Fly the Drake Passage FAQ

Our flyover itineraries are perfect for travelers who don’t have the extra time—or vacation days—to make the round-trip sea journey, which takes two days at each end of the voyage (four days total). These expeditions may also be a good fit for guests who are prone to seasickness and would like to limit their chances of encountering the turbulent waters that can occur in the Drake Passage by flying one or both legs of the journey to and from Antarctica.

On our 8-Day Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage itinerary:

• One-night pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel stays in Puerto Natales
• Five nights aboard National Geographic Explorer or National Geographic Orion in Antarctica

On our 9-Day Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage itinerary:

• One night pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel stays in Puerto Natales
• Six nights aboard National Geographic Orion in Antarctica

On our 10-Day Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage itinerary:

• One night pre-cruise and post-cruise hotel stays in Puerto Natales
• Seven nights aboard National Geographic Orion in Antarctica

On our 10-Day Antarctica Direct: Sail and Fly the Drake Passage itinerary:

• One-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Ushuaia, Argentina and one-night post-cruise hotel stay in Puerto Natales, Chile
• Seven nights aboard National Geographic Explorer (two nights for the one-way Drake Passage transit, plus five nights in Antarctica)

On all of our Antarctica Direct itineraries:

• In accordance with our contingency plan (see below,) an additional hotel night in Puerto Natales in the event of flight delays
• Complimentary expedition gear, consisting of a parka and reusable water bottle
• Welcome reception and/or bon voyage dinner (in Puerto Natales)
• Select pre- and post-cruise meals on the days of the included hotel nights (up to two breakfasts and two dinners, dependent on flight changes)
• Transfers between airport and hotel as per itinerary
• Lindblad Expeditions’ standard expedition inclusions, such as water and shore excursions, the guidance of our leading expedition staff, onboard snacks and meals, non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, the use of ship amenities, onboard presentations, and much more

*NOTE: Mandatory private charter flights to/from Puerto Natales, Chile, and King George Island in Antarctica will be provided at an additional cost.

For our Antarctic flights, we partner with DAP Antarctica Airways, a highly experienced Antarctic airline that has more than 30 years of aviation expertise, with planes piloted by some of the world’s most qualified polar captains. Each of their 4-engine jets (BAE 146 / 200) accommodates 76 passengers and is specially adapted to land on King George Island. The flight takes approximately 2 hours each way, and guests will have assigned seats.

Guests traveling on our Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage itineraries will receive their complimentary parkas at the hotel in Puerto Natales along with any Ship to Shore gear they have rented or purchased (i.e., waterproof boots, waterproof pants, etc.). On the plane, guests should be dressed in their parkas, waterproof hiking pants, and waterproof boots so they are prepared to board the Zodiacs shortly after arrival to King George Island.

Guests will fly into the Chilean Base of Presidente Frey on King George Island, landing on one of the few runways in Antarctica, generally used by scientists heading to stations further south. King George is the largest of the South Shetland Islands, and the Chilean base is the largest of the scientific bases found on its western tip (Fildes Peninsula).

A one-mile bus ride will take guests to the shoreline, followed by a quick Zodiac ride to embark the National Geographic Explorer or National Geographic Orion. 

Note: Luggage will be handled separately by our staff after you safely embark the ship. Guests should not expect to have their luggage in their cabins upon boarding.

Each guest is allowed one carry-on (max 15 lbs.) and one piece of checked luggage (max 44 lbs.). Luggage will be weighed at the airport. Any luggage in excess will not be allowed on the plane but can be stored in a dedicated facility in Puerto Natales.

Like any flight, delays or early departures can happen when traveling to and from Antarctica. However, the weather is far more unpredictable in the Antarctic than most destinations and air-cruise operations are highly weather-dependent. Due to the unpredictability, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your journey, as well as booking your international flights through our Lindblad Expeditions Air Department.

