Visiting Antarctica is a bucket list item for many people and I guarantee it will be the trip of a lifetime. These top tips for visiting Antarctica will help make your journey that much more pleasant and ensure you are prepared for the most amazing trip you will ever take. Not sure which cruise to take to Antarctica? Check out this post to help you pick which trip you should go on!
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1. Choose the Company that Fits Your Style
Choosing a company to visit Antarctica will be one of the hardest decisions you will make when planning a trip to Antarctica. The biggest tip for visiting Antarctica I can give you for helping you decide on the company is to know what type of experience you want.
While each company will get you to Antarctica and will be an amazing experience, each one offers some things that are a little bit different. Things to think about include budget, adventure activities (kayaking, camping, snowshoeing, etc), length, size of the ship, area of Antarctica it might visit, etc.
There are many cruises out there and it can be hard to choose which one would be best for you. Read more about the various Antarctica companies in this post. Ultimately, I went with Hurtigruten, which was the cheapest and most cost-effective option for me. Ours included flights to Ushuaia, which I did not want the headache of booking on my own.
2. Antarctica Does Cost a LOT of Money
Some people do not realize just how expensive Antarctica expeditions can be. Cruises range from $6000 and up depending on the length and time you go. This price usually does not include the flights to Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, which is where you embark on the ship. These flights cost upwards of $1000.
Other important costs to consider are adding time before and/or after the cruise in Buenos Aires or Ushuaia, options for activities like camping, kayaking, and snowshoeing, and food and beverages not included in the cruise. Also, you will most likely need to buy some gear for the trip, especially if you live in a place where it does not snow. You will need a warm jacket and waterproof pants at minimum.
3. Book Early
Booking early is one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica. A trip to Antarctica takes a ton of planning, research, and a lot of saving. Thus, there are a lot of pros to booking your adventure early.
By booking early, you will have a better idea of the exact amount you will need to save. Not only that, you can sometimes find early bird specials where the cost may be cheaper, or you can get a nicer room for a better price. Also, booking early means you can pick an exact cabin, which is especially good if you get seasick!
Another pro to booking early is you can know your cruise dates earlier and be able to look out for the best airfare deals. Put that Google Flight alert to good use!
The only exception would be if you are backpacking through South America and want to spend time in Ushuaia to try and grab a last-minute deal. I have heard of people getting $4000-$5000 spots last minute a day or two prior to departure.
4. Be Prepared for a Rough Drake Passage
The Drake Passage is known for being one of the roughest seas in the world. This body of water is located between South America’s Cape Horn and Antarctica. It is considered so rough and treacherous due to the currents that meet in the sea and the lack of any land masses. Waves can reach up to 40 feet and may toss the ship around.
It is said you will either get the Drake Shake or the Drake Lake during your passage. If you are lucky enough to get the Drake Lake, your sailing will be smooth with small waves. The Drake Shake will toss your ship around, especially if the waves top 40 feet.
We lucked out and got Drake Lake both ways. This is very, very rare and the crew kept telling us how lucky we were. Nevertheless, even if you do not normally get seasick, you will want to be prepared for a rough passage to ensure you have a good trip. We brought Dramamine and had our doctor prescribe us scopolamine patches. You could also opt to bring sea bands. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor about what is best for you.
January is considered the best time to cross the Drake Passage, so keep that in mind when booking your trip, especially if you get seasick. Being prepared for the Drake Passage is one of the top tips for visiting Antarctica.
5. Respect the Continent
The number one rule in Antarctica is to be respectful of the continent. It is one of the most undisturbed places on earth! There are specific laws and rules in place to ensure the continent stays as undisturbed and natural as possible.
Prior to your first landing, you will be asked to vacuum any clothes you will be wearing on land to ensure there is no accidental contamination from seeds or plants. Most companies will provide waterproof boots for you to wear on land. These boots are cleaned thoroughly after each cruise to make sure any rocks, pebbles, or other natural things from the land get cleaned out.
