Traveling to Antarctica is an incredible experience, different from the rest of the landscapes you can find on the planet. Its rich marine fauna, the pristine white of the ice and its almost virgin state of human presence, make it a unique destination to visit, although not for all budgets.
The so-called white continent is a place unknown to most, home to scientific bases, unique marine fauna including six species of whales, penguins and unique sea lions. Land of scientists and biologists, it is a protected continent thanks to the Antarctic Treaty.
Its extreme cold condition at any time of the year acts as a barrier so that it has not been massively exploited for tourism. Currently, the countries that signed the treaty are committed to protecting the Antarctic continent, avoiding mass tourism and allowing private tourism companies, mainly cruise ships, to operate there under strict protocols.
If you want to fulfill your dream of visiting this white paradise, we have compiled all the information you need to travel to Antarctica and live this unique experience.
Table of Contents
Is it possible to travel to Antarctica as a tourist?
The first question that arises is whether anyone can visit Antarctica as a tourist or it is only reserved for people with scientific purposes. The answer is yes, anyone can, pocket permitting, travel to Antarctica.
The first thing to take into account is to choose the tour operator to travel to Antarctica, whether it is a cruise company or any agency. What is recommended (and essential) is that this tour operator should be on the list of IAATO, an organization that brings together tourism in Antarctica and is in charge of preserving the environment in the continent.
This guarantees that the tour operator complies with the established protocols and provides security when contracting the trip to Antarctica.
Permits are required to travel to Antarctica.
As a tourist, no permit or visa is required to travel to Antarctica. It is the tour operator himself who manages the permit before the corresponding entity.
However, it is normal to visit Antarctica on a cruise from Punta Arenas in Chile or from Ushuaia in Argentina, so you will have, in case it is a requirement for your nationality, to have a visa from Chile or Argentina.
For most nationalities, entering Argentina or Chile as a tourist does not require any visa, or only requires the payment of a simple visa, called reciprocity fee, before traveling to Argentina.
What is the best time to travel to Antarctica?
Due to extreme weather conditions, it is impossible to access Antarctica as a tourist during the winter months in the southern hemisphere. The trips to visit Antarctica begin in October and last until March.
The best time to travel to Antarctica is from December to February, when weather conditions allow most cruise landings to the coast and walking in the snow.
How to get to Antarctica
The best option to reach Antarctica is by boat from the city of Ushuaia in Argentina or from Punta Arenas in Chile. The port of Ushuaia is actually the best starting point to reach Antarctica, as it is the closest port to Antarctica (about 1,000 kilometers). Cruises from Ushuaia account for more than 80% of departures to Antarctica.
Another option to reach Antarctica by ship is from Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands . It is also possible to arrive from Invercargill in New Zealand or from Hobart in Australia, although the travel time to Antarctica is much longer and the trip more expensive.
Is it possible to go to Antarctica by plane?
Landing in Antarctica is possible, but for this it is necessary to hire specialized companies. Obviously, these flights are scarce and the prices are exorbitant (more than USD 30,000 per person). The most frequent point of departure is in the city of Punta Arenas in Chile, although there are also companies that offer it from Cape Town in South Africa or Australia.
It should be noted that the weather in Antarctica is extreme and many times the weather conditions make flying impossible, and can even change from one moment to the next.
The most frequent flight to Antarctica for tourists actually arrives not in Antarctica, but on Chile’s King George Island. This flight operates in summer and departs from Punta Arenas. From King George Island, the Antarctic cruise begins, saving you the navigation through the Drake Passage, where the sea is wild and seasickness is frequent due to the movement of the ship.
The advantage is that you save a lot of time in getting to Antarctica and avoid the ship through the Drake Passage. The disadvantage is that the flight is subject to weather conditions with possible delays or cancellations and that the combination flight and Antarctic cruise costs twice as much as going alone on a cruise.
How long does it take to get to Antarctica?
