Start your journey at Petermann Island, a small island located just off the west coast of the mainland peninsula. Named after the German geographer August Heinrich Petermann, this wonderland of colossal icebergs is most famous for its thriving colony of gentoo penguins, and it is the farthest location south that these lovable creatures can be found on the planet. Uninhabited, there nonetheless remains evidence of human presence, such as the Argentine hut at Circumcision Bay. Wilhemina Bay too is great to explore, with dramatic high mountains, and if you are extremely lucky you may see an iceberg collapse and crash into the waters. It is sometimes possible to camp out on the ice here in the footsteps of explorers and conquerors past.
Wildlife within the peninsula includes Weddell, crabeater and elephant seals, skuas, other seabirds, plus an almost unfathomable number of penguins, including huge colonies of the entertainingly comical Adelie penguin. Whale watching can also be impressive in these waters with the gentle humpback, orca and minke whales all known to frequent the area, and the Zodiac trips will endeavour to spot them. Half Moon Island has an interesting mix of wildlife, with the chinstrap penguins sharing their terrain with fur seals and blue-eyed shags.
Some would state that it is only once you have stepped foot on mainland peninsula Antarctica that you can lay claim to visiting the White Continent, and it is true that this is one of the best places to experience the awe-inspiring Antarctic landscapes in their full glory.
