Cross the South Atlantic

 

This is all the legs of Europa's winter migration from the Northern Hemisphere accross the equator to South America, and ever southward to Terra del Fuego. In case you are tempted to stay on - the ports are Amsterdam - Santander - Las Palmas - Salvador in Brazil - Ushuaia in Argentina.

 

When crossing oceans like the South Atlantic on a square rigger you are always looking for the traditional sailing routes. 

 

 

The ship will resupply and make ready for its Antarctic season in Salvador. 

 

If you can’t afford an Antarctic expedition then this is a great value wildlife taster of what the rich South Atlantic Oceans can offer. As Europa sails South into the Roaring Forties where the winds sweep Albatrosses forever westwards around the bottom of the world, you will be accompanied by Cape Petrels, white chinned petrels, many types of Albatross. Near the Falklands penguins, seals, porpoises and dolphins are sighted often feeding hundreds of miles from home. As you approach the tip of South America and Terra del Fuego, the snow capped Andes start to fill the horizon and Magellanic penguins and sea lions will often escort you into the famous Beagle Channel. The most famous landmark to the South of you is now Cape Horn, not that far from your final destination of Ushuaia.

 

 

 

If you are booked on an Antarctic Expedition Ship then for very little more you can start your adventure by sailing to Ushuaia first on a real sailing ship and experience what it was like in the days of Shackleton, Mawson(Australian), Captain Scott, Gerlache (Belgian) and Amundsen. For the rest of us we can step off the quay in Ushuaia smug in the knowledge that we stood watches on Bark Europa’s open deck and we stowed sails aloft in jumpers not duvet jackets !

Ushuaia is a friendly frontier town in a stunning mountain setting below the Darwin mountain range. It is well worth staying on after your voyage with cheap travellers accommodation in town or exclusive Estancias- working sheep farms – in stunning mountain settings. Activities include horse riding or trekking in national parks nearby, some of the best fly fishing in the world, and mouth watering Patagonian organic lamb.

 

November is the start of the Southern Hemisphere summer so combining the good value Bark Europa voyage with trekking in Parques Nationale Tierra del Fuego or further north to Andes highlights of Torres del Paine, Fitzroy Peaks or the Chilean Fjords and glaciers will create a very special South American adventure.