The most frequent cruise option from Ushuaia to Antarctica takes 2 days to arrive and 2 days to return. If you choose the combination of flight from Punta Arenas and then cruise, it is reduced to two hours of flight plus a couple of hours to set foot on Antarctic soil on the ship.
What is it like to travel by cruise ship to Antarctica?
There is no single type of cruise to Antarctica, options include expedition ships, larger ships and even luxury cruises. All include food and beverages, although there may be a difference in the menu on a luxury cruise. All you have to do is board the cruise ship with your clothes.
Shared cabins with shared bathroom, private cabins with shared bathroom and private cabins with private bathroom are offered on the Antarctica cruise. The greater the privacy, the more expensive the price.
In addition, the price also varies depending on the location of the cabin, it is not the same to have a cabin in the lower part of the ship than a cabin with sea view in the upper part.
Do all types of ships and cruises offer the same tours and excursions in Antarctica? Basically yes, since the expeditions in Antarctica are made using zodiacs, inflatable boats that take tourists from the ship to the shore, or to get close to the coast to see marine fauna.
📷 Are you going to visit Ushuaia? Check out the best excursions in Ushuaia to do.
How are the visits and excursions in Antarctica?
What you have to keep in mind is that the shorter the duration of the cruise, the fewer days in the Antarctic Peninsula, the less days you fewer days in the Antarctic Peninsula. Between the four total days to arrive and return from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas to Antarctica, we must add the time “lost” for disembarkation and visits.
Each landing on the zodiacs must be done under strict protocols, which include only a maximum of 100 people at a time, and one guide for every 20 people. Bear in mind that at least one cruise to Antarctica has a capacity for 100 passengers, in some cases exceeding 300 passengers. Between preparing the zodiac, organizing the people and so on, it takes a long time.
Normally, two landings per day are included, so on a 10-day cruise (the minimum to visit Antarctica), by only having four days in Antarctica, you will have eight landings in total. Is that time enough to get the real Antarctic experience? Sure, but there are also cruise ships that are in the Antarctic Peninsula for a week.
In addition, the Antarctica cruise includes a program of lectures given by experts on the white continent and even workshops on Antarctic navigation, how to take the best photographs in Antarctica and how to identify marine fauna.
The Antarctica cruise company you hire will provide you with a detailed day-by-day itinerary of the visits to be made.
Things to do in Antarctica: marine fauna and sites of interest
The main protagonist in Antarctica is the landscape without human contamination, the only existing buildings are scientific bases. You will see masses of floating ice, snow and species of marine fauna that you will only find in this site.
The main adventure in Antarctica is to see the local marine fauna, although the presence of these animals may vary depending on the month in which you visit Antarctica. On the Antarctic Journey you will see several species of seabirds such as cormorants and albatrosses.
Although there are 6 types of penguins that inhabit Antarctica, on a cruise you will spot three or even four species: Papuas, Adelies, Chinstraps, and hopefully the so-called Macaronis. To see the King Penguin you will have to book an itinerary that includes the South Georgia Islands. The emperor penguin is practically impossible to spot in these latitudes, only with cruises that reach the Weddell Sea, further south.
On the white continent you can also spot different species of seals, including leopard seals and Ross seals. The best time to observe them is if you book an Antarctic cruise between December and February.
Whales are also one of the animals present in Antarctica. Here you will encounter the fantastic blue whale, the largest whale on the planet, the minke whale and killer whales. From late December to February is the best time to spot them.
Some cruises include a visit to scientific bases with explanations from local personnel, something interesting to see.
Is it possible to book extra excursions in Antarctica? Yes, perfectly, although of course nothing is cheap on the white continent. As the most popular extra excursions, the companies offer kayaking in the icy waters and camping on Antarctic soil. Prices start at USD 300 per person.
How much does a trip to Antarctica cost?
The price of a cruise to Antarctica will depend on the category of the cruise, the type of cabin (shared or private, and location within the ship), and also the season in which you travel.
Although there is no high or low season, since Antarctica is only open to tourists from October to March, special dates such as Christmas and New Year ‘s Eve are the most expensive. Who wouldn’t want to toast in Antarctica!
