Where do most cruises depart from? 99% of Antarctica trips start from either Ushuaia in Southern Argentina or Punta Arenas in Southern Chile. It provides the most choice in terms of voyages. Explore the route to Ushuaia or Punta Arenas.
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For anyone planning to fly to/ from Antarctica, the town of Punta Arenas in southern Chile is the main departure point for all: Charter flights to King George Island, South Shetland Islands (flying time = 2 hours). This is the only commercial airfield servicing the Antarctic Peninsula for visitors.
The Drake Passage can experience up to 15m swells and winds reaching Beaufort scale 10 (hurricanes are scale 12) at its peak. Most Antarctica cruise ships have stabilizers to reduce these rough sea conditions, but it is needless to say these will not stop the effects of Drake Passage sea sickness.
A visit in winter may be far less enjoyable than during the summer months. While the Antarctic Peninsula stays relatively mild even during the winter with around -12°C (10.4°F), the average temperature across Antarctica is -34.4°C (-30°F).
You'll ?regularly ?get off the ship ?to? explore ?Antarctica ?on foot and by zodiac?, adventure activities will more than likely be available and the voyage will have a strong educational focus.
Ushuaia is by far the most popular gateway city for tourism to Antarctica, accounting for 90% of all tourists to the continent. Nearly all of the passengers departing Ushuaia for Antarctica travel by cruise ship.
The choppy waters of the Drake Passage, named after English explorer Sir Francis Drake, who never actually traveled through the waterway but sailed close to the location in 1578, are believed to have caused more than 800 shipwrecks.
Dealing with the Drake PassageYou can help to minimise the effects of sea sickness with a few basic techniques: Staying hydrated is key, as is avoiding drinking alcohol. Eat light, regular meals. Stay active by going for a walk around the ship or venturing up to the deck.
Please book your Antarctica cruise with as much notice as possible to give you the best selection of itineraries, ship, travel dates and cabin types. Many voyages are sold out 12-18 months in advance.
The cheapest way to visit Antarctica is by cruising on a larger ship that sails by the continent but doesn't let passengers go ashore. Instead, you will sail to the Antarctic Peninsula and into some of the surrounding bays where you will see wildlife, mountains, icebergs, and more. It is truly a magical experience.