How to travel to Antarctica

Visiting Antarctica is one of the most exciting trips you can ever make, but it is not for anyone. Although it is expensive, the people who were there agree that it is really spectacular, and an unforgettable trip.

In this article you will have an overview of what you should think about when planning a trip to Antarctica.

Choose the right moment

The tour season in Antarctica covers about five months, especially during the summer in the southern hemisphere (November to March). All the other seasons of the year are extremely cold, dark, and with a lot of ice.

Although after the season there will be fewer people around, much of the fauna will have already gone to the sea. During these months, some of the things you can expect are:

  • November - The ice begins to break and is the mating season of the penguins and other birds.
  • December / January - The penguin chicks are born and are fed and bred in breeding areas.
  • February / March - The penguin chicks leave the nest, the adult penguins move, and the whales are easy to spot.

Decide how to travel to Antarctica

Most visitors to Antarctica travel by boat, and a few intrepid travelers go on yachts. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, but none of them is cheap, so it really comes down to comfort preferences, ground visits and other services offered by the tourism organizations in question. Most trips to the Antarctic region depart from Argentina (Ushuaia, Port Stanley, Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn) and Chile (Punta Arenas).

There are also trips in icebreakers, and sometimes, with helicopters for tourists who visit colonies of emperor penguins, historic cabins, dry valleys, etc. These trips leave from places like New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.

The best way to find vessel options is to visit the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) at www.iaato.org and look in your "member directory".

Traveling on a large boat will provide you with the highest level of comfort, but you will also have to spend time with as many people as possible. On the high seas, these vessels are the most comfortable, but strict guidelines on the number of people who can visit the coast will limit your opportunities for ground visits.

Smaller vessels allow more time on land. This is due to tourist guidelines that limit landings to groups of 100 people.

Consider air travel to l'Antarctica

There are several companies that offer flights to Antarctica, from Punta Arenas in Chile, from Cape Town in South Africa, and from Qantas in Australia. Some flights are simply meant to fly over, and you can see Antarctica from the air, while some offer cruise options.

Other flights go straight to Antarctica and you have to stay at the base or camp established only for tourist purposes. Please note that flights are subject to cancellations due to bad weather and other security issues. The best approach to evaluate flight options is to read guides written specifically for Antarctica.

As with boat trips, the only thing you can expect is to pay a considerable amount of money.

Expeditions to l'Antarctica

Expeditions to l'Antarctica tend to be of short duration (around 3 hours or less) and you will always be accompanied by a guide unless you have made a private expedition.

Hazards and safety

The Antarctic environment is dangerous for humans. The weather is very changeable and it is always cold, even in the summer.

There are hazards such as cracks in ice fields and glaciers, and fire hazards are high in the very dry environment, so the handling of any flammable material must be done with care.

There are no vaccination requirements for Antarctica, but you must be fit and in good health, because medical treatment will be basic.

Respect the fragility of the Antarctic environment

The Antarctic environment is fragile and apart from the expeditions and bases, there has been very little human change. Wildlife remains fearless of humans due to the lack of long-term negative interaction. It is important to respect the untouched nature of Antarctica and to ensure that tourism does not have a negative impact. There are rules for visitors adopted under the Antarctic Treaty that regulate the actions of visitors to Antarctica and are worth reading as part of your preparation for the visit. Some of the basic elements to consider are:

  • Do not go too close to the wildlife and do nothing to disturb the wildlife.
  • Do not throw trash. You must pack it all.
  • Do not break anything. All human structures built have historical value. Nor can you write on anything like rocks or other elements of the earth.
  • You can take photos of elements but you can not move them.

Tips
  • This is one of those trips that people can not forget. If you do not mind the cold, this could be the perfect trip, which will create a lifetime memory.