orcas on the Valdes peninsula.
Optional excursion on the Valdes peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from Puerto Madryn.