Rarities: Antarctica, South Georgia & Falkland

Discover one of the world’s grandest bookstores

The Victorian-era El Ateneo Grand Splendid – once a theatre, then a cinema, now one of the grandest bookstores in the world – is one of Buenos Aires’ architectural marvels. Stop off for a coffee in the resident cafe – there’s often live piano music playing – and take in its frescoed ceiling, elaborate theatre boxes, and general splendour. Recoleta Cemetery is a short stroll from here, where important people from Argentina’s history, including Eva Perón, are buried.

Image courtesy: David W

Visit ‘The End of the World’

Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and the Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is the gateway to the Antarctic and the world’s southern-most city. Soak up its frontier vibe as you stroll around the harbour filled with historic ships and along pretty streets with colourful houses. Visit the Museo Marítimo de Ushuaia, housed in a former prison, to learn about some quirky criminals and the city’s history, before heading back to the ship for tapas and tipples at the Constellation Lounge.

Kayak around icebergs in the Antarctic

See the pristine beauty of the Antarctic Peninsula up close as you take to the water on a kayak, following a route that takes you around stunning icebergs and vast glaciers. Paddling around the ever-changing Antarctic icescapes, join an expert guide who’ll help you push out into new waters and get a thrilling vantage point of this spellbinding landscape, giving you the best chance to spot whales and penguins as you go.

Learn about explorers in Antarctica

Explorer Ernest Shackleton famously led his men to safety after the expedition ship, Endurance, got trapped in an ice floe off Antarctica in 1915. The crew abandoned the ship to live on the ice pack before Shackleton and five of the crew spent 16 days sailing a small boat over 1300km of ocean to reach South Georgia, trekking across the island to seek help at a whaling station. All of the remaining crew were rescued. In the historic town of Grytviken, visit Shackleton’s final resting place and learn more about this incredible explorer.

See penguins in the Falkland Islands

Have your camera ready for a plethora of penguins who dot the barren-yet-beautiful landscape of the Falklands. The Chinstrap, Rockhopper, King and Magellanic varieties all have their rookeries in the westernmost of the islands, and it’s home to other wonderful birdlife, too. Expect to see albatrosses, prions and petrels – you can learn more about their life at a local homestead. Head off-road on a 4x4 tour to Kelp Point to see even more wildlife first-hand.

Suggested itinerary

Start your expedition with a direct flight to Buenos Aires, where you’ll have time to explore the beautiful capital city of Argentina, known as the ‘Paris of South America’, thanks to its neoclassical architecture and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Then hop on an internal flight to Ushuaia, where you’ll board the Seabourn Pursuit and set sail. Once onboard, Zodiac cruises allow you to visit remote destinations such as the Falklands and the Antarctic and get up close to wildlife.

Travel Style

The Seabourn Pursuit is the cruise line's newest and most high-tech expedition ship, constructed to provide the ability to reach the "most covetable, remote destinations in the world". Whilst onboard, you can exhance your ocean experience with private Zodiac boats, double sea kayaks, and custom-built submarines which all allow you to explore breath-taking landscapes in style.