Antarctica 21 Fly-cruise Tour from Chile

Arrive before 14.00 (2pm) to the city of Punta Arenas where you are met by staff, and transferred to Hotel Cabo de Hornos.

In the afternoon, you meet your expedition mates and receive instructions and guidelines that should be followed in Antarctica, such as the procedures for Zodiac boat embarkation and disembarkation.

In the evening, enjoy the welcome dinner.

Please note: You must arrive Punta Arenas at 14:00 hours, at the latest, or you will be listed as a no-show and miss the tour and receive no refund.

Our Antarctic adventure begins today with a two-hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).

Upon arrival, we explore the around where the Frei Chilean Base and the Bellingshausen Russian Base are located.

Then, it’s our first time on the zodiacs at the beach on Fildes Bay so we can board our expedition vessel, the Ocean Nova.

We cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and between spectacular icebergs.

For company, we have sea birds, penguins, seals and whales.

Our journey southwards may include visits to some of the most magnificent spots on the white continent such as Livingston Island, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Cuverville and Deception Islands, amongst others. These will be dependent on the conditions at the time.

Our day-to-day adventure is very active, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats.

At night, enjoy lectures and socialising as wish you a very enjoyable time on board.

Return to King George Island and bid farewell to Antarctica before boarding the flight back to Punta Arenas.

Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night

(Note: Meals in Punta Arenas are at your leisure and not included in the program.)

After breakfast, transfer to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward travels.

Arrive before 14.00 to the city of Punta Arenas where you are met by staff, and transferred to Hotel Cabo de Hornos.

In the afternoon, you meet your expedition mates and receive instructions and guidelines that should be followed in Antarctica, such as the procedures for Zodiac boat embarkation and disembarkation. In the evening, enjoy the welcome dinner.

Please note: You must arrive Punta Arenas at 14:00 hours, at the latest, or you will be listed as a no-show and miss the tour and receive no refund.

Our Antarctic adventure begins today with a two-hour flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).

Upon arrival, we explore the around where the Frei Chilean Base and the Bellingshausen Russian Base are located.

Then, it’s our first time on the zodiacs at the beach on Fildes Bay so we can board our expedition vessel, the Ocean Nova.

We cruise between the South Shetland Islands and the western coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, sailing along ice-filled fjords and between spectacular icebergs. For company, we have sea birds, penguins, seals and whales.

Our journey southwards may include visits to some of the most magnificent spots on the white continent such as Livingston Island, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Cuverville and Deception Islands, amongst others as well as reaching the Polar Circle. These will be dependent on the conditions at the time.

Our day-to-day adventure is very active, with several daily landings and cruises in Zodiac boats.

At night, enjoy lectures and socialising as wish you a very enjoyable time on board.

Return to King George Island and bid farewell to Antarctica before boarding the flight back to Punta Arenas.Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel for the night

(Note: Meals in Punta Arenas are at your leisure and not included in the program.)

After breakfast, transfer to the Punta Arenas airport for your onward travels.

You must plan to arrive with a flight that is scheduled to land in Punta Arenas no later than 14.00 (2PM) on Day 1 of the itinerary.

Those not flying in MUST be at the hotel and before 2 pm on day 1.

In the afternoon there is a mandatory safety and Antarctic guidelines briefing. You will also be fitted for your expedition boots. Participation in these activities is essential for the success of the expedition.

Travellers who miss the 2 PM arrival deadline will be considered “no-show”.

They will not be able to participate in the expedition and will receive no refund.

Advice

Don’t schedule tight connections.

Protect your travel investment by building some buffer time in your travel plans in case of problems such as with lost baggage, flight delays etc.

In case your flight into Punta Arenas is delayed for reasons beyond your control, ANTARCTICA XXI will do everything possible to accommodate your late arrival.

However, ANTARCTICA XXI cannot assume any responsibility for any resulting complications, including your inability to join the expedition.

Sea Kayaking

Maximum of 10 people, led by experienced kayak master.

Each kayaking excursion will be approximately one and a half hours in duration. At the end of the excursion the Kayak Master will strive to offer the group some time at the landing site so you can explore.

The 2018-19 per person price is $895 USD.

The sea kayaking option is available on all Classic Antarctica Air-Cruises and all Polar Circle Air-Cruises. Payment of the participation fee is due at time of reservation. In case of cancellation 120 days or more prior to departure, ANTARCTICA XXI will refund 50% of the participation fee.

