SHORE EXCURSIONS

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.

Drive off road in a 4x4 vehicle to several colonies of penguins, where you will have time to photograph them and observe their fascinating behavior. After departing from the pier, you will set off on an exhilarating ride in a 4x4 vehicle, the last 12 miles or so off road. Upon arriving at Port Louis Farm, a member of the family that owns the property will accompany your small group to Seal Bay.

Your first stop will be at a colony of Rockhopper penguins. These birds are easy to identify by their spiky yellow and black head feathers. Unlike most penguins that waddle, Rockhoppers bound along the rocky shoreline. They are among the world’s smallest penguins and amusing to watch in their natural habitat.

Continuing on, you will drive through the shallow waters of Swan Pond, where lunch will be set up on the beach. While dining, you can expect to see all sorts of indigenous birds such as oyster catchers, grebes and kelp geese.

You might also see sea lions and a variety of penguins, including Magellanic penguins. They are named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan because the birds were spotted on his attempt to circumnavigate the world in 1520.

You will also pause for photos at a nearby colony of Gentoo penguins. These charismatic birds have red-orange beaks and peach-colored feet, so they clearly stand out against the coastal rocks. Being streamlined with strong flippers, Gentoos are the world’s fastest diving birds.

Experience Uruguay’s energetic capital like a local by browsing two popular markets and relaxing along La Rambla, the popular promenade that runs along the coast. Near the pier, you will find the Montevideo Agricultural Market, a National Heritage site affectionately known as MAM. The locals mostly come for the extraordinary fruits and vegetables, and many of the vendors will offer samples that will be indicative of Montevideo’s cuisine. You can also expect to be offered samples at the Ferrando Market, a much newer attraction packed with fine restaurants and shops selling gourmet products. Like MAM, it is an excellent venue for people-watching. Another candid glimpse at local life awaits you along La Rambla, the popular promenade that follows the coast. A favorite of walkers, runners and bicyclists, La Rambla is probably the ultimate place to take in the local life. To really live like a Uruguayan, try mate, a traditional caffeinated drink that is a national obsession.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Browse two markets, one a National Heritage site, the other known for gourmet products.
• Sample a variety of fresh produce and unusual dishes and treats at the markets.
• Enjoy a slice of life by walking along La Rambla, Montevideo’s coastal promenade.

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.

Later, you will walk through a ravine where you can observe fossils from the Cenozoic Era, estimated to be at least 30 million years old. Lunch at the lodge follows, after which you will return to the pier.

Explore the delightful sites, culture and people of Manta during this visit to picturesque Montecristi. Depart the pier for an introductory tour of Manta. Begin with a 10-minute visit to the Cancebi Museum, which highlights the local culture and ethnic origins of the area. Next, you'll drive along the scenic seaside promenade and through the suburbs to Montecristi's central square where you will find many artisan stalls selling straw baskets, jewelry, colorful handicrafts and Panama hats. This beautiful little town is one of the highlights of the tour, it still retains the atmosphere and faded elegance of its Spanish heritage. Here we will have a demonstration of how the toquilla hats are made and then have some free time for shopping.

We proceed to a Cabuya plant weaving factory. This is truly a once in a lifetime experience as this traditional art is, unfortunately, quickly dying out. In the past, a vibrant industry existed where approximately 4,000 Cabuya plant bags were produced per day in the Manta area. Today there remains only this last remaining factory, producing 200 bags per week. After a short demonstration of the process, we are presented with our small natural bag – a unique reminder of beautiful Ecuador, and a perfect eco-friendly bag for carrying our items of our choice. Before returning to the ship, you'll visit a Tagua workshop. Tagua phytephas equatorialis is the nut of a 15-18 foot tall palm tree found in the tropical rain forests on the coast and Amazon lowlands of Ecuador. Tagua nuts were originally used as buttons because they have a color and consistency very similar to ivory, and could be dyed. Although button manufacturing is still the main source of income for the workshop, this unusual natural material is now fashioned by skilled craftsmen into a variety of small, reasonably-priced sculptures that provide a distinctive and unusual souvenir of your day.

