For thirty-six hours the bridge team of National Geographic Explorer navigated the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, Argentina to Barrientos Island in the South Shetland Island group off the northwest tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. We spent our morning on board learning about photography, and in the afternoon, we made our first landing of the trip and put our new skills to use.
Our guests were filled with delight, as most saw their very first penguin colonies! The island is home to chinstrap and gentoo penguins, both of which had chicks. We also saw giant petrels, skuas, snowy sheathbills, and other bird life. We even had a beautiful, light snowfall at the end of our time on the island. What a fantastic and unforgettable day!
