The great white silence
Antarctica
The silence hits you first. An immense, crystalline stillness where the only sound is your own breath. You are here: Antarctica. By flying over the legendary Drake Passage, you bypass the tempest and step directly into the heart of this authentic adventure. The penguins may seem unimpressed, but you will be speechless. This is the beauty of the Polar Circle Air-Cruise – it anticipates every need, answering questions before you even think to ask. You are in expert hands, granted exclusive, intimate access to the White Continent.
This isn’t just another trip – it’s a rare gateway to one of the last true adventures on Earth.
A seamless beginning
Before penguins, there’s Patagonia. Your journey begins in Chile’s far south, Punta Arenas. At the Explorers House, a warm briefing sets the scene before boarding a private flight across the Drake Passage – that swaps three days of rocking seas for two hours in the sky. Land on King George Island in the South Shetlands, and find yourself surrounded by international research stations. Waiting offshore is your ride – part ship, part basecamp, built for slipping between ice and adventure. The Magellan Explorer or Ocean Nova, with fewer than 80 guests, they feel more like private yachts than cruise liners.
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Magellan Discoverer
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Beyond 66° South
Then comes the magic line: the Antarctic Circle, 66° south, marking the start of the midnight sun. It’s both a geographic milestone and an emotional one. Once you’ve crossed the Circle, maps will never look the same again. Few travellers reach this far, and fewer ships dare to go beyond. Vast tabular icebergs drift like floating kingdoms and to stand on deck you realise you’ve just joined a rare group of explorers. Even time itself plays by no rules: midnight depends on who you ask.
Cities of penguins
Penguins run the show, their colonies tens of thousands strong, like cities in black and white. Adélie and Chinstrap penguins carry more attitude than feathers, while Gentoos hit 36 km/h underwater. On the ice, leopard seals prowl like bouncers, and crabeater seals – misnamed, since they feed on krill – sprawl in the snow. Out at sea, humpbacks breach for attention while orcas glide like ghosts. Above it all, albatrosses ride the wind with wingspans wider than your car. Down here, we’re the visitors, moving carefully through their world.
Life on board
Back on deck, things slow down. Your ship may be small, but comfort runs deep: Chilean wines, warm fires, panoramic lounges, and stories traded with fellow explorers and experts – about glaciology, wildlife, or just the joy of having made it here. The mood is one of camaraderie and calm. And just when you think the day is done, the sun dips, hovers, and then decides not to leave at all. It’s an adventure with a touch of style, and proof you don’t have to rough it to reach the ends of the Earth.
The Cosa touch
The Cosa touch
Adventures beyond 66° South are shaped by ice, weather and wonder. Cosa can curate this journey for you – choosing the right ship, the right season, and personal touches to match your style. With us, Antarctica becomes not just a destination, but your own polar story.
By: George Müller on November 2025
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