Admire the architectural landmarks in downtown Montevideo and then enjoy a sampling of local wines while watching a culturally significant dance performance.

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive in the heart of downtown, passing architectural gems such as the Solis Theatre, Uruguay’s oldest theater. Nearby, you will pause for photos of Independence Square, where a statue of General José Gervasio Artigas, the father of Uruguay, stands by his mausoleum.

Another photo stop awaits you at the Legislative Palace. This glorious neo-classical building was constructed nearly 100 years ago with more than 50 types of marble.

You will also pass through the Obelisk of Montevideo, which celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the country’s first constitution, Batlle Park, a lovely urban greenscape named for Jose Batlle y Ordóñez, a former president of Uruguay. Here, you will see Centenario Stadium, site of the first World Cup soccer championship, and photo stop at “La Carreta,” a bronze sculpture that depicts the area’s 19th-century oxcart drivers.

Then, head for the district of Cuchilla Pereira called “ The Wine Land “, about 20 minutes away from the city downtown area to Bodega Spinoglio, a real winery full of history funded in 1898. Following a tour of the grounds and old machinery museum, you will be treated to a tasting of national wines and delicious local snacks.

To enhance your enjoyment, you will watch a performance that recreates the era in which the tango emerged in the Rio de la Plata. Dancers and Singers will make you feel you are being transported back in time and that are part of the Uruguayan history of the late 1800’s. After this uniquely Uruguayan experience, you will return to the pier.

Observe the bountiful wildlife in Tierra del Fuego while cruising the Beagle Channel in a catamaran that will take you to islands full of seabirds, sea lions and Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will soon board a catamaran and sail into Beagle Channel, the strait that separates Argentina from Chile. The waterway is named for the HMS Beagle, in which Charles Darwin explored the area in 1833-1834.

Islands dot the channel and the rocky coast is wild and wonderful with forests to the water’s edge and the southern Andes in the far distance. Few places on earth are so pristine and unaffected by what little civilization there is.

Seabirds are abundant in most every direction. You may spot black-capped albatrosses, flocks of seagulls and grayish skuas, an aggressive bird that often attacks other birds in mid-air to steal the fish they have caught.

Approaching Sea Lions’ Island, you will see dozens of the namesake mammals clustered on the rocks. The males are typically twice the size of the females and weigh nearly 800 pounds. While pausing for photos at nearby Bird Island, you will notice that the main inhabitants are Imperial Cormorants and Magellanic Cormorants.

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is another photo-worthy site, as is the colony of Magellanic penguins on Martillo Island. These highly social birds will often come up to the catamaran as they hunt for cuttlefish and squid. It’s the perfect opportunity for a close up shot, after which you will return to the pier.

Coastal Ecuador is largely covered in dry forest, which makes the lush green Pacoche Forest all the more unique and ecologically complex. Forests such as Pacoche once covered vast areas of the coastal region and were home to an enormous wealth and diversity of species. Now they have been reduced to a dispersed chain of forest remnants under constant threat and facing an uncertain future.

We depart the quayside and travel via the coastal route to the Pacoche trailhead. Along the way, we take note of the predominant dry forest and the stark contrast between the dry and wet forest areas delineated by what looks like an invisible boundary, the change is so radical.

The Pacoche Lodge, located next to the Pacoche Wildlife Refuge, offers a private glimpse into this fascinating ecosystem. During our guided hike through the forest around the lodge, we’ll keep our eyes out for howler monkeys and dozens of bird species.

We will also see a “trapiche”, the machine used to extract juice from sugar cane, enjoy a quick demonstration of Panama Hat weaving techniques and see how the Ivory nut is used to produce a number of different eco-friendly end products – from traditional handcrafts, jewellery to shirt buttons.

After this visit we return to the ship.