While the odds of a delay or early arrival are low, travelers must be flexible and prepare for the possibility. Low clouds, fog, and heavy wind conditions at King George Island in Antarctica can cause delays. This rule applies both to flights to Antarctica and flights back to South America.

Safety is the airline’s primary priority, and airline officials continuously monitor weather conditions and adjust travel plans if needed.

A contingency plan is in place for cases when weather conditions require modifying the flight date from the itinerary between Puerto Natales and Antarctica. 

Contingency Plan for Antarctica Flights

Arrival to Puerto Natales: On Day 1, guests should arrive at the hotel in Puerto Natales no later than 3 p.m. local time in the event the charter flight to Antarctica needs to be moved to your day of arrival due to inclement weather. Our staff and DAP Airlines continuously monitor weather conditions, and they may move the outbound flight to Day 1 to mitigate delays on your expedition. A refund will not be issued to guests who miss the charter flight due to an arrival into Puerto Natales after 3 p.m. We strongly recommend avoiding tight flight connections. We also recommend booking a flexible airfare.

Contingency plan for Antarctic flights from Puerto Natales to King George Island

Outbound flights to Antarctica: Between Day 2 of the itinerary and until 2 p.m. on Day 3, every effort will be made to safely transport passengers to Antarctica. In cases where such measures are not successful, the daily program described below will be applied:

Day 2: We provide guided tours of Puerto Natales, where guests can learn about the culture and history of the Indigenous people or, alternatively, enjoy opportunities to watch for Andean condors, or hike the region’s stunning terrain. We will include breakfast and lunch dependent on the time of the flight departure, as well as accommodation at the same hotel included on Day 1 of the itinerary. 

Day 3: If Lindblad Expeditions is unable to transport passengers to Antarctica by 2 p.m., the trip will be interrupted. For guests who book their flights via Lindblad Expeditions Air Department, we will assist with rescheduling. No other services or meals are included. Lindblad Expeditions or, if applicable, the traveler’s booking agent will refund the passenger 100% of the cruise fare paid for the expedition.

Contingency plan for Antarctic flights from King George Island to Puerto Natales

If there is a delay on the flight from Antarctica to Puerto Natales within the scheduled day of disembarkation, passengers on board the ship will continue cruising to nearby places until the return flight to Puerto Natales is authorized. All standard onboard inclusions and shore excursions will apply. The Puerto Natales arrangements (hotel, farewell dinner) will still apply. 

If your flight from Antarctica back to Puerto Natales is delayed overnight, your tour in Antarctica will be extended, with onboard activities, excursions, and meals included. Guests must depart Puerto Natales on arrival, which will necessitate changing their onward flights, unless they have made their own accommodations in Puerto Natales. Guests who booked their air through the Lindblad Expeditions Air Department will receive assistance with rebooking. Guests who made their own flight arrangements are responsible for their own changes. 

Outbound flights from Puerto Natales onward should be scheduled to depart no earlier than 1 p.m. (or as late in the day as possible) on the final day of the trip. Guests may also wish to book an additional hotel night on their own in Puerto Natales (following the included night) to allow for increased flexibility. We encourage guests not to plan any independent extensions or tours for the day after the trip in case of delay. 

In cases where the flight from Antarctica is delayed overnight, the trip will end at the Puerto Natales airport. No refund will be extended for any reason whatsoever, and no hotel accommodation nor airport transfers will be provided.

While rare, in some cases, it may be necessary to depart Antarctica early if poor conditions are forecast. In this situation, we will provide hotel accommodations and meals in Puerto Natales. No compensation will be provided for the shortened time in Antarctica.

Although extremely uncommon, if the poor weather prevents flights for more than two days, there is a possibility we will need to sail to Ushuaia for disembarkation. No refund will be extended for any reason whatsoever, and no hotel accommodations will be provided. Flights homeward will need to be rebooked. This is an expedition in the truest sense—flexibility is key. Our primary goal with the contingency plan is to provide an engaging and comfortable travel experience while adapting to the weather.