How to Get to ANTARCTICA?
Are you dreaming about a trip to Antarctica? How to get to Antarctica? Is it even possible?
Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent, situated south of the Antarctic Circle. It is the windiest, coldest and iciest continent in the world. It is twice the size of Australia, and it’s one of the least explored places on Earth. Travelling to Antarctica is on a bucket list for so many people. Completely covered by an ice sheet, it is known for its unique landscapes — glaciers, icebergs and mountains. By the way, did you know that Antarctica has active volcanoes? Antarctica’s Mount Erebus is the southernmost active volcano on Earth!
Visiting incredible Antarctica is a once in a lifetime opportunity by how beautiful and wild it is! Antarctica cruise is one of the most scenic cruises in the world.
Be warned, though. Travelling to Antarctica is not cheap. The cheapest option will set you back several thousand euros.
Read on to learn more about travelling to Antarctica.
How to Get to Antarctica?
Cruise to Antarctica
Going on a cruise is the best way how to get to Antarctica.
Antarctica Cruise is not your regular cruise. It’s so different from the average Caribbean or Mediterranean cruise. Not because of the weather, but mainly how the cruise is organised.
During a cruise to Antarctica, you can participate in educational seminars and lectures, and talk to experts in the field. Some liners organise bar talks in the evenings when guests can talk with experts in a more informal setting.
When sailing, you’ll also have an opportunity to see Antarctica’s incredible wildlife, including large penguin and seal colonies, take a dip in ice-cold water, marvel at icebergs and glaciers, and take in pristine Antarctic landscapes. If you are lucky, you might spot a whale.
You’ll travel on a kayak or Zodiacs to hard-to-reach places, and explore these places alongside teams of biologists, geologists and other specialists who will give you an insight into this vast unexplored territory.
As you can see, it’s more of an expedition than a regular cruise.
There are different itineraries and companies to choose from. There are smaller and bigger cruise ships sailing to Antarctica. Some cruise lines also offer luxury cruises to Antarctica, but they are more expensive, and consequently — less popular.
Some of the best expedition cruises to Antarctica:
- Silversea Expeditions;
- Lindblad Expeditions;
- Hurtigruten Expeditions;
- Albatros Expeditions;
- Quark Expeditions.
The most popular cruises are 2-3 weeks long. 3 week-long cruises may include a stop at the Falklands and South Georgia.
Most Antarctica cruises depart from Ushuaia (a resort town in Argentina).
However, there are also cruises departing from Chile, New Zealand and Australia.
Air+Cruise Option (“Fly-the-Drake”)
Flying is also a great way how to get to Antarctica because it avoids the rough crossing of the Drake Passage.
Keep in mind that there are no scheduled flights to Antarctica, but it’s possible to fly on a charter flight, which is a part of a package holiday.
Charter flights are operated by Aerovías DAP, a Chilean airline. Most flights are operated on a British Aerospace plane, BAE-146. It is a high-wing plane that has short runway requirements for takeoff and landing — perfect for operating in Antarctica.
Sailing through the Drake Passage from Ushuaia takes about 2 days. Whereas a flight to Antarctica takes only about 2 hours. However, as you can imagine, this option costs more than “just a cruise” option.
Many air+cruise packages offer a flight from Punta Arenas (Chile) to King George Island. This lets you avoid crossing the rough Drake Passage. At King George Island, you’ll start your adventure around Antarctica. At the end of your trip, you’ll return back to King George Island and fly back to Punta Arenas. There are also air+cruise options with flying only one way — to Antarctica and getting a ship back to South America, and vice versa.
Many air cruises depart from Punta Arenas in Chile.
Check out Air+Cruise options on:
Book adventure
Book your Antarctica adventure early to ensure you get the best price. Also, Antarctica cruises tend to sell out very quickly as the expedition season is very short. Keep in mind that visiting the continent is only possible during Antarctica’s summer — from late October to March.
Arrive at your departure port two days early, to ensure you don’t miss your ship. If you are travelling from Ushuaia, give yourself two or three days to explore this wonderful picturesque Argentinian city. Often called the ‘End of the World’ due to its southern location, Ushuaia is one of the best places to visit in Argentina. Do not miss the opportunity to explore it!
Antarctica Travel Tips
- Pack motion sickness medicine. It is the most reliable way to prevent seasickness on an Antarctica cruise. You may need to start taking the meds a couple of days before the trip.
- Bring a dry bag for your day trips on a Zodiac (inflatable boat) to avoid soaking your camera, smartphone and other electronics.
- Don’t forget that it’s cold. It’s a snow-covered desert after all. Pack warm clothes, and wear warm socks and shoes. Wearing layers is a must. Thus you’ll be prepared for a wide range of conditions and temperatures.
- Wear a rain-and-windproof jacket and trousers. Pack sturdy water-resistant boots.
- Be ready that the sun is visible almost all day during the summer in Antarctica. There is a period of time around Christmas when the sun does not set!
- As you are going to be travelling to one of the remotest corners of our planet, and you will be on a ship far away from modern facilities, you’ll need to provide information about your health. Also, health insurance is a must. Evacuation must be covered by your insurance policy.
- Make sure you find out what is included in the cost of your cruise, and what is not.
- Pack a travel adapter, in case your ship has different electricity sockets than those in your home country.
- Don’t forget to pack sunglasses (or even better — ski goggles) to protect your eyes on bright and sunny days.
- There’s internet on the board, but you have to pay for it. And it is expensive.
