DISCOVER
SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE FALKLANDS
A SPECTACLE BY
ANY MEASURE
Known as the “Serengeti of the Southern Ocean”, South Georgia is a spectacle by any measure: thousands of pairs of king penguins nest along the remarkable coastline, elephant and fur seals abound, and Sir Ernest Shackleton’s grave rests here – this is a truly wild, singular place.
Over a graceful arc of one hundred miles, sharp peaks erupt out of the Southern Ocean and are interlaced by a network of lofty glaciers. Stacks of lenticular clouds appear placid but belie the fury of the winds. Surrounding this formidable massif are fjords and bays choked with wildlife. Penguins, elephant seals and fur seals share beaches and a mutual disregard for human visitors.
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EXTRAORDINARY
EXPERIENCESDiscover a mesmerizing tapestry of creatures, many of which have adapted uniquely to survive in these windswept, subpolar environments.
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EXTRAORDINARY
EXPERIENCESTake to the Zodiaks and immerse yourself in the untamed beauty of this unique location.
THRIVING
WILDLIFE
While the Antarctic Continent holds a slight edge on the number of penguin species (five as compared to four), South Georgia reigns supreme in comparative numbers of species. 65 million individuals of 30 bird species breed each summer in South Georgia, including three million pairs of Macaroni Penguins and 500,000 pairs of King Penguins. Other notable residents include the southernmost breeding passerine, the South Georgia Pipit, and perhaps the most romantic of all avian species, the wandering albatross. All told, 14 species of cetaceans, and seven species of seals frequent the waters surrounding South Georgia, making it one of the most marine mammal-rich places on the earth. So abundant is the blubber here, that when whaling operations began in South Georgia in the early 20th century, they were land-based, as there was no need for whalers to venture outside of bays in order to secure their quarry.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
SOUTH GEORIGA AND THE FALKLANDS
GETTING
AROUND
The only way to visit South Georgia is by sea. Grytviken, the only permanent settlement on the island, is a three-day crossing from Ushuaia, Argentina or Stanley, Falkland Islands, the closest air hubs. For the amount of raw wildlife experienced in return, the hours spent traveling to South Georgia are a small investment. Even days spent at sea in the Southern Ocean are replete with wildlife. Albatross, pelagic dolphins, and other creatures rarely let a yacht pass by without at least a short visit.
A South Georgia journey can be combined with visits to the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula for the full wildlife trifecta featuring: a possible seven species of penguins, four species of breeding albatross and the largest diversity of marine mammals on the planet.
MORE TO
EXPLORE
Southeast Alaska
