EXCURSIONS À TERRE

Observe the abundant wildlife in the naturally beautiful Patagonian steppe, highlighted by a leisurely walk among a large colony of Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for an immensely scenic drive along the New Gulf and on to rugged Punta Ninfas on the Patagonian steppe. The vegetation here is shrubby, wind-blown and an ideal wildlife habitat. Gray fox, llama-like guanacas and various species of seabirds, including oystercatchers and albatrosses, are found in this dry landscape.

Even so, penguins are the star attractions in this part of Patagonian, as you will discover from your base at El Pedral Lodge. Perched on a cliff, the lodge was built in 1904 and some of the period furnishing still remain, including the mahogany dining table.

From here, you will head to a nearby Magellanic penguin rookery for an extended walk among these highly social birds. If you hear the penguins braying like donkeys, it is simply the way they seek mates.

You can expect to see the penguins tottering about, tending to their young, interacting with each other, and perhaps hunting small fish just offshore. A group of penguins floating in the ocean is called a raft; a group on land is sometimes called a waddle because of their awkward walk.

Lunch at the lodge follows, after which you will return to the pier.

Boarding your mini-coach at the pier, you'll commence a 40-minute drive to fascinating Panama City. Panama City is located at the entrance of the Panama Canal and is an exciting city with a colorful history. The city today combines a rich collection of both modern and colonial architecture, historical monuments, and tree-shaded boulevards.

Your tour of the city begins by viewing highlights of the part of the city that is referred to as Old Panama, and which was founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias Davila and later destroyed by Captain Henry Morgan. Old Panama City was the first city of the Pacific Coast of the Americas and played a major role in the conquering of South America. In later years, it was the place where gold was sent to Portobelo and then on to Spain.

Following your tour of Old Panama, you will make your way to what is known as Casco Antiguo or Colonial Panama. This area of the city was founded in 1673 after the original capital was left in ruins following Captain Henry Morgan's attack two years earlier and features some lovely French and Spanish architecture. Several points of interest in the city are the Cathedral, the National Theater, and Las Bovedas.

Following your tour of Panama City's most notable sights, you will make the return transfer back to Amador and your waiting ship.

Soaring mountains, islands and a historic lighthouse are the perfect backdrop for a scenic wildlife cruise on this southernmost tip of South America. Your narrated trip takes you into the Beagle Channel, past Bird Island, where many species of birds gather, including a colony of cormorants. Cruise around Sea Wolves Island, a rocky outcrop that is home to seals and sea lions. The catamaran cruises close to the shore, offering you some great photo opportunities.

The land portion of this tour takes you through Tierra del Fuego National Park. From the rugged peaks, pristine lakes and ancient forests of the Andes to the glacier-draped shores of the famed Beagle Channel, the world's southernmost national park offers picture postcard scenes. Photo stops are made along the way, including one at the milestone marker for the End of the World (fin del mundo).

OVERVIEW

Explore some of the Big Island’s most dramatic landscapes and come away with a deep appreciation of its volcanic formation. After pausing at America’s southernmost bake shop, where you might try a mango malasada treat, you will travel to the Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. The jet-black sand is made of volcanic materials and lava fragments and is quite the sight, especially if you spot a green sea turtle basking on the beach. Symbols of wisdom and good luck, they are the only sea turtles known to sunbathe. The wonders of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be even more extraordinary. The terrain and natural diversity there are so unique that UNESCO deemed the park both a World Biosphere site and a World Heritage site. You will see volcanic craters, the active volcano Kilauea and hot water vapor rising from countless steam vents.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the volcanically formed black sand beach at Punalu’u and perhaps see a green sea turtle.
• Drive through stunning Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• View an active volcano, craters and steam vents releasing hot water vapor into the air.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover Punta Tombo, home to the world’s largest nesting colony of Magellanic penguins and a place that attracts wildlife researchers and conservationists from around the world.

This is the largest penguin nesting ground in continental South America and from September through April this vast rookery and breeding area hosts hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins. With two nurturing parents foraging at sea and taking turns with their care, chicks thrive and start fledging in January.

