Tour info

Transport

2 flights (longest 3-5 hours); 11 day cruise.

Accommodation

The accommodation in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia is in good, practical upper-mid and mid-range options, MV Ortelius is an ice-strengthened, European-operated expeditionary cruise vessel with comfortable cabins, observation deck and presentation lounge.

Meals

Breakfast daily; dinner day 4; full board days 5-13.

Guides

We carefully select our local partners, some of whom we have worked with for over 25 years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by the latter on their return.

Summary Of Nights

15 days, 14 nights: Buenos Aires 2; Ushuaia 1; Antarctic cruise 10; Buenos Aires 1.

Currency

The unit of currency in Argentina is the Argentine peso. The ship works with Euros and accepts credit cards.

How To Take It

Cash machines are available in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, and so taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds.

We recommend that additionally you take a reasonable quantity of US dollars cash (no more than is covered by your insurance), which you can exchange into local currency. Dollar bills should be in good condition, soiled or torn bills may be refused. You can take sterling, but the exchange rate is not always competitive or even available, restricting the number of places where you can change money.

On the cruise ship you can pay your bill for extras at the end of the cruise with a credit card (Visa or Mastercard), or in Euros.

For our latest currency advice for Argentina please see our FAQs section.

Daily Spend

Meals and some drinks are included on board the Ortelius. You pay for your extras (in Euros or by credit card – Mastercard, Visa or Diner’s Club) at the end of the cruise.

Tipping

Tips are expected and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.

Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have an allowance for cruise ship staff, hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants. On the cruise, a tip of $US 8-10 per person per day for the crew and guides is considered appropriate.

Tipping guidelines can be found in our Briefing Dossier.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential. Make sure your insurance covers you for the full amount if you have to cancel.

Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.

Airport Taxes

If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.

Trip Suitability

The cruise:

Antarctica is very remote: once committed to your journey, you are at the mercy of the weather and ocean conditions, the melting and freezing of ice-packs, and the movement of icebergs. This is expeditionary cruising: you will be facing the same environmental challenges as the early explorers, albeit in much greater comfort, and with the assistance of modern technology and communications.

You must be in good health generally and you should be able to walk over slippery and rocky terrain, although the expedition is ship-based and physically not very demanding. Although you spend as much time as possible ashore, you are welcome to remain aboard the ship if you like. To join most excursions, you must be able to get up and down the steep gangway from the ship to the water level to board the Zodiacs. Staff will assist you in and out of the boats. This will become progressively easier with practice.

The helicopters accommodate 6 passengers per flight. The flight duration is about 15 minutes. Helicopters will only fly in good weather conditions.

There is a doctor on board but bear in mind that if you have a health issue while on the cruise or an accident it could be a long time and maybe an arduous journey before you return to a destination with good medical facilities, so bear this in mind if you have a pre-existing condition.

Climate

Buenos Aires is hottest January-March with temperatures of 30-40°C with high humidity.

Tierra del Fuego will be visited in the summer (December-February) when days are long; temperatures can be mild, but snow flurries are not unknown.  March and November can be sunny and clear, but it can be windy.

Antarctica is visited from late October to March, the southern hemisphere summer. Outside this period days are short and dark. The peninsula has a typical maritime climate with average temperatures during the cruising season varying between 1°C and -15°C. Antarctica is a desert, so you won’t see much precipitation.

Clothing And Special Equipment

The southern hemisphere summer is hot in Buenos Aires so take loose-fitting light clothing for maximum comfort at this time. Spring and autumn are milder and less predictable.

South America is in general a relaxed continent and you won’t need clothes for formal dining but you may wish to take some smart casual wear for dining on the mainland.

On the cruise:
Protective clothing is the single most important way of ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable cruise and the key is to dress in layers. For Antarctic landings we recommend a breathable, thermal base layer to wick away perspiration; a warm mid-layer such as a fleece or down sweater and a wind and waterproof (but breathable) outer shell garment. Trousers should have a thermal lining (or wear a base layer of thermal leggings) and you will need waterproof trousers to wear over them. Plus of course warm socks, hat, scarf, gloves and sunglasses. Rubber boots are essential for Antarctic landings; these can be pre-ordered and are loaned on board free of charge.  Dress on board ship is informal and it’s sensible to bring a spare change of warm, dry clothing for wearing out on deck between landings.

Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts.

Vaccinations

Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You should consult your GP for specific requirements.

You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.

Visas

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.

If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

Travelling Alone

Many cruise ships will accept individuals travelling alone who are willing to share a cabin with a person or persons of the same sex. They will be charged a price based on the rate per person according to the size of the cabin (twin, triple or quadruple). If you prefer not to share a cabin you can opt to pay a single cabin supplement.

