Stefano is originally from Italy and nature has always been the greatest of his passions. Spending time outdoors is his daily priority with a special devotion rock climbing during summer, accompanied by ski and snowboarding during winter.
We returned a day early to Ushuaia to take refuge at the port before a storm arrived. The storm could have potentially delayed our port call, causing people to miss flights back to the United States. We took full advantage of the extra time in port and explored the beautiful surroundings of Ushuaia. In the morning, we ventured out to Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. We went on a few walks through the southern beech forests, saw the post office at the end of the world, and visited the Pan-American Highway, which ends in the national park and begins all the way up in Alaska. In the afternoon, we had another excursion to the opposite end of the town, up through Garibaldi Pass, and ending with a walk down to Lake Escondido. We wrapped up the day with farewell cocktails with the Captain.
Saturday morning began with National Geographic Endurance exploring Isla de los Estados off the eastern coast of Tierra del Fuego. First up for the daily adventures was a Zodiac cruise around Observatory Island. Wildlife abounds here, and there was a chance to see cormorants and fur seals. In the afternoon, everyone went ashore for a fun hike to see the Lighthouse at the End of the World, which was the location of the novel by Jules Verne. While the hikers explored on land, the divers explored the kelp forests just offshore. Another great day!
