Whale Tales and Penguins.

Recess Bay & Portal Point – Charlotte Bay, Antarctic Peninsula
Today was one of those days that reminded us just how wild and unpredictable Antarctica can be.
Our morning adventure started at 10am with a zodiac cruise in Recess Bay, tucked inside Charlotte Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula. The weather was actually quite kind to us by Antarctic standards — around –4°C with light winds and mostly cloud, which made the water surprisingly calm.
And the whales were out.
Lots of them.
We were surrounded by humpback whales, although most of them seemed determined to stay just out of perfect camera range. Our zodiac driver did his best to follow the blows and tail flukes popping up across the bay, while everyone on board was frantically clicking away on SLR cameras, phones and video cameras. Even when the whales stayed distant, watching those huge flukes slowly rise and slip back into the icy water was something pretty special.
After about 45 minutes cruising among ice and whales, we headed back to the ship with cold fingers but big smiles.

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Portal Point – Our Antarctic Peninsula Landing
The second adventure of the day came at 4:45pm, when we made a shore landing at Portal Point.
Portal Point sits on the Reclus Peninsula on the west coast of Graham Land, and it’s one of the few spots where ships can land directly on the Antarctic mainland rather than on nearby.
Once ashore we headed up the snowy slope where the penguins were busy going about their daily routines. Most of the colony here are Gentoo penguins, but we were lucky enough to spot a few Chinstrap penguins mixed in as well — easy to recognise with the thin black line under their chin that looks like a helmet strap.
There were also a couple of Antarctic fur seals lounging nearby, keeping a watchful eye on the tourists wandering through their neighbourhood.
The snow around the penguin colony had plenty of colourful patches — the result of penguin guano and algae — which is something you quickly learn is a very normal Antarctic sight!

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The Historic Hut at Portal Point
One of the interesting features at Portal Point is a small historic refuge hut.
The hut was built by the British Antarctic Survey in 1956 during the International Geophysical Year preparations. It was used as a temporary refuge and equipment store for field parties working in this part of the Antarctic Peninsula. Today the hut is gone, but the remains are a historic site under the Antarctic Treaty.
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A Perfect Antarctic Day
From whales surfacing quietly in the misty waters of Recess Bay, to wandering among penguins on the snowy slopes of Portal Point, today delivered another unforgettable Antarctic experience.
Two zodiac adventures.
Whales, penguins and seals.
And another moment standing on the actual Antarctic continent.
Not a bad way to spend a day at the bottom of the world.Læs mere