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Ortelius

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Ortelius offers niche expeditions to visit Emperor Penguins or explore the Ross Sea.

The m/v Ortelius is a purpose-built polar expedition vessel, originally constructed for research and now refitted to deliver immersive voyages to the most remote regions of the Arctic and Antarctic. With an ice-strengthened hull and a capacity for just over 100 guests, Ortelius is designed to navigate challenging environments while offering a comfortable onboard experience. The ship features open deck space for wildlife viewing, a lecture room for expert-led talks, and a welcoming atmosphere that encourages interaction among guests and guides.

Ortelius stands out for its operational flexibility and adventurous spirit. On select itineraries, the vessel supports helicopter-assisted landings, allowing access to rarely visited ice shelves and remote terrain unreachable by Zodiac. Its small-group format ensures more time ashore and a deeper connection to the landscapes and wildlife encountered. Whether cruising past towering tabular icebergs or tracing the path of historic explorers, Ortelius offers a genuine expedition experience with a strong focus on education, discovery, and environmental awareness.

Oceanwide Expeditions is committed to protecting fragile ecosystems – directing a portion of its profits toward reforestation efforts in the Amazon Rainforest, restoring over 1,600 hectares of damaged land. In addition to offsetting emissions, they support polar-focused environmental initiatives, apply best practices aboard their ships, and are working to make their supply chain more sustainable.

What our clients say

Highlights: “Setting foot on Antarctica and seeing the wildlife in its natural habitat. The first part had always been an ambition of mine”
SM, Dennie Jan 2010
Antarctica “Best holiday we have ever had.”
MR, West Malling Dec 2012
Most memorable experience: "A hard question to answer, but probably being able to walk on the continent, and not just strolling along the shore line, but fairly serious walking on…
HW, New Romney Feb 2014
The whole experience of sailing across Antarctica was amazing, but being able to visit Scott's at Cape Evans was probably the pinnacle of the trip.
JW, Bedford Jan 2020
Highlights were South Georgia – amazing king penguin colony, bathing in thermal pool and cooling off in Whalers Bay on deception island, the open air party as we left Paradise…
HG, Surbition Feb 2010
This was a trip of a lifetime. The scale of the natural beauty of Antarctica is overwhelming. The icebergs, penguins ,mountains and sunshine which reflected it all in the clear…
AW, Stanmore Jan 2013

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Our Expert's Opinion

Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

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Ben Line - Travel Expert

Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.
Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.
Julia Golden - Travel Expert

Julia’s passion for Latin America was sparked during an unforgettable year-long journey that began in Brazil and continued all the way to Mexico. Along the way, she experienced the continent in many different ways, from vibrant cities and remote villages to breathtaking landscapes and hidden natural wonders. Exploring such a diverse range of destinations gave her a deep appreciation for the region’s cultures, people and scenery, and inspired her love of creating memorable travel experiences for others.
Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!
Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.
Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.