Day 4
Diego Ramirez Islands
Your ship will then continue cruising farther south, to the Diego Ramírez Islands, the most southern point of South America and one of the least explored places on the planet. This small archipelago was actually thought to be the southernmost land mass in the world when it was discovered in 1619 by the Spanish Garcia de Nodal expedition. Named after the expedition’s cosmographer, the archipelago held this distinction for 156 years, until Capt. James Cook’s discovery of the South Sandwich Islands in 1775. Weather permitting, depending on conditions, we may choose to Zodaic cruise or ship cruise cruise around these tussock- grasscovered islands to admire the abundant birdlife. A designated Important Bird Area, and part of the Diego Ramirez Islands and Drake Passage Marine Park, the archipelago is home to tens of thousands of breeding seabirds, and an exceptional place for birdwatching. Binoculars in hand, birders will marvel at the sight of nesting black-browed albatross and grey-headed albatross. These islands are the southernmost mollymawk albatross breeding ground in the world. Sightings of dolphins, South American fur seals, and rockhopper, macaroni and Magellanic penguins are also possible here.