My advice for traveling to Antarctica

What does Antarctica look like?

Michel Berger spoke of the “white paradise”, I think it’s a very beautiful image. Huge icebergs, of dimensions difficult to imagine, glaciers as far as the eye can see, suspended or at sea level, but also mountains… A lot of relief in fact! Besides, many will perhaps imagine that Antarctica is a flat territory, it is not at all.

Of course, be prepared to meet lots of marine animals and just as many birds!

It’s possible to observe (for specialists) five types of penguins. A quick aside: the penguins in the southern hemisphere are not the same as those in the northern hemisphere.

Antarctic penguins do not fly (unlike Arctic penguins). There are about 20 different species of penguins in the Southern Hemisphere. The confusion comes from the fact that all penguins translates to “Penguin” in English and “Pinguino” in Spanish.

So, you can observe the Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adélie, Royal and Emperor penguins there.

You’ll see seals in abundance. These include the Weddell seal, the Crabeater seal, the Ross seal, the southern elephant seal and the leopard seal.

Also expect to come across humpback whales and orcas, because that’s also what a trip to Antarctica is all about: meeting the largest marine mammals!

When to go to Antarctica?

The time to go to Antarctica is from November to March. But the best time is between mid-December and the end of January, because the days are longer (it never gets dark), the weather conditions are generally ideal and the wildlife is at its peak.

How to get there?

There are three ways to go to Antarctica. I am only talking about the options from the South of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. Because in fact, it’s also possible to go there from other countries, such as New Zealand for example, but the sailing times are too long.

The most popular option is by cruise ship departing from Ushuaia. Ushuaia is in fact the southernmost (large) city and the closest to the Antarctic Peninsula. This is where all cruise ships depart for an Antarctic trip.

Another option is by sailboat from Ushuaia as well. This is a much “riskier” option because you know when you are leaving (and even then it’s not always certain…), but you’ll have no idea of ​​your return date.

A third option is to go by plane from Punta Arenas in Chile. The advantage of this option is that you avoid the 96 hours of navigation (round trip) but the cost will be higher and above all, in case of bad weather, you do not leave on the scheduled day…

What type of ship to choose?

If you love adventure, you have no problem with a schedule to respect, if you do not suffer from seasickness, and finally, if you do not mind living in a small space with other people for a very long time, then the sailboat option is for you! If you prefer a more comfortable option, you should of course go on a cruise ship.

Looking more closely, we see that there are varied offers. It will be up to you to choose according to your expectations: do you prefer to give importance to the comfort of the ship and the cabins? Or do you prefer the adventure aspect of the outings and activities offered on site? Or maybe both? I can of course take care of booking your cruise for you and, above all, include it in a program.

What is very important to know is that visits and descents on sites are limited to 100 people. So choose a ship that limits its capacity to 100 tourists for the polar zones. Because if you are 150 people for example, you’ll have to plan two tours, therefore half as much time on land and with the possibility that one of the groups does not go down if the weather deteriorates for example.

Which route to choose?

All cruise lines offer almost the same itineraries (what can vary are the type of visits and activities on site). The sites visited are different, because there cannot be two ships at the same time on the same site. Each site is booked in advance to organize the visits.

There are three main routes:

• 10 nights to visit the Antarctic Peninsula. Some cruise lines offer a 12-night option. Note that for the option which is generally 10 nights, there are actually 5 days on site, so as much travel time in the Drake Passage and at the dock, on the way there and back, as on site…

• 12 nights (so 2 ​​more nights) to go to the Arctic Circle. This is a very good option, it is more expensive because it’s a little longer, but it still leaves you a little more time on site, which is not negligible in my opinion. With this formula, in addition to the mythical side of going down to the Arctic Circle, you have a good chance of observing King penguins and possibly a few Emperor penguins.

• 16 nights to do the big loop passing through the Falkland Islands, South Georgia Island, and finally the Antarctic Peninsula. This option is for those who can take the time and who have the means to realize this dream. A journey between the History of Argentina (Falklands War), the colonies of King penguins by the thousands in South Georgia, and the advantage of only taking the Drake Passage once (on the way back).

How much does an Antarctica cruise cost?

For a trip to Antarctica, there are many factors that can triple the price! For example, the capacity of the boat: the lower it is, the higher the prices; the level of services on board: catering, attention from the staff, etc.

And of course, the type of cabin: the larger the cabin, the higher the prices. I would like to point out that the most expensive cabins or suites are generally located on the upper decks, meaning that the higher up you are on the boat, the higher the prices. BUT let’s not forget that the higher up you go, the more seasick you get.

During the Drake Passage, I think you’ll be very glad to be at a lower level, even if the view of the waves and troughs can be impressive…

So, expect a starting price of approximately $10,000/person for the shortest cruise.

Finally, note that there is an office in Ushuaia called “last minute”. I understand that it’s possible to buy a cabin the day before or the day of departure at a very low price. But you’ll take what is left, without being able to choose in advance either the dates or the company.

Ushuaia

Before embarking, as well as on your return, you’ll pass through Ushuaia. In general, the stage is rather short, but I can only advise you to take two days (minimum) to visit the city and the Tierra del Fuego National Park.

An unusual idea that I give you to enhance your trip: when you return from your cruise, you’ll certainly spend the last night at the quay. In general, the boat will leave the next day for the white continent.

It’s often the only free night off the boat for the crew members, who therefore take the opportunity to go out and have a drink (and take their minds off things a bit).

The atmosphere is then quite “offbeat” and very nice when crews of different nationalities and various companies mix, and most of them meet to share their adventure stories. So don’t hesitate to join them!

To conclude

Antarctica is the ultimate journey, a real adventure, a journey that will shake you up (at least I hope so). There are about 45,000 tourists per year (only) who have the chance to observe the white continent.

You don’t come back the same after such an epic. It’s the wildest and most southern destination that awaits you. A journey that is worth all the possible sacrifices…

Would you dare to go to Antarctica?