SANTIAGO, CHILE, 4 August 2026: Antarctica21 has announced that Leica sport optics and selected imaging products will be introduced aboard Magellan Explorer and Magellan Discoverer, as well as at Explorers House in Punta Arenas, from the 2026-27 season. The partnership will provide guests with access to Leica binoculars, spotting scopes and selected imaging products during their Antarctic expeditions.
Leica Optics Available Aboard Both Ships
Guests travelling aboard Magellan Explorer and the new Magellan Discoverer will be able to use a curated selection of Leica products throughout their voyages. The selection will include premium binoculars, spotting scopes and imaging products chosen for expedition travel and wildlife observation. The press release gives examples of guests using the optics to observe a humpback whale from an exterior deck or a wandering albatross flying above the ship’s wake. A dedicated Leica corner will be available on board and at Explorers House. It will display products selected for expedition use and wildlife observation, with certain items also available for purchase.
Explorers House Included in the Partnership
Explorers House, Antarctica21’s expedition centre in Punta Arenas, will also feature the dedicated Leica corner. The facility serves as part of the company’s air-cruise operation before guests travel to Antarctica. The new Leica offering will therefore be available both at Explorers House and aboard Antarctica21’s two expedition vessels.
“In Antarctica, what you see is everything,” said Nicolás Gildemeister, EVP of Product and Operations at Antarctica21. “Our expedition teams work to help guests understand a wild and fragile world, always on nature’s terms. Leica shares that philosophy. Their optics turn a distant silhouette into a moment of deep connection, and we are proud to welcome them across our boutique fleet and at Explorers House.”
Partnership Focuses on Antarctic Observation
Leica Camera said the partnership would create opportunities for travellers to connect with nature through observation and discovery during their Antarctic journeys.
“Antarctica has the power to transform the way we see the world,” said Betsy May, Senior Sales Director Latin America at Leica Camera. “Through our partnership with Antarctica21, we are creating new opportunities for travelers to connect with nature through observation, discovery, and a deeper understanding of the remarkable environments they encounter. This collaboration reflects our commitment to delivering meaningful experiences that inspire curiosity, awareness, and appreciation for the natural world.”
Introduction Begins with the 2026-27 Season
The Leica experience will be introduced across Magellan Explorer, Magellan Discoverer and Explorers House from the beginning of Antarctica21’s 2026-27 season.
Antarctica21 pioneered its Antarctic air-cruise model in 2003. Guests fly across the Drake Passage before boarding purpose-built expedition vessels in Antarctica. The company’s fleet includes Magellan Explorer and Magellan Discoverer, which Antarctica21 describes as South America’s first hybrid-electric polar expedition vessel.
Source: Official Press Release by Antarctica21 on 4 July, 2026, Santiago
