Our time in Ushuaia has unfortunately come to an end as we are heading north tomorrow to El Calafate to see a killer glacier. The last two days here have been wonderful, as we have made the most of this opportunity at the bottom of the continent. Yesterday we splurged and took the penguin island tour, which was one of the most unique experiences of our trip. We started off at 8am with a group of about 20 other tourists. The van drove about 1.5 hours through beautiful country roads. Towering mountains and lush forest scenes the entire way. Once we arrived to the ranch where our boat would be picking us up, we met our marine biologist guide and took a quick tour through their “museum” or what appeared to us to be a marine animal graveyard... with good lighting.
It was only a short 10min boat trip out to the island. Before landing our guide warned us to keep our emotions in control. When we pulled up onto shore and saw hundreds of the most adorable creatures ever (although Rich still maintains they are a little awkward looking), we could understand how it would be easy to get a little out of control and come home with a penguin pet. The island itself is home to roughly 3,000 penguins of two different kinds. We started on the beach and eventually walked around the nesting areas further in. While you were only able to get within 10ft of the penguins on the beach, the penguins in the nesting areas were literally inches from the roped out path. Occasionally one would get interested in our group and wander into the path itself for a closer look. Check out our excessive amount of penguin pictures and keep an eye out for the cute fuzzy chicks which were almost as large as their parents when we arrived.
Today we decided to keep our activities a little low-key and have a picnic on the beach overlooking the Beagle Channel. We took a city bus out towards the edge of town and started walking along the road on the shore line looking for a cove we saw from our earlier boat trip. When we went past the cove on our tour a few days ago, we saw families barbequing on the rocky beach, next to lush grass. Somehow we missed the turnoff for the beach and ending up heading down a path into some woods. Accompanied by two sweet dogs that adopted us for the day, we emerged 20mins later onto an open field of deep green grass and short wild flowers. The views of the channel were spectacular and we had the entire area to ourselves. We picnicked and napped and returned refreshed for our 18hour bus ride tomorrow.
Our time in Ushuaia has unfortunately come to an end as we are heading north tomorrow to El Calafate to see a killer glacier. The last two days here have been wonderful, as we have made the most of this opportunity at the bottom of the continent. Yesterday we splurged and took the penguin island tour, which was one of the most unique experiences of our trip. We started off at 8am with a group of about 20 other tourists. The van drove about 1.5 hours through beautiful country roads. Towering mountains and lush forest scenes the entire way. Once we arrived to the ranch where our boat would be picking us up, we met our marine biologist guide and took a quick tour through their “museum” or what appeared to us to be a marine animal graveyard... with good lighting.
It was only a short 10min boat trip out to the island. Before landing our guide warned us to keep our emotions in control. When we pulled up onto shore and saw hundreds of the most adorable creatures ever (although Rich still maintains they are a little awkward looking), we could understand how it would be easy to get a little out of control and come home with a penguin pet. The island itself is home to roughly 3,000 penguins of two different kinds. We started on the beach and eventually walked around the nesting areas further in. While you were only able to get within 10ft of the penguins on the beach, the penguins in the nesting areas were literally inches from the roped out path. Occasionally one would get interested in our group and wander into the path itself for a closer look. Check out our excessive amount of penguin pictures and keep an eye out for the cute fuzzy chicks which were almost as large as their parents when we arrived. 
Today we decided to keep our activities a little low-key and have a picnic on the beach overlooking the Beagle Channel. We took a city bus out towards the edge of town and started walking along the road on the shore line looking for a cove we saw from our earlier boat trip. When we went past the cove on our tour a few days ago, we saw families barbequing on the rocky beach, next to lush grass. Somehow we missed the turnoff for the beach and ending up heading down a path into some woods. Accompanied by two sweet dogs that adopted us for the day, we emerged 20mins later onto an open field of deep green grass and short wild flowers. The views of the channel were spectacular and we had the entire area to ourselves. We picnicked and napped and returned refreshed for our 18hour bus ride tomorrow.
3 comments:
WOW! I just got caught up on the last two posts and the last batch of pictures... The Penguins rule! but I think I'd like to be a sea lion... They get to lay around and snort and bark and act all sorts of grumpy and that's just fine with everybody... Love the short sea lion video...
Your comments about being as far south as you can be and now beginning the journey back home make me want to state the obvious --- Continue to enjoy this great experience you are so fortunate to be having... We miss you but are so glad and proud of how you have made this whole thing a reality!!!
Love Ya BOTH!!! DAD
I have also been enjoying seeing all the fun pictures from the southern part of our planet! I love the one on the blog of you two on the penguin beach. Kendra, your hair is so dark! Love you both!
Can someone please explain how Kendra's hair always looks so cute? - always a good cut/color.
Love you guys, Janet
Post a Comment