The Nature Of Antarctic Travel

Once on board, many factors play a role in shaping the expedition’s progress – the prevailing wind, weather and ice conditions, for example. Ideally, depart the ship by Zodiac to explore the peninsula with at least 2 excursions daily – on land, by Zodiac or a combination of both, lasting anything between 2-4hrs.  There are no man-made jetties in Antarctica so landfalls are ‘wet landings’ where you scramble ashore from the Zodiac in wellingtons and waterproofs. You are then free to explore on your own or in groups, before later being picked up again by Zodiac. Evenings may be spent relaxing, reliving the days’ events with a briefing or lecture, or out on the deck, keeping an eye on the dramatic, ever-changing scenery. Itineraries will vary from the original plan if conditions demand/permit.

It’s a long time at sea, but the variety and intrinsic fascination of what can be seen is spell-binding.

What To See And When

The theatre of wildlife in Antarctica as a whole displays an ever changing narrative of birth, struggle, pleasure, fulfilment and death. You may witness the comedy of a waddling penguin building its nest, a mother bird feeding its young or reuniting with a returning mate; a wily seal escaping the clutches of a hunting whale.

A large variety of marine birds (includes 6 species of penguin – emperor, king, macaroni, chinstrap, gentoo and Adélie) visit the White Continent. Mammals abound here: blue, orca, humpback, minke and southern right whales prowl the chilly ocean, while Weddell, Ross, crab-eater, leopard and elephant seals sprawl on the beaches.

Plant life in Antarctica proper is restricted to lichen, mosses and algae but there are hundreds of colourful varieties of these.

What to see as the season unfolds:

October – November:

• Ice is pristine
• Courting behaviour can be observed
• Light conditions are great for photos

December – January:

• Long days of summer light, milder temperatures.
• Penguin chicks hatch in the Antarctic Peninsula.
• Whale sightings increase.

February – March :

• Excellent whale-watching opportunities.
• Penguin chicks begin to fledge.
• Fur seals increasingly numerous on the Antarctic Peninsula.
• Colourful snow algae break the snow white domination of the landscape.
• Spectacular sunrises and sunsets add a rosy glow to the ice.

Specific to your cruise:

South Shetland Islands:
Visitors include chinstrap, gentoo, macaroni and Adélie penguins; giant petrels, Wilson’s and black-bellied storm petrels, brown and south polar skuas, Cape pigeons, Antarctic terns, blue-eyed shags, Dominican gulls, elephant, fur,
leopard and crab-eater seals; humpback, minke and orca (killer) whales offshore.

Weddell Sea:
Emperor penguins

 

Country info

When is the best time to visit Antarctica?

Antarctica is accessible by ship from October to March, the southern hemisphere’s summer. Outside this period, days are short and dark, and ice blocks access to the key landing sites. The summer months bring with them different benefits. October, November and early December often offer the lowest prices, the freshest snow and plenty of animal courtship activity. January and February offer chances to see freshly hatched penguin chicks, while March is the best time for whale-watching. For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.

What other destinations does Antarctica combine with?

The vast majority of Antarctic cruises begin in Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of Argentina. This makes exploring the rest of Argentina perfect for anyone wanting to extend their trip of a lifetime, with Buenos Aires, Salta, Mendoza, Iguazu Falls, the Valdez Peninsula and Patagonia, just some of the fantastic options. The fly-in cruises begin in Chile, making them easy to combine with a trip to Santiago, the Atacama Desert, the Lake District, Torres del Paine and even mystical Easter Island. Many other options throughout Latin America are available however, so just get in touch to discuss which one is right for you. Within an Antarctic cruise itinerary there are options to include the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, both magical wildlife experiences in their own right.

How do I get to Antarctica?

There are no direct flights from the UK to Antarctica. Most visitors take a cruise from Ushuaia, a port on the island of Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of Argentina, via a flight from Buenos Aires. There are also fly-cruises from Punta Arenas in Patagonian Chile, which require a stop in the capital Santiago.

Can I visit Antarctica without going on a ship?

There is very little infrastructure in Antarctica, with only small groups of scientists and researchers braving the cold for more than a few weeks at a time. There are no roads, houses, hotels or restaurants and while there are occasional temporary camps that tourists can fly to, these tend to be extremely expensive and don’t offer the variety of wildlife or scenery that expedition cruises provide.

Will I get seasick in Antarctica?

