Landing Spotlight – Port Charcot

A fantastic spot for viewing the ‘iceberg graveyard’, Port Charcot is a bay we visit on the north-western arm of Booth Island on the Antarctic Peninsula. If we are able to make landfall in Port Charcot, we Zodiac to the rocky shore, then hike up the gentle slope to view historical sites from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Hiking is among the many activities available during your stay in Port Charcot

Historical Significance

Port Charcot was the overwintering site of the French Antarctic Expedition, commanded by Jean-Baptiste Charcot from 1903 through 1905.

At this Antarctic site you’ll discover the wreck of a tender and a cairn with wooden pillar and plaque (where you can still make out the names of the first expedition members who wrote them down almost 120 years ago!).

Look for the remains of a stone built magnetic hut, used for astronomical observations, and an array of other artefacts.

Port Charcot was first charted in 1904 by a French expedition

Wildlife

Here you’ll love spotting the many Gentoo Penguins as well as keeping a look out for Adélie and Chinstrap Penguins.

You can also keep a look out for seabirds like Kelp Gulls, Skuas, Snowy Sheathbills, Blue-Eyed Shags and Wilson’s Storm Petrels.

There’s a good chance you’ll likely see Fur Seals and Weddell Seals hauled out on the sea ice, and there has been sightings of Leopard Seals here as well.

Adelie penguin enjoying the icy landscape

Port Charcot Highlights

• Stunning views of Pléneau Island and the unique ‘iceberg graveyard’
• Historical artefacts and notable sites from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration
• Opportunities to observe a lively Gentoo Penguin colony
• Chances to spot other penguin species, including Adélie and Chinstrap penguins
• Encounters with a variety of seals and seabirds