Antarctica can seem like an impossible dream. For the longest time, it was impossible. Even now, some areas remain out of reach to the ordinary person. But to be honest, that is part of the attraction. As the world has modernised, there are almost no areas of the world that are truly wild and unique.

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Except, of course, for Antarctica. It is a world of its own, creating its own weather systems, forcing all visitors to give way to its power. Many animals found in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands are found nowhere else. Even something as mundane as ‘ice’ fascinates, where the colours, shapes and the sheer size of it boggle the mind. But part of that feeling of impossibility comes from not knowing how to get there, and what that sort of travel entails. Should you be looking for trips to Antarctica from Argentina, Antarctica trips from New Zealand or Australia, or even flights across to the continent? Where do you start?

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The answer is right here.

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There are a few different ways to get to Antarctica. But, before we get to that, we need to talk about the elephant seal in the room.

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The Drake Passage

The Drake Passage is the stretch of water that separates South America from the Antarctic Peninsula. If you were looking to board any one of the ships to Antarctica from South America, then this is the ocean passage you will need to sail over.

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The Drake Passage takes about two days to cross, and of course, two days to return. The currents passing through this area of open water meet no resistance from any continent and so the seas can be quite wild. It is for this reason that the Drake Passage has become infamous. This area was historically treacherous but today, with modern boatbuilding technology, it’s a different journey. Using modern medication also helps with most issues, and most problems arise from people taking seasickness medication too late. The general rule is to take it before you need it, as you can’t undo nausea once it has started. The story goes that you tend to encounter two different types of Drake Passage. You have the ‘Drake Lake’, where all is calm, and the ‘Drake Shake’, where large swells rock the ship. When you are taking a trip on one of the ships to Antarctica from South America (or more likely trips to Antarctica from Argentina), then you will need to be aware of it. Then again, Antarctica is located at the end of the earth. If you want to go to wild places, the journey can sometimes be a little wild. Approach the Drake Passage with the right mindset and you might even enjoy the ride!

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Trips to Antarctica from Argentina

The reason we said trips to Antarctica from Argentina earlier on is that the vast majority of them leave from Argentina.There are also ships leaving from Chile, and even those taking in the Chilean fjords, but many of the ships to Antarctica from South America come out of Ushuaia on the very tip of Argentina. However, if you are looking at flying to Antarctica to join a cruise and skip the Drake Passage, then that is Chile all the way. Chile maintains an airbase on King George Island, so being Chilean territory you will need to depart from Chile in order to reach it. The advantage of this is that you can skip any rough seas on the Drake Passage and also save the days it takes to cross the Drake Passage each way. The downside of this is that you also have to factor in the weather, as the high winds that make the Drake Passage rough can also make the flight impossible. At the end of the day, whether you choose one of the trips to Antarctica from Argentina or choose to fly down from Chile, Mother Nature has the final say.

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Trips to Antarctica from New Zealand

Last but not least, there are the less familiar methods. You can join Antarctica trips from New Zealand, but this is also a big undertaking. This is visiting the Ross Sea area of Antarctica, deep in the Antarctic Circle and much further south than the Antarctic Peninsula. Because of this distance, Antarctica trips from New Zealand take longer to reach the mainland. Although they don’t have to cross the Drake Passage they still have to cross the vast Southern Ocean. The distance and limited season do mean that trips start at a higher cost than trips to Antarctica from Argentina but it also means that you will likely be the only ones there. In addition to the sub-Antarctic islands you can visit on the way down, you also have the amazing legacy of the explorer bases of Scott, Shackleton and Mawson to visit.

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Finally, you do have a premium experience of flying down to Antarctica from the African continent and staying in accommodation down there. However, the cost of this is prohibitive to most travellers and so only appeals to a select group of travellers.

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When to Go to Antarctica

The Antarctic season is short, from October to March (aka the Southern summer):

• October to December: In the early season, Antarctica is emerging from winter and you’ll find more pristine ice conditions. Animals will also be using this new warmth to court, breed and give birth, resulting in unique nesting and mating behaviours.
• December to late January: Mid season will find lots of penguin chicks dotting the shores. You’ll also see leopard seals taking advantage of their naivety for a quick snack. Young seals (also known as weaners) will be annoying their mothers and more whales will arrive to take advantage of the good feeding. 
• February to March: Late season is typically a good time to explore deeper into the Antarctic Circle and the Weddell Sea. This is when the ice has melted somewhat, although making it there is still not guaranteed. This time also sees chicks take flight and young animals try their luck at survival whilst whales will be taking advantage of the last good feeding before heading north to give birth.

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To be honest, though, any time spent in Antarctica is a great time. Unless there is something very specific you want to see, any trip to Antarctica at any time during this period will be a trip of a lifetime.

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Boats to Antarctica: Does Size Matter?

Yeah, for a few reasons. The most important reason (apart from the service and ship style) is that no more than 100 passengers can land at one site at any one time. This means a small ship (let’s say around 120 passengers) can land almost all of its passengers at the same time in the same area. A 200-passenger ship can only land half its passengers. A 400-passenger ship has half that again. And if a ship has more than 500 people onboard, the ship won’t be able to do any landings at all. It does depend on how many guests are doing other activities (like kayaking) and how many zodiacs the ship has that can be used for scenic cruising at the same time, but the numbers remain the same. So, that’s one of the reasons we work with small ships to Antarctica from South America, instead of trying to market the cheapest cabin on the largest ships.

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Ready to Write Your Own Polar Story?

There is nothing like Antarctica. It’s a connection with an Earth we don’t see often, in all its glory. From the Drake Passage crossing to the crack and creak of shifting glaciers, to the wildlife encounters on offer, it is a remarkable place for travellers to explore. Whether you take any of the Antarctica trips from New Zealand or join one of the ships to Antarctica from South America, any trip to the region is one that will live with you forever.

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Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help make Antarctica part of your reality.

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