The waters around the Antarctic Peninsula tend to be very calm and stable, so once you have made it to the outlying islands of the South Shetlands, seasickness is generally not an issue. However, most voyages depart from Ushuaia in Argentina and head south across the infamous Drake Passage to reach the White Continent. The Drake marks the convergence zone between the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern oceans and the differing currents and water temperatures combine to form one of the choppiest stretches of water in the world. Many people see the Drake as a rite of passage that must be crossed in order to truly say you have been to Antarctica. And modern technology is making the journey far easier than it ever has been before. Clever bow designs and retractable stabilizers allow some vessels to ease the severity of the stirring, while more efficient engines have cut the crossing time to as little as 1.5 days on the fastest liners. But, for those still keen to avoid it, there are options. Several operators have fly-in itineraries that hop over the Drake by air between southern Chile and King George Island, from where more settled waters carry you towards the mainland. Other routes travel via the Falklands and/or South Georgia, which avoids the convergence zone and approaches the peninsula from calmer water to the east, meaning they only cross the Drake once, on the way back to Argentina. If you are concerned about seasickness, speak to our team to discuss the best solution to suit you.

How fit do you need to be to visit Antarctica?

To get the best out of your visit you should have a reasonable level of mobility and be able to hike over uneven ground and thick snow for up to 10 minutes. However, passengers are normally given three walk difficulty options per landing, offering varying degrees of exertion, and as long as you are able to climb in and out of a Zodiac (inflatable raft), you will still be able to experience some of the wonders that Antarctica has to offer. Wildlife, such as penguins and seals, tend to gather near the water’s edge, meaning you rarely need to walk far (if at all) to be amongst the action. Zodiac cruises can also give you close-up encounters without even needing to make landfall.

How much is an Antarctic cruise?

Antarctic expedition cruises span a huge range of prices that can vary based on the chosen ship, cabin, itinerary, departure date and time of booking. Due to the costs involved with maintenance, supply chains, fuel and port fees, in one of the most remote places on Earth, along with the need to avoid turning Antarctica into a mass tourism destination, none of the options will be “cheap”, however their value for money is rarely (if ever) questioned by those who have been. Whatever your budget, if you dream of going to Antarctica, get in touch with our team and we can help to ensure you have access to the best options and prices, including offers that will not be advertised on our website.

What is the difference between an “expedition” cruise and a “regular” cruise?

All of our Antarctic cruises are categorised as “expeditionary” in nature. This term denotes that the objective of the cruise is to give you the best possible chances of seeing the scenery and wildlife that makes the region so special. If, for example, a pod of whales appears next to the ship in the middle of the night, there is a good chance that a call will go out over the tannoy system so that those who want to, can make their way out on deck to get a glimpse and take a photo. It also means that the itinerary is never fixed. If you are due to make a landing on one island, but the spotters have seen something of interest on the neighbouring island, the crew will do what they can to get approval to land there instead. Equally, weather will often play a role in shaping your exact course. Also, while “regular” cruise passengers may be used to cabaret shows or other similar entertainment in the evenings, expedition cruises tend to have lectures or documentary screenings, with parties generally restricted to the final night.

How far in advance should I book an Antarctic cruise?

Expedition cruise operators will often open bookings around 18 months prior to the start of each Antarctic season. Booking as early as possible gives you access to the best flight prices, your preferred ship and cabin, and ensures availability in other locations you may wish to add to your holiday, such as Patagonia, which can sell out fast. There are also likely to be a range of early booking offers available for most ships, cabin types, itineraries and departure dates. These offers are increasingly becoming the best available at any point throughout the booking period. Occasionally operators will release a flash sale which can look like a better deal, but often these arrive late, when flight prices are high, and can come with many restrictions that involve making some form of compromise.

Which is better, the Arctic or the Antarctic?

As with all tourist destinations, the issue of where is better to go between the Arctic and Antarctic depends much on the person going there. The Arctic has highlights like Inuit cultures, polar bears and walruses, with relatively low flight and cruise prices compared to its southern counterpart, but Antarctica is more pristine, with more epic icescapes and is of course home to penguins. Both also have various species of seals, whales and birds, and a rich history of exploration. In the polar bear versus penguin debate, it is important to remember that Antarctic fauna poses no threat to humans, so visitors are able to get much closer to the wildlife than those travelling north where there are much stricter limits in place on where visitors may roam.

What wildlife will I see in Antarctica?

The Antarctic islands and coastlines frequented by expedition cruises are popular nesting sites for 3 species of penguins: gentoos, Adèlies and chinstraps. Visitors to the peninsula are likely to see these three species in relatively high numbers, but will be unlikely to see rock hoppers, macaronis, Magellanics, or kings, for which you must normally travel to the Falklands and/or South Georgia.

Emperor penguins tend to congregate further inland and so are rarely seen by expedition cruises. Some operators offer occasional trips that include helicopter landings near Snow Hill Island, located in the Weddel Sea, which offer the best chances of emperor encounters, but come with a higher price tag than regular voyages.

