Southern Oceans & Total Solar Eclipse
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Southern Oceans & Total Solar Eclipse with Richard Polatty A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME FALKLAND ISLANDS, SOUTH GEORGIA AND ANTARCTIC PENINSULA ADVENTURE NOVEMBER 21 – DECEMBER 12, 2021 +510-420-1550 | [email protected] 1 2 INCA-International Nature & Cultural Adventures | www.inca1.com Eclipse-Chasing at the Bottom of the World with Richard Polatty This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine the chance to see a total solar eclipse with an expedition to Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula. The 2021 Total Solar Eclipse will be a special event in the austral summer in the early hours of December 4, 2021. The RCGS Resolute, one of the fastest and most stable expedition ships, will be positioned directly under the path of totality in the Scotia Sea between South Georgia and South Orkney Islands. Prior to the eclipse event you explore the wildlife-rich Falkland Islands and remote South Georgia, and post-eclipse you will reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Accompanying you will be superb naturalist and Antarctic researcher Richard Polatty. Our small group with Richard will be just 20 guests. You will have the full expedition and eclipse programs aboard RCGS Resolute, plus you will have the added expertise of Richard as your private leader and guide. This is an INCA-only extra and this opportunity is simply too amazing to pass up. Interest is already heavy and space is selling fast so act quickly. King Penguins of South Georgia Island. Will they be looking at the eclipse? An Exceptional Adventure HIGHLIGHTS This epic adventure circumnavigates the Scotia Sea on an • Exclusive small group with naturalist active voyage to Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands, South Richard Polatty Georgia Island, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Under the lead- • Enjoy close-up encounters with penguins, whales, seals and many ership of Richard Polatty and the expedition team, a select bird species group of INCA guests will have the opportunity to follow in • Visits to historic sites and science the footsteps of legendary explorers and chart a course to the stations epicenter of Antarctic wildlife. Step ashore on South Georgia • Learn about the environment, wild- and observe the largest King Penguin rookery on the planet, life, history and ecology from polar experts the world’s largest southern elephant seal colony, and visit the • Cruise on-board one of the most grave of Sir Ernest Shackleton. stable ships in polar waters, offering uninterrupted viewing of the Solar The voyage is timed to coincide with a Total Solar Eclipse, oc- Eclipse curing during your transit from South Georgia to the Antarctic • An exceptional itinerary, exploring all corners of the Falklands, South Peninsula. A treat for those who make this special journey to Georgia, and Antarctica the bottom of the word. 4 INCA-International Nature & Cultural Adventures | www.inca1.com ITINERARY DAY 1 | NOV 21 After a free morning in Ushuaia, embark on RCGS Reso- ARRIVE IN USHUAIA lute. After settling in to your cabins, you meet the expedi- tion team and fellow passengers. Excitement is in the air Fly to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the as you enjoy a welcome cocktail and dinner, then cast off world. Your overnight at five-star Arakur Resort and Spa for the adventure of a lifetime. will start your epic journey to Tierra del Fuego, the Falk- land Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica. Meet Richard DAY 4 | NOV 24 Polatty and your INCA travel companions. Arakur is locat- ed on a bluff inside Cerro Alarkén Nature Reserve and is AT SEA TOWARDS FALKLAND ISLANDS surrounded by stunning views of the Beagle Channel and Sailing northeast towards the Falkland Islands you’ll be native forests. Enjoy the spa, walk the trails, and soak up joined by hundreds of seabirds, including the Wandering the views. Albatross, who you’ll come to know well on this journey. Giant Petrels and smaller Cape Petrels are also constant DAY 2 | NOV 22 companions. Photographing these magnificent birds USHUAIA from the deck of the ship takes patience and skill and our photography expert will be on hand to show you the best Explore Tierra del Fuego National Park and experience the techniques. Join the ship’s Captain on the bridge and learn rich forest and wildlife of the tip of Patagonia, picnic lunch about the operations of our modern research vessel. included. The stage will be set for the transition from South America through the Falklands to Antarctica. Throughout the journey, on-board experts and Richard Po- latty present a series of talks about the environment, the DAY 3 | NOV 23 wildlife, history and locations, as well as some interesting USHUAIA AND EMBARK SHIP details about the upcoming solar eclipse. +510-420-1550 | [email protected] 5 DAYS 5-6 |NOV 25-26 THE FALKLAND ISLANDS The Falkland Islands are a perfect first stop as the rugged land is home to flora and fauna that form a link between Patagonia and Antarctica. The remotest portions are farms where sheep graze alongside colonies of sea birds. As many as a million penguins nest in the Falklands: Gentoo, King, Magellanic, Macaroni and Rock- hopper. Having arrived in the Falkland Islands overnight, we launch the Zodiacs for your first shore excursion. Our plan will be to explore several locations in the West Falkland archipel- ago. These remote islands are home to a proliferation of seabirds and migratory birds including the stunning Black- Browed Albatross. Your first penguin sightings will be on West Point Island with its bustling rookeries of Rockhop- pers. On Carcass Island, you’ll observe nesting Magellanic penguins as well as Oystercatchers, geese and the Striated Caracara—a bird of prey. The following morning, you’ll arrive in Stanley, the capital of the Falklands Islands and the southernmost outpost of Britain. As you wander through the charming streets of brightly painted houses, you’ll learn how this quiet harbor was once a major port in the 19th century for ships rounding the fabled Cape Horn. There are several inter- esting activities to enjoy today. Stanley has an excellent museum that outlines the historic events that took place during the conflict with Argentina in 1982. The waterfront memorial built to commemorate the lives of the British servicemen killed during the war is a sobering reminder of recent history. Stanley’s famed philatelic museum with its impressive collection of historic stamps is another inter- esting diversion. DAYS 7-8 | NOV 27-28 AT SEA TOWARDS SOUTH GEORGIA We chart a southeasterly course for South Georgia. The seabirds once again join us in the Southern Ocean. The ed- ucational presentations continue and are always popular. History is a key theme of this voyage and the epic story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the HMS Endurance expedition is central to any trip to South Georgia. Perhaps you will pick up some valuable tips from our on-board photograph- ic guide, learning about image composition, the subtle polar light and all the basics of good camera craft. You will also learn about Polar conservation—a theme particularly close to the hearts of the expedition guides and crew. 6 INCA-International Nature & Cultural Adventures | www.inca1.com DAYS 9-12 | NOV 29-DEC 2 SOUTH GEORGIA South Georgia has often been called the ‘Serengeti of the Southern Ocean’, and as we approach the deep bays of this rugged, rocky outcrop, you’ll begin to see why. The island is uniquely positioned—just south enough to be in the cold Antarctic waters, just north enough to be outside any winter sea ice—to be home to millions of penguins, seals and seabirds. Launching the Zodiacs, we begin our exploration of the island in the vicinity of Elsehul Bay. Large numbers of fur seals and the much larger southern elephant seals will line the dark sand beaches. Living in the tussock grass, King Penguins and their chicks may number up to a hundred thousand birds in some locations including Salisbury Plain, St Andrews Bay and Gold Harbor. The island is home to large numbers of albatross as they fill the skies above, coming and going from their nests. South Georgia is a thrilling location for history lovers and the rusting relics of the early whaling era are all around. We hope to visit several of the old stations including Leith, Husvik and Stromness. A highlight is a visit to Grytviken— the largest of the old whaling stations situated at the head of Cumberland Bay. It is here we visit the grave site of Sir Ernest Shackleton. For many, being in the presence of the great explorer +510-420-1550 | [email protected] 7 is a real highlight. An excellent museum at Grytviken, most eclipse paths in lower latitudes, a phenomenon only maintained by the South Georgia Heritage Trust, and the possible in polar regions. The duration of the eclipse is just restored church built by the original Norwegian whalers a under two minutes, but the memory of witnessing it in provide a fascinating glimpse into the past. such a remote corner of the planet will last a lifetime. DAY 13 | DEC 3 DAY 15 | DEC 5 AT SEA TOWARD THE ECLIPSE PATH AT SEA TOWARDS ANTARCTICA Our departure from South Georgia is carefully timed to You have a full day at sea as we sail towards the continent have you in position for the eclipse. Prevailing weather of Antarctica. Ice conditions will dictate the course. You conditions will determine our schedule in the coming can spend time on the outer decks observing the great days. The Captain will position the ship taking into con- seabirds of the Southern Ocean and throughout the day sideration the optimal viewing conditions underneath the there are interesting presentations by the expert guides.