The morning began with the National Geographic Explorer sailing into Seno de las Montañas. This narrow fjord was carved long ago by glaciers and today we were treated to stunning views of waterfalls and snowcapped mountains. Before lunch everyone disembarked the ship to hike up close to the face of Bernal Glacier. As everyone hiked to the glacier, the dive team went out to explore below the waves. After the hike we all enjoyed a delicious lunch and ship began to cruise again. About 6pm the ship passed through the Whyte Narrows on our way to Puerto Natales. As we passed through the narrows, we lined the decks for fantastic view of beautiful Patagonia. We were rewarded with South American sea lions and Andean condors.
2/20/2022
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National Geographic Resolution
Fortuna Bay and Hercules Bay, South Georgia
National Geographic Resolution arrived to Fortuna Bay early in the morning under a cloud-covered sky. The protection of the bay created a nice relief from the winds. We landed our long hikers shortly after breakfast so they could begin their trek over the headlands to the colony. We then repositioned the ship toward the head of the bay to land the rest of our guests. Fortuna Bay is known as the final leg of Shackleton’s route across the island, and it is home to a large king penguin colony. After we sailed to nearby Hercules Bay, we were treated to conditions calm enough for kayaking and Zodiac cruising. With so much wildlife in the area, guests had some wonderful encounters, especially with the colony of macaroni penguins low on the cliffs of the bay. The ever-fickle weather brought sunshine and light snow flurries, embodying the nature of the island.