Journey to the End of the Earth: Part 2 – Glaciers, Penguins & Angry Birds
If Part 1 was about getting to Antarctica, Part 2 is about being completely swallowed by it—in the best way possible. Over a few unforgettable days, we saw colors I didn’t know existed in ice, penguins by the thousands, and landscapes so wild and surreal they felt like another planet.
Icebergs, Seals & Penguins—Oh My
Our first full days were spent soaking in the alien beauty of this frozen world. It all started with simple, magical sightings: a lone seal lounging on a drifting iceberg, then a penguin standing like a sentry on another. These weren’t just animal sightings—they were tiny stories unfolding on floating sculptures of ice.
And the colors—oh, the colors. Glaciers with a glow that seemed to come from beneath, casting the most unbelievable turquoise reflections in the water. I thought I’d seen “blue” before. I hadn’t.
Island Adventures: Petermann & Spectacular Wiencke
We began our land explorations at Petermann Island, where penguins roamed freely and the scale of the ice surrounding us felt humbling. But it was Wiencke Island that stole the show—massive ice mountains towering over dense penguin colonies. The backdrop looked like it was designed by nature to leave your jaw permanently dropped.
Landing on the Actual Continent
On the third day, we touched down on the actual Antarctic continent—and honestly, it hit different. There was this quiet weight to the place. The view was dominated by a glacier with visible cracks running like lightning through the ice, as if the continent itself was exhaling.
D’Hainaut Island: Penguins with Personality
Next stop: D’Hainaut Island. This is where I captured one of my favorite photos of the trip—a penguin that looked exactly like an Angry Bird. Full-on attitude, no explanation needed. We also took a small boat tour around jaw-dropping glaciers and into little ice caves that felt like stepping into a crystal cathedral.
Back to Ushuaia: Patagonia Pints
With the journey complete, we arrived back in Ushuaia early in the evening—just enough time to stroll through town, stretch our land legs, and raise a glass at Patagonia Brewery. After days of ice, wind, and wonder, that crisp pint hit different.
It was the perfect spot to reflect on everything we’d just experienced—thousands of penguins, glowing glaciers, iceberg caves, angry-bird moments, and that refreshing (read: freezing) dip in the Southern Ocean. One of those nights where everything just… lands.
But don’t think the adventure stopped there.
After Ushuaia, the vacation continued with a return to Buenos Aires, followed by a day trip across the river to Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, and then a swing back down south to El Calafate—home to some of Patagonia’s most iconic glaciers.
