FAQ

There are a few things to consider after choosing Antarctica as travel destination. When you have made you decision to go on a cruise to Antarctica, make sure to chose the right ship, the right time and the right itinerary for you.

When to go
The tourist season in Antarctica is very short due to the severe winters, which extend the ice surrounding the coastline for about 1000km, making it impossible to navigate in the waters. Moreover, the experience would be limited due to darkness and extreme temperatures.

That is why the season in which tourists can enjoy the Antarctic is only four months long. From end of November, which is early summer, the pack ice is breaking up and birds and penguins are courting and mating. December to January are the summer months and this is the time when penguins are hatching eggs and feeding their chicks. To that time, the temperatures are warmer and the sunlight lasts for up to 20 hours per day. In February, late summer, whale sighting is best and the penguin chicks are already a bit grown up. Cruises are generally less crowded towards the end of the season, which means less waiting for zodiacs and station tours.

From where to go
Every trip to Antarctica, by plane or by ship leaves from a port on the Southern Hemisphere. All itineraries offered from Antarctica Discover leave from South America, either by flight from Punta Arenas in Chile or by boat from Ushuaia in Argentina.

Ushuaia is a popular port for cruise ships to Antarctica because it is with its 1000km distance to the Antarctic Peninsula the closest port to the peninsula. Between Argentina and the Antarctic Peninsula lies the Drake Passage, which needs to be passed. During the passage it becomes clear how isolated the continent is. On the way it will be possible to see first a few icebergs, coming closer to the south they are increasing in number and size until Antarctica can be seen. Fortunate visitors may experience the passage with quiet waters but it can also be rough.

When leaving from Punta Arenas, a flight will be taken to reach King George Island. There are itineraries with both ways by flight or only the return flight to skip the Drake Passage.

Note: Before boarding the cruise in Ushuaia or the flight in Punta Arenas it is necessary to book a hotel for at least a night, but plan enough time to avoid any problems with missed or delayed flights to not risk your presence to the departure of the ship. We offer also many extensions to discover South America before or after the Antarctica trip. Contact us for information, or visit our other websites.

Planning
We recommend to book the cruise as early in advance as possible to make sure to get a place on the selected cruise for the preferred departure date.

The ships
The ships vary in number of passengers the cabin type and their itineraries. It depends on your preferences to chose a smaller ship or a larger one. For any questions about a particular itinerary or ship, please contact our sales agent. Remember that weather and ice are important factors, which the crew constantly has to take into consideration. Itineraries can change accordingly.

Entry requirements
Antarctica requires no visa, but valid passports and possibly visa may be required for the countries where you start and end your trip. Please check their requirements.

Seasickness
Seasickness depends on the individual and on the weather conditions on your particular trip. Be prepared to get seasick and ask your doctor for travel sickness medication, especially when you have suffered from seasickness before. In the beginning and the end of your journey you will have to cross the Drake Passage (when you do not take a flight to overcome this). The Drake Passage can be very rough, but when you are luck it can also be calm, the so-called “Drake Lake”.

Health and security
The greatest threats to visitors are posed by the weather but can be avoided with some precautions (see packing list). Most common are frostbite, dehydration due to the very dry climate, eye damage from reflected sunlight and sunburn.

Travel responsibility
Be responsible when you are visiting Antarctica. Keep your impact on environment and animals low, to ensure that further generations can enjoy the same beauty that you could enjoy on your trip.

Consider that it is not worth to disturb a wild animal just for the sake of taking a picture from a bit closer distance. There are areas, which are protected and of which tourists have to stay out from. They are not signed, but your guides should know them, always stick to their instructions. It was tried to establish coherent guidelines for distances to approach wildlife but is failed and most tour operators are now using their own guidelines, which are rather at the minimum of what would be responsible for animals, as the impacts of humans presence on wildlife has not yet been properly researched. At least stick to those guidelines, but the farther away you stay from wild animal, the better. And never leave any rubbish on the ice; leave everything as you found it.