Magellanic penguins mate with the same partner year after year and live approximately 25 years. Males reclaim the burrow from the previous year and wait to reconnect with their mates. You’ll have time to walk among the thousands of nests and marvel at this wonder of nature and these unforgettable birds. A boxed lunch is provided.

OVERVIEW

Discover a world of indigenous flora and fauna at Bertha’s Beach, including numerous endemic plants and a large colony of Gentoo penguins. To reach this isolated stretch of sand, you will ride through the starkly beautiful flatlands. Stone runs comprised of boulders that have naturally accumulated in stripes are the landscape’s most prominent feature. The flatlands are home to some of the island’s most elusive waterfowl and you may spot dabbling ducks such as Chiloé wigeons and silver teals, whose characteristics the guide will describe. Seeing hundreds of Gentoo penguins that live year-round on Bertha’s Beach will be quite the spectacle, as you will see them close-up. They swim underwater faster than any other bird in the world and can reach speeds up to 22 miles per hour. However, like all penguins they waddle awkwardly on land. You may also spot sea lions and seals resting on the rock-strewn beach.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through the hauntingly beautiful flatlands west of Stanley.
• See stone runs, a geological phenomenon prominent in the flatlands.
• Walk among a colony of hundreds of Gentoo penguins at Bertha’s Beach.
• Look for other birds such as steamer ducks, which are endemic to the Falklands.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Begin with a scenic drive to Central Station for an unforgettable trip on the Tierra del Fuego Southern Railway, Train to the End of the World. This railway uses the original narrow-gauge line that was part of the small train for prisoners that ran until 1947.

Upon arrival at the Park Station, board your coach for a drive through Tierra del Fuego National Park to Lapataia Bay, marking the end of the road which is 2,010 miles from Buenos Aires. Here, a catamaran awaits you for your return to the ship via the Beagle Channel. En route, you will see the historic lighthouse, Les Eclaireurs, as well as Seal Island, Isla de los Lobos and Island of the Birds, whose names clearly express the rich wildlife you can view from the deck on your journey back to the ship.

Following your Iguazu Falls adventure, you will fly back to Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel booked through NCL or independently within 8 mile radius. Guests who depart from Buenos Aires on the day of the tour cannot participate as they will not make it on time to connect with any international fight. This is an overnight tour and hotel is not included. Fly to a national park on the border of Argentina and Brazil and behold the staggering power and beauty of Iguazú Falls by walking along trails and cat walks that give you extraordinary views of this amazing natural wonder. After departing from the pier, you will transfer to the airport in Buenos Aires and fly directly to Iguazu, which lies inland near Iguazú National Park. The falls were discovered in 1541 by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and established in 1984 as a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Situated in Iguazú National Park, the falls are shared by both Brazil and Argentina. The massive cascade is made up of 275 separate waterfalls that thunder down sheer cliffs in a majestic display of nature’s power. The falls are nearly twice as high and three times as wide as Niagara Falls, a fact not lost on Eleanor Roosevelt who reportedly said, “Poor Niagara,” when she beheld roaring Iguazu. You will observe this staggeringly beautiful, natural phenomenon by walking a path either above or below the falls. Both trails are extraordinary in their own way. The surrounding rainforest is equally impressive, as it is home to about 2,000 plant species and 400 bird species, including toucans, parrots and peregrine falcons.

Gain a comprehensive overview of Charleston on a narrated driving tour that includes many of the most important historical landmarks. As you drive through the oak-shaded streets, you can expect to be instantly captivated by the charm of this beloved, thoroughly Southern city. Historical architecture is everywhere, including elegant mansions, beautiful historic churches and magnificent public buildings all rich 18th and 19th century history. You will also pass through some of the city’s earliest neighborhoods such as Mayzck-Wraggborough on the Copper River. Other highlights include the notorious Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, where the British held American prisoners of war in the Revolutionary War, and the Fireproof Building, which was America’s most fire-protected building when constructed in 1827.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Drive through the most historical sections of Charleston.
• Hear commentary that explains the importance of the landmarks.
• Stroll the lovely promenade at the waterfront Battery.
• Gain an enlightening overview of the Charleston.

