The final day of our expedition was spent exploring the town of Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The capital of this British Overseas Territory, Stanley contains 75 percent of the population living in the Falklands. Our tours of the area were to either visit a local hydroponic farm where a lot of the produce is grown, take a tour of the city and surrounding area by bus, or take a long hike at the nearby Mount Tumbledown. Having arrived early to the dock, we were able to eat lunch ashore at some of the local establishments and spend ample time at the museum commemorating the conflict with Argentina in 1982. A peaceful and fascinating day ashore in the Falkland Islands complete with on-and-off sunshine was the perfect way to cap off this epic voyage.
3/13/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea Towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia
A gently swaying National Geographic Endurance greeted the day. The wind and waves that our guests had become accustomed to during this voyage were nowhere in sight. Instead, a light breeze and calm seas lifted our spirits as we prepared for our final day on the ship. Sei whales, albatross, and dolphins welcomed us into the Beagle Channel before long. In between packing and reclaiming our passports, several presentations were given with a wide range of topics. First up, our undersea team shared footage from several dives in the Falklands, including a notable visit from some rather playful southern sea lions. Secondly, our National Geographic photographer spoke about photography and how it can be used to inspire conversation about wild places. Wrapping up our presentations for the day was our guest speaker, Mensun Bound, who provided a loose Q&A session on Shackleton. Captain Oliver and Expedition Leader Russ shared a few words about our epic voyage and sent us off to dinner. A day full of education and sightseeing – a great way to say farewell to our incredible guests.
