Luxury Adventure Operator INCA Offers New 18-Day Antarctic Expedition on State-of-the-Art Polar Expedition Ship
INCA – International Nature and Cultural Adventures is debuting its newest expedition to Antarctica, one of the planet’s premier wildlife spots.
Guests on the luxury adventure operator’s 18-day Across the Southern Ocean will have a front-row seat to observe million of penguins and seals, towering icebergs and monumental glaciers.
The adventure (December 18, 2016 to January 4, 2017) includes 15 nights aboard the luxury polar expedition ship Le Boréal and two nights in Buenos Aires and starts at $17,345 per person, double occupancy, if booked before March 31, 2016. A veteran of some 60 trips to Antarctica, INCA’s lead naturalist Richard Polatty will guide the expedition.
Remote and pristine, the White Continent impresses with the sheer grandeur of its dramatic scenery. Even before reaching the continent, INCA guests will see huge concentrations of birdlife at the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.
On South Georgia Island, about 95 percent of the world’s southern fur seals and half of the world’s southern elephant seals come to breed. Each year, 250,000 albatrosses return along with millions of other seabirds. Disembarking from a zodiac at Gold Harbour guests are surrounded by seals and tens of thousands of king penguins. In the distance, massive icebergs dwarf the yacht. On the glacial expanse of Salisbury Plain surrounded by tall mountains, you can stroll among more than 250,000 King Penguins. The village of Grytviken was the region’s first whaling station (closed early 1960’s) and where famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton was laid to rest.
On the Antarctic Peninsula and around the South Shetland Islands, INCA’s guests will encounter orcas, whales, albatrosses, giant petrel, penguins and seals. Deception Island is home to the largest colony of chinstrap penguins (more than 50,000 couples) and a live volcano. Guests can even take a dip in the hot spring at Pendulum Cove.
Mega Yacht Combines French Design with State-of-the-Art Technology
Sleek and elegant, the 466-foot mega yacht combines French design with the latest state-of-the-art technology. Le Boréal has a theatre for performances and lectures, two lounges for live entertainment, a Library, two bars, two restaurants with fine dining, a Sothys Spa with hammam and a fitness center. Le Boréal‘s 132 suites and staterooms – almost all with balconies – are spacious and designed in contemporary style with flat screen satellite TV, iPod™ players, satellite direct-dial telephone and Wi-Fi.
INCA’s Lead Naturalist: An Antarctic Specialist
A veteran of some 50 trips to Antarctica, INCA’s lead naturalist Richard Polatty has guided INCA’s expeditions there for more than16 years. He has also done research on penguins with the Antarctic Site Inventory for Oceanites funded by the National Science Foundation.
“I love the dichotomy of the Antarctic. It is a continent of extremes, and the adaptations necessary for life to survive are myriad and fascinating,” said Polatty. “What surprises our guests most is the beauty of Antarctica. Icebergs glow with a strange unnatural light and you can see every imaginable hue of blue,” he explained.
INCA’s new 18-day Across the Southern Ocean starts at $17,345 per person, double occupancy if booked before March 31, 2016 and includes flights according to the itinerary, pre-cruise hotel in Buenos Aires, accommodations aboard the luxurious Le Boréal with all meals, most beverages, all gratuities, shore excursions, lectures and onboard entertainment.
After March 31, the price will be $20,345 per person, double occupancy. Not included is any airfare, airport taxes and fees; excess baggage charges, or other items of a personal nature.
INCA – International Nature and Culture Adventures has been creating “adventures with a conscience” for nearly 40 years. Specializing in eight destinations – Antarctica, Alaska, Galápagos, Chile and Patagonia, Perú, Turkey, Zambia, and Zimbabwe – INCA carefully crafts each journey with constant attention to detail. Scheduled journeys are limited to about 16 travelers, and INCA also customizes trips for individuals, families and small groups. A long time partner of the Galápagos Conservancy that is dedicated to the long-term protection of the Galápagos Islands, INCA operates the organization’s annual fund-raising Galápagos adventure aboard the yacht Integrity.
(INCA – International Nature and Culture Adventures)
