Antarctica

Of our planet’s seven continents, Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest. It is, truly, one of the ends of the Earth. For a few brief months each year, the weather settles down, the pack ice opens, and a select few visitors can explore this vast wonderland of mountain and ice, along with the wildlife that call this polar region home.

Embarking from Ushuaia, Argentina, guests will first navigate the notorious Drake Passage and it’s unpredictable seas in order to reach the Antarctic Peninsula. Or, consider a fly-in cruise from Punta Arenas, Chile to avoid the Drake.

Exploring the coves, inlets, and islands of the peninsula, panoramas beyond words extend in all directions, with towering mountains, penguin-studded icebergs, and slumbering whales each competing for your attention. Zodiac boats bring guests to land, where you can get up close with gentoo, Adelie, and chinstrap penguins who seem just as curious to check you out. At the right time, you may even get the chance to see baby penguins, newly hatched, and taking their first tentative steps on their Antarctic world. Sleepy seals doze on the ice while petrels, shags, and south polar skuas wheel overhead. On some trips, active travelers will enjoy the opportunity to hike, snowshoe, and sea-kayak each day, while lifelong learners will appreciate the daily onboard lectures and programs hosted by polar experts.

Travelers yearning for the quintessential Antarctica experience should be sure to include the Falkland Islands and South Georgia on their itinerary, as the sub-Antarctic islands offer breathtakingly rugged landscapes, deep historical significance, and some of the best, up-close wildlife encounters on Earth. South Georgia is the Serengeti of the Southern Ocean, providing critical breeding grounds for dense concentrations of king penguins, macaroni penguins, Antarctic fur seals, and southern elephant seals, and visitors will be awestruck by the spectacle of writhing, honking, and waddling wildlife that pack South Georgia’s beaches, cliffs, and plains. History aficionados will appreciate the chance to explore excellent museums and the weathered remains of forgotten whaling stations, or even to pay a visit to the grave of Ernest Shackleton, one of the greatest polar explorers of all time.

We work exclusively with responsible and long-standing Antarctic operators committed to keeping this corner of the planet in pristine condition for generations to come. We have chosen partners that focus on guest safety as their top priority, and who operate smaller boats so that guests can maximize their time spent exploring.

There are multiple ways to experience Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands by boat, with a few suggestions listed below. Prices vary based on boat, month, cabin, itinerary, and activities.

Before or after Antarctica, consider extending to Chile or Argentina to trek in Patagonia, tango in Buenos Aires, walk on the Perito Moreno Glacier, hike in Bariloche, sip wine in Mendoza, marvel at Iguazu Falls, or explore Tierra Del Fuego. Options are limitless.

Give us a call to learn more and find out which itinerary will be the best fit for your own Antarctic adventure!