No food is allowed to be brought on land, but water is okay. You are not supposed to sit down on the ground for any reason as this helps keep the ground pristine. You must also stay 5 meters away from penguins and sometimes further from other wildlife.
Please be sure to follow all of the rules laid out by your ship in order to help preserve Antarctica for future generations.
6. Take Time to Appreciate the Continent
One of the best tips for visiting Antarctica when on land is to take time to appreciate the continent. Yes, you will want to take fifty million pictures of the unreal views, especially when they include penguins.
However, take the time to step away from the camera and take in the views around you. The Antarctica views are unlike anything I have ever seen before in my life. Take time to enjoy the experience, not just from the lens of your camera.
7. Pack Layers
Another one of the top tips for visiting Antarctica is to pack layers. The weather in Antarctica is always unpredictable and can change in an instant. You do not want to be caught unprepared, so dressing in layers is best when out on the continent. We had both very cold days and warm days.
I recommend a base layer, a fleece like a Patagonia, a snow jacket, and then the waterproof jacket they give you for your top layer. For bottoms, wear leggings and waterproof snow pants. I found this to be best because I could take off top layers if I got too hot.
8. Make Sure to Have Proper Gear for Your Head
Another one of the tips for visiting Antarctica is in addition to having layers make sure that you have the proper gear to cover your head and face. A beanie is a must, especially if you can put it under your waterproof hood. You will need sunglasses as even when it is cloudy, the sun reflects off the ice quite a bit.
Another thing I wish I had had was a buff for my neck and lower half of my face. There was one day when it got very cold when we were scenic cruising. It is important to keep it all covered to prevent windburn.
Lastly, make sure to have sunscreen for your face. Even on overcast days, the rays in Antarctica are stronger and you can still get sunburned.
9. Bring Comfy Clothes for the Ship
On all the Antarctic expeditions I have seen, no one dresses up. The goal is warm and comfy for the entire voyage, especially if you get the Drake Shake. During our Antarctic voyage, people mostly hung out in athletic pants or jeans. I spent a lot of time in my base layers and Patagonia fleece.
When crossing the Drake passage, many people spend a lot of time in their rooms or chilling on the observation decks. On days you have a landing, you will spend time awaiting your group to be called, or relaxing after spending time out on the continent. Thus, you will want to make sure to have comfy clothes to lounge around in.
10. Know What is Included in Your Cruise
A lot of people do not realize what their Antarctica cruise may include. Thus, another one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica is to know what is included in your cruise.
Many of the ships provide rubber boots for you to use while on the continent because you are not allowed to use your own shoes in order to help protect the continent. Almost all of the companies provide a parka as well. This parka is more of a jacket, so you will still want to make sure you have enough warm layers underneath. Many of them also include trekking poles for you to use on land.
The more your ship provides, the less you have to pack. This is especially helpful if you are adding time in Buenos Aires or other countries afterward because you will have to pack for two climates.
11. Add Buffer Time in Ushuaia
Adding buffer time in Ushuaia or Buenos Aires is one of the most important tips for visiting Antarctica. Make sure to arrive at LEAST a day before your Antarctica cruise begins. You will not want to miss your boat due to an airline snafu. Adding in buffer time is always a good idea in case there is a flight delay or cancellation.
I got around this by booking with a company that included a charter flight to and from Ushuaia because I knew I did not want the stress of a delayed flight. However, I did add buffer time into Buenos Aires instead.
Plus, if you add more time in Ushuaia, you can see things like Tierra del Fuego, hike around Patagonia, and have some time to explore Ushuaia.
12. Get Travel Insurance
Most Antarctica cruise lines will make sure you have extra travel insurance to cover a medical evacuation if necessary. However, it is important to make sure you have extra general travel insurance in case something disrupts your trip such as a flight cancellation, if you get sick, or have a family emergency.