In case of cancellation 119 days or less prior to departure, there will be no refund.

Hiking and Snowshoeing

Maximum of 12 people, led by mountain guide.

The Expedition Leader to look for the best hiking or snowshoeing opportunities within the trip’s schedule, based on suitable and safe weather conditions. Each excursion will be approximately one and a half hours in duration.

To take part in the hiking and snowshoeing program you do not need previous experience. However, your level of physical fitness should be good. Minimum age for participation is 12 years.

The 2018-19 per person price is $195 USD.

The hiking and snowshoeing option is available on all Classic Antarctica and Polar Circle Air Cruises. In case of cancellation 120 days or more prior to departure, ANTARCTICA XXI will refund 50% of the participation fee.

In case of cancellation 119 days or less prior to departure, there will be no refund.

For an extra level of comfort, travellers can now purchase Preferred Seats on their Antarctic flight.

This is a guaranteed aisle or window seat at the front of the aircraft, and a guaranteed empty middle seat, priority boarding in Punta Arenas and an amenities kit.

Capacity is limited to aisle 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the aircraft.

2018-19 price, per person:

Classic Antarctica Air-Cruises (round-trip): $495 USD

Polar Circle Air-Cruises (round-trip): $495 USD

Baggage allowance

The maximum weight allowed on the flights to and from Antarctica is 20kg (44lb.) per passenger, including hand luggage, for both Classic Antarctica and Polar Circle Air-Cruises.

Excess luggage will be kept in custody in Punta Arenas and will be handed over to travellers upon their return from Antarctica.

The baggage weight limit is a technical requirement imposed by the flight operation.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to purchase extra allowance.

Every effort will be made to adhere to the planned program.

However, with this type of adventurous travel to Antarctica, changes to the itinerary may occur due to severe and unpredictable weather.

We need to emphasise the fact that weather conditions are unpredictable and that safety is always the paramount concern on any Antarctic voyage.

For this reason ANTARCTICA XXI reserves the right to change the itinerary described due to weather conditions or other factors beyond ANTARCTICA XXI’s control without consulting the participants.

Flights to and from Antarctica operate based on weather conditions.

While historically only a minority of flights have experienced a delay, you should be prepared for that possibility.

Andean Trails has 25 years of experience of putting together the best South America holidays.

We pay a fee to the CAA for every licensable passenger we book since we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid to us for an advance booking.

We also offer ATOL (Civil Aviation Authority) protected holidays to give our customers peace of mind when booking and travelling.

When you buy an ATOL protected air holiday package from Andean Trails Ltd you will receive a Confirmation Invoice from us confirming your arrangements and your protection under our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence number 6275.

You can read more about ATOL, who is covered and what protections you have if not ATOL-covered, on our ATOL page.

What is ATOL?

The CAA’s ATOL scheme offers protection to your money and your holiday if you book with us. Not everybody is covered (see ‘Who is covered?’ for more), as you must purchase an ‘air package holiday’ with Andean Trails to be protected.

And  ‘air package holiday’ is defined as including a flight and some ground services (hotel, transfer, trek etc). This is also known as an ‘ATOL-protected holiday’.

Who is covered?

To be covered by ATOL, you must book a flight and some ground services with us and be from the UK. If you are from the UK and only book ground services and no flights, you are not covered by ATOL (see below for more on how non-ATOL clients are covered).

If you are outside the UK and buy flights with us, you will be ATOL protected IF any of the flights booked with Andean Trails touches/stops in the UK at any point during your holiday package booked with us.

If you buy your flights elsewhere, please check with that agent if you are ATOL protected. Be careful with online flight purchases and make sure you know what protection you have, if any, before paying for flights.

Not all holiday or travel services offered and sold by us will be protected by the ATOL scheme. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.

For land only holidays not involving any air travel, in accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992”, all UK passengers booking with Andean Trails Ltd. are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all money paid to us, arising from cancellation or curtailment of travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Andean Trails.

I’m not ATOL covered, what protection do I have?

If you are not ATOL covered, any payments you make to us go to a Trust account.

We can only access this money once your tour has been completed, meaning that if anything happens to Andean Trails Limited while you are on holiday, then your money is secure and you can either complete the trip or be able to make it home.

If you pay for your holiday with a credit card, some offer payment protection – please check with your cardholder.

You also should have cancellation protection written into your insurance (which we recommend you have at the time of booking) in case you need to cancel.