Tell us about your company.
Quixote Expeditions was born out of a passion for the sea and adventure. The co-founders, Laura and Fede first went to Antarctica on a sailboat Fede built and they haven’t looked back since. Quixote Expeditions runs micro fly in fly out cruises to Antarctica.
We believe the best way to visit special places such as Antarctica is with small groups. We never have more than 12 passengers on each trip, allowing us to minimize our impact and for the guest experience to be fully immersive. Our crew and guides are passionate about where we visit and with so few people onboard and ashore, they often end up in deep conversation with guests to explain the biology, geology or other wonders that natures gives us.
Currently there are two vessels, the Hans Hansson, a small motor vessel, and Ocean Tramp, an expedition sailing yacht. Quixote Expeditions focuses on its itineraries in the Southern Ocean and are experts in the region.
Destinations include:
· Antarctica
· Falkland Islands
· Chilean Fjords
· Isla de los Estados (coolest place you’ve never Heard of…..)
We feel strongly about doing more than just being guests in the places we visit. As a company we often bring scientists south along with our passengers and on every trip we collect data for citizen science projects that help to understand and protect the regions that we visit.
What are your unique selling points?
With no more than 12 guests and flights across the Drake Passage, our passengers experience the most immersive, nature-driven expeditions in Antarctica. Our micro cruises give passengers the maximum time onshore and flexibility to take advantage of whatever Antarctica gives to us: a passing humpback, a pod of Orcas, beautiful evening light, or icebergs filled with penguins. From December to March, our vessels Hans Hansson and Expedition sailing yacht Ocean Tramp allow passengers to sit on deck and be right there with nature – whales breeching and penguins proposing.
All trips:
· Fly in – Fly out.
· Maximum 12 Guests
· Free kayaking
· Citizen Science projects – contributing REAL DATA to real scientists.
Our trips are for those who want to maximize their time in Antarctica, maximize time ashore, and maximize the chance to photograph the amazing landscapes and animals.
What is your most popular itinerary/destination?
Antarctica is by far our most popular destination, especially with the option to fly in fly out on all flights. These trips are the best for photographers, birders, nature lovers, and those for whom a larger cruise experience does not seem appealing.
One trip per season that is popular for the right people, is our sail down fly back on our expedition sailing yacht. The experience of actually sailing in sailboat across the Drake is a feat to brag about later, Then after 14 days in Antarctica the guests fly across the Drake.
We also have our hidden gems of trips in the Falkland Islands, Isla de los Estados, and the Chilean Fjords.
The Falkland Islands, known in the cruise community more as a stop on the way to South Georgia (as well as for the whalers back in the day), is an island nation full of wildlife that is really second to none. There are 5 types of penguins, Elephant seals, Caracara, sea lions, as well as the local culture of sheep farming and the wonderful local community.
Given that they are islands, using our small boats to visit the various coves and beaches is an excellent way to access the wildlife.
Meanwhile, Isla de los Estados is as if fjords met Jurassic park that happened to have penguins, otters, and sea lions, and steep rock faces like Yosemite. We offer 10 days trips that go out along the Eastern Beagle channel along Peninsula Mitre, and then visit this majestic island.
What is new for 2025/26?
BIG things… but we can’t say quite yet – stay tuned for big updates
Meanwhile, we will continue to offer our most popular trips – 14 days in Antarctica, Fly-in – Fly Out.
Meet the team
Federico Guerrero
Managing Director
Fede is a captain of large boats and first went to Antarctica with his wife on a sailboat he built. Now he looks after the fleet and oversees bookings and works with all private charter groups. The best way to reach him is info@quixote-expeditions.com.
Laura K.O. Smith
Director of Operations
Laura’s passion is free diving and using her underwater photography to promote conversation projects. She first came to Antarctica with Quixote on Ocean Tramp, where she was in the water with her camera. She’s also been South with larger expedition ships, so she very much understands the differences between micro cruises and the more traditional expedition ships. Laura looks after all individual bookings and passenger communications. Best to reach her at bookings@60-south.com
Full Team
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