If you are spending thousands of dollars on a trip, you want to make sure you are covered. My travel credit card covered any extra travel insurance I needed. Nothing would be worse than an unforeseen circumstance happening and you losing out on thousands of dollars on a trip of a lifetime. Having travel insurance is one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica.
13. Know the Basic History of Antarctica Before You Go
While on your expedition cruise, you will have the opportunity to attend a variety of science lectures about the continent and some about the history of Antarctica. However, like the true scholar I am, I recommend knowing basic information about Antarctica before you go as it adds to the experience when they bring up things in lectures.
IAATO (The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operations) has some fun resources on their site. There are also many books that have been written about Antarctica. Endurance by Alfred Lancing is a popular one. Lonely Planet even has an Antarctica travel guide.
14. Attend the Educational Lectures
Half the fun of an Antarctica cruise is getting to learn the history and science behind the continent. Since these ships are considered “expeditions” (part of how they are allowed to Antarctica), they will have on board scientists who are experts in certain topics and will be completing research during the voyage. Most include scientists such as an ornithologist (bird scientist), a cetologist (whale scientist), and a glaciologist (glacier scientist).
On Hurtigruten, you could attend the presentation in the lecture hall, or watch them on demand in your room! This was a cool feature so you could watch them as you are getting ready for your landing.
15. Be Flexible
One of the best tips for Antarctica is to be flexible. There is no exact itinerary on an Antarctica cruise. This is due to the constantly changing weather conditions. Until the day of, you will not know for sure the exact spot you get to land.
Sometimes it will take time for them to figure out the best plan for the day. A landing team is always sent to scope the spot before any passengers get off to ensure conditions are safe.
Your ship will have several plans for each day in order to get you on land as much as possible. However, sometimes the weather will not cooperate. On our first day, we had to go to three spots before being able to go on our landing. During my friend’s cruise, their last landing got completely canceled due to the strong winds and storm coming in.
16. Be Prepared for Fishy Smells
Another one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica is to be prepared for the smells. While Antarctica may be one of the most pristine places on the planet, the penguins disrupt this a little bit. There is no way around it, penguins smell bad, especially when there are colonies of hundreds of them.
It often smells like the seafood counter at the grocery store, but 10 times stronger. Even my husband, who is not normally sensitive to smells, thought it was strong. If this scent is going to bother you, make sure to bring a face covering or some smelling scents to help mask the smell.
17. Expect it to be Physically Demanding
When venturing on an Antarctic expedition, there will be parts where it will be physically demanding. The majority of the time on the continent is spent hiking and standing. Some of the treks can be a bit steep, even with hiking poles. If you have mobility issues, it may be a problem.
You will also need to be able to get yourself in and out of the small zodiac boats. This includes swinging yourself over the side of them or hopping off of them onto the loading dock. Once on land, there are no docks. Landings include hopping out into shallow water, landing on a beach, or jumping into the snow.
18. Do the Polar Plunge
The Polar Plunge is one of the best free activities offered by each ship. Participating in the Polar Plunge should be part of your Antarctic bucket list and doing the Polar Plunge is one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica. Although each company does it a little differently, you will not want to miss jumping into some of the coldest water you’ll ever experience.
On Hurtigruten, you walked into the water off the beach on Deception Island. They had mats set down for you to walk in and towels for you to dry off afterward. On other companies, you may jump off the zodiacs (expedition boats) or off the landing platform of the ship.
19. Bring Snacks
Antarctica cruises might be called cruises, but they do not have all the same amenities and services as a regular cruise. They emphasize the “expedition” part for a reason. Bring snacks if you want things to eat in between meals. Food is not available 24/7 like on many other cruises and there is no room service.
On our ship, we had two places you could get food, pretty much from 6am until 9pm. However, there were no snack-type foods like pizza, chips, cookies, etc. Thus, if you like your snack food, grabbing snacks prior to embarkation is one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica. The grocery store in Ushuaia has a ton of options.