HELPFUL HINTS:

Travel by 4x4 to a remote beachside nature preserve to observe and walk among a colony of King penguins, Gentoo penguins and Magellanic penguins. After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a scenic two and one-half hour’s drive north to Johnson’s Harbour and then on to Volunteer Point via a 4x4 vehicle. Along the way, you may spot remnants of the 1982 Falklands War, the result of the Argentine invasion of the British-owned islands. Still, it is the natural beauty and abundant wildlife of this rugged landscape that are most impressive. Birds in particular are the attraction at Volunteer Point, a nature preserve that supports the largest concentration of King penguins in the islands. Volunteer Point is also home to a multitude of Gentoo penguins, Magellanic penguins and dozens of other avian species. As you walk along the beach, you will observe these birds interacting in their native habitat. At up to three feet tall, king penguins look regal even waddling about. Their size and bright orange coloring on their heads and beaks make them easy to distinguish from the other penguins. Gentoo penguins are smaller and sport white feather caps, while Magellanic penguins feature two distinct black stripes across their chests and often bray like donkeys. You may also see ruddy-headed geese, black-throated finches and peregrine falcons, which can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per mile. Before rejoining your vehicle and traveling back to Stanley, you will be provided a boxed lunch.

The image conjured by Panama is generally that of the spectacular Canal, considered by many as one of the eighth wonder of the world, and rightly so. The Panama Canal cuts through one of the narrowest saddles of the Isthmus of Panama approximately 80 kilometers long, joining North & South America with the Atlantic & Pacific Oceans.

Today you will have a unique opportunity to travel on board a comfortable air conditioned motor coach and travel from Atlantic to Pacific on a similar route once used by the Spanish Conquistadors and the 49ers seeking a short cut in search of Gold in the West.

Your first stop will be Miraflores Locks, take this opportunity to pause and view the gargantuan ships that make their way through the Panama Canal and visit the four exhibition halls, organized by themes that constitute the heart of the Miraflores Visitors Center.

Continuing with the Panama Canal informative tour, you will visit the Panama Canal Expansion the largest project at the Canal since its original construction that created a new lane of traffic along the Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, doubling the waterway’s capacity, be a witness of this major undertaking by visiting the New Observation Center of the Canal Expansion.

The new Observation Center of the Canal Expansion, located in Colon Panama, is a park style concept based on open platforms and roofed terraces, built in an area of four hectares, 400 visitors, simultaneously, will be able to enjoy in this new center, the construction of the new locks of the Panama Canal in the Atlantic, at the same time, from its privileged location, visitors see the majestic Gatun Lake, where ships continue their transit through the waterway.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an introductory look at two towns that are vastly different in size yet share a common history. Although Puerto Madryn boasts a population 10 times that of Gaiman, Welsh immigrants founded both towns to escape cultural and religious persecution in the latter half of the 19th century. That Welsh influence is still highly evident in Puerto Madryn through attractions such as the Welsh Settlers monument and the street names, many of which honor prominent Welsh immigrants. Chances are, you will spot the Welsh flag flying on many of the buildings or perhaps just the flag’s iconic red dragon on the signage. The Welsh heritage may be even more noticeable in Gaiman as the red-brick town is more compact. Patagonian Welsh is widely spoken as you will likely discover while pausing for cakes and pastries at a Welsh tea house. To enhance the experience, a Welsh choir will perform traditional songs. A walking city tour is done over the city of Gaiman. Once back to Puerto Madryn, there is a short drive through the city to see the Municipality, Main Square and the Welsh Women's Monument and then return directly to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the surprisingly strong Welsh heritage of Puerto Madryn and Gaiman.
• See Welsh-influenced attractions and perhaps hear Patagonian Welsh being spoken.
• Enjoy tea and tasty pastries at a Welsh tea house in the town of Gaiman.
• Hear a Welsh choir perform traditional, heartfelt songs about the Welsh heritage.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.