On the cheap side, a 10-day cruise from Ushuaia to Antarctica in triple cabin starts at USD 4,800. Is it possible to get something cheaper? There are opportunities, such as last minute offers to travel to Antarctica offered by tour operators themselves.
Many tour operators sell last minute tours to Antarctica. These offers are usually published between three weeks to one month before the travel start date and prices can be obtained from USD 4,000. Chances are slim, so we must be attentive.
What kind of itineraries can be done on a trip to Antarctica?
- Cruise from Ushuaia to Antarctica 10 to 12 days minimum: it is the cheapest way to travel to Antarctica. There are four days of sailing in total through the Drake Passage and six to eight days to see the Antarctic Peninsula.
- Cruise from Ushuaia, passing through the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica: this circuit includes the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. It lasts from 13 to 20 days: Here you will be able to see the king penguin and also take a tour of the Falkland Islands.
- Cruise from Punta Arenas through the Chilean fjords and Antarctica: basically two cruise trips in one. Departing from Punta Arenas, we will travel along the coast of the extreme south of Chile and then make the classic tour of Antarctica. The minimum duration is 15 days.
- Mixed cruise from Punta Arenas by plane and ship to Antarctica: in this case the navigation through the Drake Passage by ship is saved. It can be done in 8 days, although the cost is double that of the classic cruise from Ushuaia to Antarctica in 10 days.
- There are other itineraries such as the cruise from Ushuaia to the Weddell Sea to meet the emperor penguin, an 11-day trip, or a 14-day cruise from Ushuaia to the Antarctic polar circle.
Is it possible to travel with children to Antarctica?
Normally, tour operators exclude young children under 8 years of age. It sounds logical because the cold conditions are extreme and crossing the Drake Passage with a small child is not at all advisable.
For children to live this experience to the fullest, it is advisable to do it from the age of 10 years old.
Is travel insurance necessary to visit Antarctica?
Yes, absolutely. It is a risky trip and the tour operator makes you sign a liability waiver agreement in case of an accident during the trip. Travel insurance should be taken out to cover repatriation and evacuation from Antarctica.
It is important that Antarctica must be included as a coverage area in this insurance, not many insurance companies offer it. You can also ask the tour operator from whom the cruise was purchased, as many also offer or recommend a company.
Can drones be taken to Antarctica?
According to current regulations, drones can only be used in the interior of the Antarctic Peninsula, but not in coastal areas, as a means of preserving animal species.
Can aurora borealis be seen in Antarctica?
It would be what is missing, but unfortunately at the time when cruise ships make expeditions to Antarctica, the northern lights cannot be observed. The advantage you have between the months of November to February is that the duration of sunlight is longer, which allows you to enjoy the Antarctic landscape for a longer period of time.
Tips for travel to Antarctica
- Carry sea sickness pills. When the ship crosses the Drake Passage it really moves a lot and even the bravest ones have a hard time. Dramamine is the most recognized brand of motion sickness pills, they even have a medication for motion sickness in children. The generic drug is called Dimenhydranate.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses are indispensable. If the sunscreen is factor 50 or higher, it is better.
- Do not leave the path marked by the guide or approach animals without his authorization. It is dangerous and this continent is subject to strict protocols for its conservation.
- The camera is exposed to very cold temperatures and water, so it is advisable to bring some protection.
- Clothing: you have already been warned about the cold, but there is no need to be dramatic about it either. A suitcase with clothes similar to those used for mountaineering is enough. This includes wool or synthetic fabric clothing as a first layer and waterproof clothing as a second layer. In addition, a hat, scarf and gloves are required. The parka and boots are essential to avoid getting wet on the Zodiac expedition and when walking on the Antarctic Peninsula.
- Many companies provide parkas and snow boots, consult with them. If you have not brought snow clothes to Ushuaia, there are many places that will rent them for the day.
- Lastly, don’t forget your leotard/swimsuit. Yes, bathing in Antarctic waters is possible and a fascinating experience.
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