Esperanza Base

Each day, as we cruised along the Antarctic Peninsula, we had a morning and afternoon excursion, either a zodiac cruise or a landing. One landing was to the Argentinian Research Base of Esperanza where we were warmly welcomed.

Esperanza (Spanish "Hope Base") is located at 63°24′S, 56°59′W Hope Bay, Trinity Peninsula and houses 55 inhabitants in winter, including 10 families and 2 school teachers. Esperanza Base has some measure of fame because it is the birthplace of Emilio Marcos Palma, the first person to be born in Antarctica, 7th Jan 1978.

The Base tourist facilities are visited by approximately 1,100 tourists each year.
The Base's motto is "Permanencia, un acto de sacrificio" ("Permanence, an act of sacrifice").

This is where you can get that prized Antarctica stamp in your passport...if you had your passport. Luckily, we were told, they were brought ashore en-mass and the deed was done.

This is also where we sent postcards and even made a few phone calls...pity we couldn´t actually remember very many phone numbers & the ones we did... where were you???


Claire buys stamps for the postcards (see left).... did you receive them?

.
.
.




Esperanza Base has clourful red buildings & of course, penguins everywhere!




.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


Edelie & Chick