Tango to Tuxedo Penguins: Buenos Aires to Antarctic Waltz

• Days 1-2: Buenos Aires - The Sizzling Gateway to the White Continent

Your Antarctic adventure begins in the passionate capital of Buenos Aires. This elegant city seamlessly blends European grandeur with Latin American flair. Explore the iconic Plaza de Mayo, the political heart of Argentina, where the famous Evita once rallied the masses. Then immerse yourself in the European-inspired architecture of upscale Recoleta, visiting the famous cemetery where Evita's ornate mausoleum resides.

But Buenos Aires isn't just about history and boulevards. Experience the city's celebrated asado culture at the unique Fogón closed-door restaurant. Here, you'll witness expert gauchos grilling succulent cuts of meat over crackling wood fires using traditional techniques passed down for generations on the Argentine pampas.

• Day 3-4: Ushuaia - The City at the End of the World

From Buenos Aires, fly to the southernmost city in the world - Ushuaia. This remote outpost serves as the jumping off point for your cruise to Antarctica. But before boarding your expedition vessel, explore the windswept wilds of Tierra del Fuego on a full-day adventure.

First, cruise across the fabled Beagle Channel in the wake of Charles Darwin, watching for whales and seabirds. Then climb aboard the iconic "Train at the End of the World" for a scenic rail journey into the pristine Lapataia National Park. Hike through ancient lenga forests and along rugged shores in this uniquely beautiful reserve.

• Days 5-14: Cruising to the Antarctic Peninsula

Finally, the moment you've been waiting for - your voyage across the legendary Drake Passage to Antarctica! As your luxury expedition cruise ship plies these historically treacherous waters, keep watch for majestic albatrosses and other seabirds riding the wind currents.

Arriving in the Antarctic Peninsula, be awed by a world of towering white mountains, colossal glaciers, and iceberg-studded bays. Zodiac cruises grant you up-close views of penguin colonies, breaching whales, lolling seals and other Antarctic wildlife.

Go ashore for guided hikes across the pristine snowscapes, perhaps visiting the chinstrap penguin rookeries on volcanic Deception Island or sending a postcard from the tiny Post Office at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. Venture through a real-life winter wonderland at the stunning Neko Bay, paddling kayaks between iridescent blue icebergs in the shadow of the glaciers.

• Days 15-16: Buenos Aires - Tango in the Paris of South America

As your journey ends back in Buenos Aires, extend your stay to experience more of this cosmopolitan capital's dazzling cultural riches. Take in a passionate tango show at the glamorous Rojo Tango. Sip fine Argentine vintages as dancers whirl and stomp in an intimate, seductive setting.

Or explore Buenos Aires' thriving culinary and arts scenes with visits to trendy neighborhoods like chic Recoleta and bohemian Palermo. From the stylish avenues of this "Paris of South America" to the impossibly-white landscapes of Antarctica, this voyage encompasses the very best of urban sophistication and untamed wilderness that our planet has to offer.