This morning, we were woken up at 5:00 a.m. Over the intercom, our expedition leader’s calm voice let us know that over thirty killer whales were surfacing around the boat. Weary-eyed and full of wonder, we all watched in the absolute stillness of the morning as over five groups of killer whales hunted and frolicked around the bay. Some chased penguins, and others seemed to be enjoying family time with their youngsters. After breakfast, we went ashore on Devil Island to enjoy an Adelie penguin colony amidst the bergs. Some of us hiked up the ridgeline, and some of us stayed along the beach. We were all treated to lots of calving icebergs as the tide continued to lower throughout our morning operations. In the afternoon, we set foot on the peninsula proper and explored Bald Head. Many Weddell seals and gentoo penguins frolicked on the beach while we hiked over the hill to the overlook. Along the hike, we found two mummified seal carcasses and stopped to admire their amazing teeth, which have adapted for eating krill.
3/14/2023
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Seno Agostini
We woke to a moody smattering of mist and rain that flowed over the glaciers of the fjord in Seno Agostini, named after Alberto de Agostini, an Italian priest who explored this land in the early 1900s. The priest contributed to the knowledge of the Indigenous peoples of the region. The day began with kayaking or Zodiac cruising in the fjord, the sides of which are lined with beautiful nothofagus forest and impressive glaciers. Kayakers and those on Zodiac cruises enjoyed the wonderful Patagonian scenery before the Patagonian Plunge, which saw a group of brave souls leaping into waters that were a chilly 7° Celsius. The afternoon saw us ship cruising through the spectacular Gabriel Channel, a thin channel lined on both sides with nothofagus forest and beautiful bird life. Condors sawed above the mountains as we traversed the thin channel, and glaciers poured freezing cold katabatic winds down towards the ship. The day ended with recap and dinner. It was a perfect day in Patagonia.