Other wildlife regularly seen around the peninsula includes: fur seals, leopard seals, Weddell seals, crabeater seals, sei whales, minke whales, killer whales, humpback whales, fulmars, petrels, shags and skuas. Elephant seals can sometimes be seen, but are more commonly found in the Falklands and South Georgia where they appear in huge numbers.

Is it worth going to the Falklands and South Georgia?

While the Antarctic Peninsula has gigantic glaciers and enormous icebergs calved by nature into ornate and inspiring shapes, its extraordinary wildlife offering is actually upstaged for many, by the more northerly islands of the Falklands and South Georgia. The Falklands, along with fascinating war history, give visitors the slightly odd opportunity to witness penguins waddling across a lush green meadow, or elephant seals battling on a beautiful white sand beach. It almost never snows here, so while the winds can be just as bracing as in Antarctica, its scenery is very different and there are three penguin species here that you won’t find on the peninsula. South Georgia, located further to the south and east, has landscapes more in keeping with Antarctica, but its wildlife quantities are seen almost nowhere else on Earth. Anyone interested in spotting king penguins should make this a priority, as almost half a million pairs make this island their home.

Can I see the aurora in Antarctica?

The aurora (more commonly known as the northern or southern lights) are a phenomenon caused by solar winds hitting the Earth’s magnetosphere and are most frequently seen around the Arctic and Antarctic circles. While solar winds travel towards us all year round, in order to see their effects, there must be almost complete darkness. During much of the Antarctic cruise season, owing to the region’s southerly latitudes, there is close to 24-hour daylight throughout, making it rare for visitors to see the lights. However, those travelling in October or March stand the best chance.

Are Antarctic voyages good for solo travellers?

In many ways Antarctica is perfect for solo travellers. Some operators offer single cabins, some offer willing shares (meaning solo passengers will be paired with another solo passenger of the same gender and not have to pay a single supplement), and some charge low supplements for those wanting a twin/double cabin for solo use. Onboard, you are likely to find a number of other like-minded solo travellers, and dining tables on most ships are deliberately large, encouraging people to interact with strangers and expedition team members. Whether it’s the Drake Passage, the scenery or the wildlife, there is always an exciting topic with which to break the ice!

Which ship should I choose for my Antarctic voyage?

Journey Latin America has been selling expedition cruises to Antarctica since the early days of tourism in the region. Our partners are tried and tested and have been carefully chosen to give us a comprehensive range of prices, itineraries, capacities, excursions and levels of luxury. You can see an overview of our selection here: Antarctica Compare Ships - Journey Latin America, but our Travel Experts are on hand to give you detailed and impartial advice to find the options best suited to your budget and requirements.

Will there be Wi-Fi on my Antarctic cruise?

Although travelling to Antarctica will be seen by many as a great excuse to escape the online world and truly tune in to the nature and beauty of this untouched wilderness, for those needing to stay connected there are now several vessels that offer Wi-Fi connectivity. The quality of the connection cannot be guaranteed but is generally improving as technology evolves. Some operators may charge, while others will include it in the cabin rate. If Wi-Fi is important to you, please let us know when enquiring so that we can match you to a suitable vessel.

What should I pack when travelling to Antarctica?

Most of our expedition cruise operators will include a warm windproof jacket, which you collect onboard and can often take home afterwards. Most will also have waterproof rubber boots for guests to borrow during landings and Zodiac cruises. Temperatures in the Antarctic summer can feel surprisingly warm, especially when walking, so layers are key. Onboard the ship, most passengers choose comfort over style. On the vast majority of vessels there is no dress code at all, but although it is not mandatory, we recommend taking a relatively smart outfit for one or two evening events. Silversea operate a fairly strict dress code, so passengers travelling with them should check their documents for details.

What is the currency in Antarctica?

On board your cruise ship you can usually use US dollars or Euros to pay for goods and services. The most popular credit cards are also commonly accepted. You may be lucky enough to visit the “Penguin Post Office” at Port Lockroy. To purchase postcards, stamps or souvenirs here, you can use US dollars, Euros or Sterling, but credit cards are not yet accepted. The Falkland Islands use their own version of the pound, but British pounds are equally valid currency. Many shops willingly accept US dollars or Euros, and most will allow you to pay with credit or debit cards as well.

What is the time difference between Antarctica and the UK?

Time zones can be complicated in Antarctica due to territorial claims and its position at the bottom of the globe. However, in practical terms, visitors need only know that most ships operate using Argentina’s time zone (UTC -3), as this is usually the point of embarkation. The Falkland Islands also use UTC -3, while South Georgia officially uses UTC-2.

Do I need a visa for Antarctica?

As no country owns Antarctica, there are no visas required. To reach Antarctica via either Argentina or Chile, holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate. If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

What vaccinations do I need for Antarctica?

Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.