Prepare for a memorable day at an estancia in the countryside, where a traditional Uruguayan family opens their home and welcomes you for the day. You’ll also see the highlights of Montevideo during an orientation drive. Enjoy the views of Montevideo with a stop at Independence Square to see the many sites including the Solís Theatre, Palacio Salvo and a statue of General Artigas, considered the father of Uruguay. Drive through the suburbs and countryside to Estancia La Rabida where a traditional Uruguayan family opens their home and welcomes you for the day. The estancia is set in a 2,470 acre, century-old ranch used to produce 12,000 liters of milk daily. It is used by the Uruguayan government when entertaining guests offering them an authentic glimpse of Uruguayan life. Part of the fun is travelling to the river by choice of a hay truck, an old model T or horse drawn carriage. A traditional barbeque (asado) is served accompanied by a variety of salads and national wines. Enjoy a walk around the farm if you choose.

Combine the history and culture of Ushuaia, with a scenic drive to the mountains and countryside. Admire the rugged beauty of the landscape, experience local cuisine and learn about the city’s first habitants.

Drive through one of Ushuaia’s neighborhoods to get acquainted with the city and travel along the Pan American Highway toward the north of the island. Admire the dramatic scenery of river valleys, majestic mountains, forests and peat bogs as you make your way across the Fuegian Andes up to Garibaldi Pass. If the day is clear, you’ll stop at a lookout point to take in the magnificent views of Escondido and Fagnano Lakes.

Enjoy a typical meal of Patagonian lamb, slowly roasted in the wood fire, in a cozy local restaurant. Visit the Maritime Museum, housed in what was the first prison in Tierra del Fuego. Learn about the prison and life of the inmates. Dangerous convicts and well-known political prisoners made this prison famous until 1947 when it was closed. View the maritime and native people’s exhibits.

Enjoy a fun-filled bus ride during this transfer via Chivas Bus to the sites and shops of picturesque Montecristi. The brightly-painted Chivas Bus was the most important means of transportation used by the local populace. They crisscrossed the country,offering reasonably-priced transportation between the towns along the coast and interior sections of Ecuador. Most will know a Chivas because of the small ceramic models sold in craft stores that are typically depicted overflowing with produce, suitcases and the odd basket of chickens tied to the top.

Today, a local band will ride atop one of the buses as you set off in a convoy for the short, 30-minute ride to fascinating Montecristi, home of the famous Panama hat. This beautiful little town is indeed the highlight of the tour, and still retains the atmosphere and faded elegance of its Spanish heritage. At Montecristi's central square, visit a Toquilla Hat workshop to learn about the hat making process, then we will visit many artisan stalls selling straw baskets, jewelry, colorful handicrafts and Panama hats.

We depart the quayside and drive north to Bahía de Caráquez, where we board launches that will take us to Isla Corazón (Heart Island). This heart-shaped island (hence its name – “corazón”, meaning heart in Spanish) is located a few kilometers upstream in the Río Chone estuary and is a must-see for birdwatchers. There is an estimated number of 60 bird species on the island including native, migratory and congregational species during different periods of the year. Isla Corazón is part of an eco-tourism project, in which local fishermen have nurtured the mangroves and expanded their habitat on the island. This has been done to prevent further eradication of the mangrove swamps by the industry of shrimp farming. This private initiative, which was started by the local fishermen, is now a protected area by the government, the island can be visited on a guided tour led by the local fishermen. The Frigate bird colony has moved to a smallest islet called "Isla Fragatas" and it is only possible to be seen from the boat.

We return to the mainland to enjoy lunch at local restaurant.

With the pounding waves of the Pacific on one side, and the tranquil Río Chone River with its estuary on two other sides, Bahía has long lured visitors eager to be near the water. In 1998 this changed when the city was devastated by two natural disasters. Landslides caused by the intense El Niño storms of that year damaged -many homes. Shortly thereafter, a major earthquake struck, damaging more of the city's homes and businesses. More than simply rebuild, however, the community decided to reinvent itself, and in 1998 Bahía was proclaimed one of the world's first eco-cities. With a focus on sustainable development and tourism, recycling and reforestation, the city has won plaudits from around the world.