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Cruises to Antarctica from Ushuaia

Ushuaia is the southermost city in the world and the gate to visit the white continent of Antarctica. From October to March, in the austral summer, boats set sail from the port of Ushuaia bound for the Antarctic Peninsula. The duration of the trips and itineraries are variable: from a minimum of 10 days to three weeks. Navigation can be done on expedition ships, large cruise ships, or luxury ships.

Thousands of people visit the White Continent every summer. Ushuaia, located just 1000 kilometers from Antarctica, is the busiest port of entry of the five that exist in the world. Argentina has had a presence in Antarctica since 1904, when a meteorological observatory and an Argentine post office were inaugurated on Laurie Island, South Orcadas, a place that years later would become the Orcadas Base. The country is also a consultative member of the Antarctic Treaty signed in 1959 and whose objective is the peaceful use of this territory, through the development of scientific research and environmental conservation projects.

In the context of this treaty, tourism to Antarctica is regulated at the international level, in order not to cause damage to the delicate ecosystem of this continent. For this reason, only small contingents of visitors are allowed to disembark at certain authorized points.

Cruises to Antarctica from Ushuaia: Different options

The itineraries in Antarctica vary depending on the number of days, places to go, type of boat and services offered. In general, the circuits carried out by most Antarctic tourism companies include the following sites:

The Classic Antarctica, this trip lasts from 10 to 12 days. After crossing the Drake Passage, the ships visit the South Shetland Islands (which include Deception Island and May 25 Island) and then disembark on the Peninsula and visit places such as Gerlache Strait, Danco Island, Neko Harbor, Bahia Paradise, Pléneau and Petermann Islands and Port Lockroy, a former British base where there is a museum and a post office.

Antarctica via Malvinas and South Georgia is the second most chosen after the classic trip. In addition to visiting the Antarctic Peninsula, it offers the opportunity to explore the landscapes and fauna of the Falkland Islands and the South Georgia Islands, home to the King Penguin. The duration of this trip is longer, averaging between 20 and 22 days.

Crossing the Antarctic Circle allows the traveler to explore the territories that are beyond the Peninsula. With an average duration of 14 to 15 days, the ships sail along the west coast of Antarctica, until they cross the Antarctic Circle, parallel to latitude 66 ° 33 ′ South. This area offers magnificent landscapes of icebergs, whale watching and penguin colonies. Depending on the weather conditions, visits are made to places such as Vernadsky Station, which belongs to Ukraine, the former British base Faraday, the Yalour Islands and Detaille Island.

Weddell Sea Circuit is a true adventure. The Weddell Sea is linked to the memory of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated expedition in 1915, during which his ship Endurance was trapped in ice and sank in these waters. After leaving Ushuaia and crossing the Drake Passage, the ships follow the usual circuit in the Antarctic Peninsula and then sail towards the eastern coast, a less explored area. This area, which has impressive landscapes of glaciers and icebergs, is the habitat of sea lions, penguins, traveling albatrosses and the Weddell seal.

Base Camp: a wonderful cruise to the white continent of Antarctica

One of my favorite cruises to Antartica is the BaseCamp, an amazing cruise that offers you a myriad of ways to explore and enjoy the Antarctic Continent. The BaseCamp expedition allows you to hike, snowshoe, kayak, go mountaineering, and even camp out under the Southern Polar skies. For more information about the BaseCamp Expedition to Antarctica