Antarctica Holidays

Overview

In the translucent light of never-ending summer days, visitors on Antarctic cruises and expeditions can watch, film, listen to and even walk among a fascinating array of creatures. Penguins in their hundreds of thousands, seals, whales and a huge variety of bird-life breed and feed here.

Nowadays, holidays to Antarctica involve far more than staring boggle-eyed as the drama unfolds. A growing range of active adventures, such as camping, hiking and kayaking, gives visitors a thrilling, intimate experience in the snow and ice.

Our Tours to Antarctica

At Journey Latin America, we offer a range of Antarctica tours, including cruises from Argentina via the Drake Passage, such as our Signature Antarctica highlights. Another option is to fly directly to Antarctica from Chile on our Antarctica Peninsula Fly and Cruise Tour. Book your Antarctica holiday with one of our Antarctica Travel Experts today.

Exploring Antarctica: The White Continent

Antarctica remains the world’s last great wilderness – a continent of ice and rock where nature reigns supreme. This is the only continent with no permanent human inhabitants, where wildlife thrives in conditions that would seem impossibly harsh. From the Antarctic Peninsula’s relatively mild shores to the extreme cold of the Antarctic Circle, this frozen realm offers one of Earth’s most extraordinary travel experiences.

The Antarctic Peninsula extends north towards South America, creating a dramatic landscape of towering icebergs, active glaciers and rocky shores. Here, among the South Shetland Islands, we’ll find the greatest concentrations of Antarctic wildlife. Further south lies the Weddell Sea, home to vast ice floes and elusive Emperor penguin colonies, while across the continent, the Ross Sea beckons the most intrepid explorers.

Most Antarctica holidays depart from Buenos Aires, crossing the Southern Ocean via the Drake Passage – itself an adventure through some of the planet’s most dynamic waters. The journey rewards travellers with encounters few will ever witness: millions of penguins nesting on rocky shores, humpback whales breaching alongside Zodiac cruises, and leopard seals lounging on ice floes beneath towering blue walls of glaciated coastline.

When to visit Antarctica

Antarctica welcomes visitors only during the southern hemisphere summer, from late October through March. During these months, temperatures along the Antarctic Peninsula hover around 0°C, occasionally reaching 10°C on milder days – relatively mild conditions compared to the continent’s fearsome winter, when temperatures can plummet below -60°C and the sea ice becomes impenetrable.

Early season (October to November) brings Antarctica’s awakening. Sea ice retreats, opening channels for expedition ships. Penguin colonies burst into activity as birds establish territories and begin courtship displays. The landscape remains blinding white, with fresh snow covering rocky shores. Weddell seals haul out onto the ice to give birth, while crabeater seals – despite their name, krill feeders rather than crab eaters – gather on ice floes.

Mid-season (December to January) brings the height of the Antarctic summer. Penguin colonies become scenes of frantic activity as chicks hatch and demand constant feeding. We’ll witness dramatic wildlife spectacles: penguin colonies numbering in the hundreds of thousands, with adult penguins making repeated journeys between nest and sea. The extended daylight – with 24-hour sun at its peak – allows for maximum time exploring. Humpback whales and minke whales arrive in increasing numbers, feeding on rich concentrations of Antarctic krill that bloom in these waters.

Late season (February to March) offers different rewards. Penguin chicks begin to fledge, creating chaos in the colonies as they test their waterproof feathers. Whale watching reaches its peak as humpback whales, killer whales, and occasionally blue whales gather to feed before their northern migration. The sea ice begins to retreat, potentially opening access to more southerly locations like the Antarctic Circle or even the Weddell Sea, where Emperor penguins raise their young on the ice.

Antarctic wildlife

The wildlife of Antarctica has evolved remarkable adaptations to thrive in Earth’s harshest environment. From the moment we arrive, we’re immersed in a world where animals dominate, and humans are merely privileged visitors.

Penguins of Antarctica

Seven penguin species can be found in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters, creating some of the planet’s most captivating wildlife scenes. On the Antarctic Peninsula, gentoo penguins with their bright orange-red beaks and white ‘bonnets’ waddle between ocean and nest. Adélie penguins, named after the wife of a French explorer, build pebble nests on ice-free ground, engaging in elaborate courtship rituals. Chinstrap penguins, distinguished by the thin black line under their chin, join them on many islands.

Emperor penguins represent the ultimate Antarctic specialists. These remarkable birds breed on sea ice during the Antarctic winter, with males incubating eggs through months of darkness and temperatures reaching -40°C. Reaching a colony requires special voyages to the Weddell Sea or Ross Sea, making encounters with these charismatic giants particularly precious.

On the sub-Antarctic islands of South Georgia and the Falklands – often included in extended Antarctic expeditions – we’ll encounter king penguins in massive colonies, along with macaroni and rockhopper penguins that complete the region’s extraordinary penguin diversity.

Antarctic seals

Antarctica’s seals have evolved into formidable marine predators and deep divers. Leopard seals, with their spotted coats, rank among the continent’s top predators. Growing up to 3.5m long, these powerful hunters patrol ice edges, preying on penguins and fish. Weddell seals spend winter beneath the ice, maintaining breathing holes and diving to depths exceeding 600m in search of food.

Crabeater seals, Antarctica’s most numerous seal species, feed on krill using specially adapted teeth. On the sub-Antarctic islands, massive elephant seals haul out on beaches – dominant males can weigh up to 4,000kg, using their inflatable snouts to roar challenges at rivals during the breeding season.

Whales and seabirds

The Southern Ocean’s nutrient-rich waters support humpback whales, killer whales and minke whales, all arriving each summer to feast on Antarctic krill. Blue whales – the largest animals ever to exist on Earth – occasionally grace these waters during the late season. Above, wandering albatrosses command the skies with giant wingspans, while giant petrels, Antarctic petrels and numerous other seabirds complete an aerial ballet above the Southern Ocean.

Planning your Antarctica holiday

Getting there

Nearly all Antarctica holidays begin in either Ushuaia, Argentina (the southernmost city in the world) or Buenos Aires, from where travellers fly to Ushuaia. The Drake Passage crossing takes approximately two days in each direction, though some voyages offer fly-cruise options that replace one or both sea crossings with flights directly to the Antarctic Peninsula.

What to pack

Layering is essential for Antarctica. Despite relatively mild summer temperatures, conditions can change rapidly. Essential items include:

• Waterproof outer layers (parka and trousers)
• Multiple fleece or wool mid-layers
• Thermal base layers
• Waterproof gloves and warm hat
• Sunglasses and high-SPF sunscreen (the sun’s rays reflect intensely off snow and ice)
• Sturdy, waterproof boots for Zodiac landings

Most expedition ships provide warm parkas for passengers to keep, along with waterproof trousers and boots for the duration of the voyage.

When to book

Antarctica holidays require advance planning. Popular departures, particularly those visiting South Georgia or sailing during the peak season of December and January, often book 12-18 months ahead. However, last-minute deals occasionally become available when passengers cancel.

Sustainability and responsible travel

Antarctica is protected by the Antarctic Treaty, which designates the continent as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science. All responsible tour operators like Journey Latin America follow strict environmental protocols, including:

• Limiting landing site visitor numbers
• Maintaining specific distances from wildlife
• Removing all waste from the continent
• Preventing the introduction of non-native species

As visitors, we share responsibility for protecting this pristine environment for future generations.

Please note: Many Antarctic expedition cruise operators offer early booking discounts and other restricted offers that depend on availability. Our advertised prices do not take these into account. Contact one of our Travel Experts for the best available rates.

Our top holiday styles to Antarctica