Antarctica is one of the few places on Earth that is barely touched by humans and is other-worldly. You won’t find tourist traps or crowds, despite the growing popularity of visiting Antarctica. Since Antarctica is so remote, it is going to take a little more planning and research to make the trip magical. This is definitely the trip of a lifetime, and it’s not like you can easily re-visit to see what you missed, so take your time planning to get the most bang for your buck.
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Antarctica Basics
Antarctica was discovered in 1841 by James Clark Ross as he passed by what is now known as the Ross Sea. Antarctica is not considered a country – and no one can truly own the landmass. However, twelve countries have claimed their rights to own 12 different sections of Antarctica. Each country has to sign a treaty to protect the nature and limit their reasons for being on the ice continent.
Why Visit Antarctica?
Sure, Antarctica is a bucket list item for millions of people, but only a few thousand people visit each year. People visit to see the unique landscape. The snow-covered mountains, glaciers, icebergs, are so untouched by man that it’s unlike anywhere else on Earth. The millions of penguins, whales, seals, and other wildlife are also impressive.
You can go kayaking with seals or walk with penguins in Antarctica – even go camping on the ice! For the truly brave (aka crazy) you can take a polar plunge in the Southern Ocean. All of this leads to epic bragging rights!
Fun Fact: Anywhere between 1,000 and 5,000 people call Antarctica home – all depends on the time of the year with more people living there in summer (Nov-Mar).
Best times to visit Antarctica
You are only able to visit Antarctica during the warmer months – from mid-October until mid-March. The end of October is when you’ll find ice breaking apart and penguins nesting. November is when elephant seals lay their eggs. December and January are the best times for baby penguins (especially if you’re not going too far south). Seal pups are also growing. If you want to see whales, then February and March are your best months. We did two weeks from late-January to mid-February, but our cruise passed the Antarctic Circle, so we were still able to see baby penguins. Not all cruise ships go far south like this, some only do the tip of the peninsula. If you really wanted to though, you could get paid to work in Antarctica.
How much does a trip to Antarctica cost?
This is probably the first question people ask me when I talk about my trip to Antarctica. For my trip (which includes 4 days in Buenos Aires, 2 days in Ushuaia), it was about $14,000 total (including the excursions). This is probably mid-range for a trip to Antarctica. There are a wide array of tours – including by plane! You can fly from Cape Town to the South Pole in a day, or book a 30 day cruise. It’s really up to you, your style, and your budget.
We decided on our cruise because we knew we wanted to cross the Antarctic Circle, and see more than just the tip of the peninsula. Ours was a two week cruise, which is about mid-range for length as well! Determining the length of the cruise is an important step in planning a trip to Antarctica.
What are the hotels like on Antarctica?
Other than the cost of the trip, this was probably the most frequently asked question I’ve been asked. There are no hotels on Antarctica. Your accommodation is the ship you book. We had a double room with a window to the outside so we could see out if needed. The room was typical for a cruise ship. We didn’t spend too much time in the rooms as there was always something going on.
What are the entry requirements for Antarctica?
There are no visas or vaccines required to visited Antarctica. However, the country that you ship departs from may require vaccines or visas. Some countries need an Antarctic permit to visit. Usually though, the cruise operator needs to be trained and certified.
How is crossing the Drake Passage?
If your cruise leaves from South America, you’ll have to cross the Drake Passage. This infamous waterway is notorious for rough waters and destroying ships. But no worries – those ships were wooden and pre-date modern technology. Learn all about crossing the Drake Passage and what it’s really like.
What animals will I see in Antarctica?
Antarctica cruises are the best way to see mother nature showing off (in my opinion). Fields of sea ice, massive glaciers, and towering icebergs set the scene for incredible wildlife. You can pretty much guarantee penguin sightings. I couldn’t count how many Adelie, chinstrap, or Gentoo penguins we saw even if I tried. We did not see Emperor penguins as we did not go far enough south.
Seals are also very common in Antarctica. They often share beaches and icebergs peacefully with penguins. (Except the Leopard Seal, which happily eats penguins). Elephant seals, fur seals, and crabeater seals were regular occurrences. The only time we saw a leopard seal was when we were kayaking.
Whales are also a common occurrence. Sometimes you would just be relaxing and reading and see a spout come up out of the water. The crew would quickly announce that there was a whale (or a few) and where to go to spot them. On our visit, we got to visit Whilhelmina Bay, nicknamed “Whale-mina Bay”, for the large number of humpback whales that congregate here for the krill. We were also able to see Minke whales and Orcas.
Be sure to check out my simple wildlife photography tips so you can capture the best picture!
Fun Fact: There are no polar bears or foxes in the Antarctic – just the Arctic. Also, there are no sharks in Antarctica since they are cold blooded and it’s too cold for them.
Some Antarctic cruises include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands (ours didn’t). However, if yours does, then you open the possibility of seeing King penguins, Rockhoppers, and Black-browned Albatross.
What is the weather like on Antarctica?
Unpredictable. The only constant is cold. On our first landing we had a foggy and misty day, on other days there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Sometimes it changed throughout the day. You should always anticipate wind. Definitely pack in layers – since you may be hiking in snow you may want to remove a layer or two. We also had a really warm day (around 38 degrees Fahrenheit) where we had a barbecue on the ship.
What do you actually DO on Antarctica?
Since the cruise ships are smaller (and therefore don’t have a bar on each level, a mini-shopping mall, or casino) many people think they’ll be bored on the ship. Absolutely NOT. Every day there were lectures – ranging from the history of Antarctica, the animals of the continent, and even photography tips! Since we only had about 250 people on the boat, we were able to do landings almost every day (see below for why this is important). Food is included and was delicious! There was also a game room with puzzles, story time, and of course the views were incredible. We got to know many of our fellow passengers in the main observation deck and I got to catch up on my reading.
What do I need to bring with me?
Depending on the ship, some essential items may be included. Our ship provided us very stylish jackets (they called them parkas) and waterproof, calf-level boots to wear on land. Check to see if your ship includes these items but if not you’ll definitely want them!
- Camera and plenty of batteries and memory space!
- An extra set of waterproof/windproof pants (penguin poop smells awful)
- Thermals & layers
- Sunglasses
- At least two pairs of gloves – one thick and one thin (preferably more in case they get wet)
- Bathing suit for a polar plunge
- Sense of adventure!
Here’s a great packing list for Antarctica – including clothes and gear!
Travel Tip: Most cruise lines offer you detailed information about what to bring. Our cruise ship provided muck boots so I didn’t have to find water-proof, mid-calf high boots to bring.
Save “How to Plan a Trip to Antarctica” for later!
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