20. Be Prepared to Make Your Own Entertainment
Again, this is an expedition, not a cruise. The purpose is to see the continent, not for them to entertain you 24/7 like cruises you may be used to. While onboard, there are plenty of onboard educational activities like lectures and photography workshops, movies you can watch in your rooms, or wildlife watching on the outdoor decks. Most also have a small pool and hot tub, a library, and a bar/lounge. Not all ships have the best wifi.
However, there are no shows, productions, casinos, movie theaters, or dance clubs on board. There are no coordinated activities to hang out and meet people; those things need to be done on your own.
If you need things to keep yourself entertained, one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica includes bringing those things yourself. I made sure to have books and movies downloaded on my iPad. Especially if the Drake Passage is rough, many people will keep to their cabins.
21. Have the Correct Gear for your Electronics
Another one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica includes making sure you have the correct gear for your electronics. The weather in Antarctica is notorious for changing quickly. Even in the summer season, it will frequently rain and snow, and is still cold out. Thus, you will want to prepare your electronics for all sorts of weather including rain and wind.
Think about what you want to take with you in regard to photography gear for each landing. I brought with me my iPhone and Sony Mirrorless Camera. I opted not to bring my GoPro, but I slightly regret not having it as it would have been nice to have on the zodiacs.
I often did not bring my mirrorless camera out on the zodiac as it often rained or was damp out. Had I thought in advance, I would have made sure to have some sort of water-resistance casing for my camera.
For my iPhone, I would advise having some sort of strap for it. The zodiacs can go quite fast, or it can get pretty windy out and you do not want to accidentally drop your phone in the water. Therefore, I often did not get my phone out on the zodiacs either.
22. Have Some Photography Preparation
If you have a nice camera, make sure you understand how to use it. Photography in Antarctica can be a little different due to the endless snow and ice. The photography experts on our ship advised us to overexpose the images to help with lighting. Knowing this information prior to your adventure is one of the best tips for visiting Antarctica.
A slight regret I had was not having a bigger zoom lens. There are a ton of opportunities for wildlife photography, so you want to make sure you have the proper equipment to get the shots you want. Nevertheless, it is very hard to take a bad photo in Antarctica.
23. Lean Into the Experience
One of the most important tips for visiting Antarctica is to lean into the experience. A trip to Antarctica is unlike any other trip. There is no sleeping in. You will need to hike and be active. Landings occur every day (weather pending) and last an hour or more depending on the size of your ship. Know that the Drake Passage might be a horrible experience, so be prepared for anything.
This is not some weekend booze cruise where you go to relax. This is an expedition where you are headed into a treacherous environment where circumstances can change quickly. Take the experience for what it is and do not complain.
Know that you might not get to do everything because the weather changes quickly and the cruise company will need to adapt. You cannot plan every moment or landing due to this, so be prepared for uncertainty.
You may not get to see all the animals or might miss a spectacular animal sighting or get to do all of the activities you want to do. However, do not let this scare you off as it will be the best experience you will ever have in your life.
A trip to Antarctica is worth every single penny. Hopefully these tips for visiting Antarctica help you plan your dream bucket-list Antarctica trip and prepare you for the experience of a lifetime!
4 thoughts on “23+ Amazing Tips for Visiting Antarctica: What to Expect from your Antarctic Experience”
I just finished reading your article and I have to say, it was an undivided hoot. Your writing style is so engaging, I felt like I was on a wild goose chase with you. The picture you included were also a hoot, and I’m convinced that you must have a photographic memory because they were so vivid. Keep it up, it’s a real trip!
I just gone through your article and I’m so amazed by your adventure! I like the way you weave stories, anecdotes, and personal experiences together to make a captivating narrative. Keep up the great work.
Super helpful information! I just saw an ad for this cruise without a single supplement, did a bit of research (including your articles), told a friend and so we’re going!
Yay! That is so exciting! Antarctica is one of my favorite places. Glad I could help.