Antarctica Travel: What’s It Like to See Penguins in Antarctica?

After traveling to 40+ countries, if I had to choose one that left the deepest impression, it would be Antarctica.

Antarctica is known as the seventh continent, the last continent to be discovered on Earth and the only continent with no permanent human settlements. It doesn’t belong to any country and has little human presence. Maybe that’s why it’s so unique.

Getting to Antarctica is a very grueling experience. It took me about 37 hours on planes and then another week on a ship. The whole process is not exactly enjoyable. If you like vacation-style travel, forget about Antarctica.

But if you’re determined and endure all the plane and ship travel, you’ll see the most beautiful scenery. It’s probably one of those “the more you work, the more you get” things.

Literally translated, Antarctica means the southernmost point of the Earth. In reality, it has multiple meanings, including Antarctica, the South Pole, the Antarctic continent, the Antarctic region, and the Antarctic Circle. Geographically, the South Pole refers to the South Geographic Pole and the South Magnetic Pole.

This time I went to Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula, which is closest to the Argentine continent. It’s also where most people go on a trip to Antarctica. You can see penguins, glaciers, everything you want to see, except Emperor penguins. (There are trips specifically to the South Pole, but they are very expensive.)

Antarctica has two seasons, cold and warm, each year. April to October is the cold season, and November to the following March is the warm season. Near the pole, the cold season is the polar night. During this time, the aurora borealis can be seen in the Antarctic Circle, which is a dazzling spectacle of lights. The warm season is the opposite, with the polar day, meaning the sun always shines on the area at a slant.

Due to its unique location, the tourism season is from November to March of the following year. December and January are peak season, when you can see penguins hatching their eggs.

Flights

Flight routes from China: Shanghai – Qatar – Buenos Aires (stopover in São Paulo) – Ushuaia

I recommend buying tickets from Qatar Airways, as they are relatively cheaper. From Asia to South America, no matter how you fly, you have to go around the entire Earth, so there are no shortcuts. If you’re flying from New York, you can fly directly to Buenos Aires from New York and then take a domestic flight to Ushuaia.

The first few flights are fine, but after arriving in Buenos Aires, you need to transfer from the international airport to the domestic airport and then take another flight to Ushuaia.

You may see another itinerary where the plane flies to the Antarctic Peninsula and then you take a cruise ship. This method avoids seasickness in the Drake Passage and saves four days, but the price is about 40,000 yuan (about 5,700 USD) more expensive.

Visa

The Argentine visa was the most complicated one I’ve ever applied for. South American visas are generally more troublesome than other countries. I suggest that you find a travel agency to help you. They will make things much easier. Argentina does not accept individual tourist visas, so if you go through a travel agency, the approval rate is very high. Whether or not you need an interview depends on your luck.

Required materials:

*Complete personal information form

*Passport valid for at least six months, with at least two blank visa pages

*Two 4*4 light blue background color photos (must show both ears)

*A copy of the business license or organization code certificate with a company seal

*Proof of financial status: copy of real estate certificate, income proof, vehicle certificate, etc., reflecting your personal financial status, copy of fixed deposit book, stock trading slips, credit card statement for the last six months, the more the better. If the deposit or real estate certificate is in your spouse’s name, attach a copy of your marriage certificate.

*Front and back copy of your international credit card, with your name in pinyin on the front, Visa or MasterCard logo, and your signature on the back.

*A Spanish translation notarized by a notary public and authenticated by the Foreign Affairs Office of your employer’s letter of employment (see sample for the letter of employment, the notarized seal is valid), which needs to be handwritten. (You need to bring your ID card, household registration book and employment contract for notarization, depending on the requirements of the notary public. Specific requirements may vary.)

*Provide a copy of your student ID card or school certificate, a copy of your household registration book and notarization.
Also, remember to provide your Antarctic cruise ticket when applying for a visa. (See the cruise ticket issue below.)

*You don’t need to get vaccinated to go to Argentina

Cruise Ticket

Cruise tickets are harder to buy than plane tickets, so you should buy the cruise ticket first and then the plane ticket. When I decided to go to Antarctica in April, I got stuck at this point. Because of the limited time and the limited number of ships, tickets are very tight, especially for mid-sized ships.

Why choose a mid-sized ship for an Antarctic trip? To maximize the chances of spending more time ashore!

There are landing points in Antarctica, and each landing point depends on the weather. Some large ships are too big to land at many points. The fewer points you are allowed to land at, the fewer chances you have to go ashore.

Each time you go on a Zodiac, you are in a group of about 10 people. The more tourists there are, the longer the waiting time and the less time you have to play.
So, choose a ship with about 100 tourists, if possible. This time I took the Explorer, which has 126 people, which is an exploration type of ship.

There are also luxury exploration types of ships, which are equivalent to star-rated hotels on land. The facilities on the ship will be better, but the cost is also very high. There are also various activities on the ship, such as lectures on Antarctic knowledge, movies, bars, and you can have a drink at night while watching the glaciers. The ship also has a gym.

If you decide too late and can’t find a ticket, you can only buy it through a booking platform. It will be more expensive than buying directly from the official website.

The official cruise company also holds events from time to time, especially a few days before the ship departs. Due to some cabins not being fully booked or some cancellations, they may have special fares. But I don’t recommend doing this. It’s a waste of time to go all the way there and wait in Ushuaia, and the cost of accommodation, etc., is not cheap, so it’s best to buy a ticket in advance.

Generally, after you buy a ticket, the cruise company will arrange for you to stay at a hotel in Ushuaia for one night. You can leave your luggage at the hotel, and the cruise company will pick it up when it’s time to board the ship. They will help you put your luggage in your room, but it’s not sure if every cruise company will make arrangements. So, make sure you confirm this with the cruise company after you buy your ticket!

Currency

You have the cruise ticket, the plane ticket, and the visa. The next thing you need to do is to buy, buy, buy.

Argentina uses the peso, and most banks in China don’t exchange it directly. You need to make an appointment in advance.
Most places in Argentina accept US dollars. You can exchange your US dollars for pesos at the airport. Everything on the ship is paid for with cards.

Essential Items for Antarctic Travel

The Antarctic Peninsula is really not that cold, at least not that cold (Northeast China might be colder!).

Waterproof pants

The cruise company will provide you with a fleece jacket, so you don’t need to buy fleece pants. When you go ashore, the ship will provide you with boots. Put your pants on the outside because there is snow on shore and sometimes it’s knee-deep, so be sure to buy waterproof pants.

Non-slip shoes

The ship will provide boots when you go ashore. You can wear non-slip shoes when you go to the deck.

Gloves

You must bring gloves, the wind is very strong, and your hands will be frozen, making it difficult to hold the camera.

UV-protective sunglasses

You must bring them! Otherwise, you’ll get snow blindness. If you don’t wear sunglasses, your eyes will start to water very quickly.

Sunscreen

The UV rays in Antarctica are very strong, and the air is very clean, with no smog protection. Both men and women should remember to bring it.

Waterproof backpack

Water will splash on you when you’re on the Zodiac, so it’s recommended that you buy a waterproof camera bag to put your camera in.

Swimsuit

The ship will organize a swimming activity, but it’s not really swimming, just going into the sea for a while. You go in and then come out immediately. It’s not cold in the water, but as soon as you get out, you’ll be frozen by the wind. Good luck!

Seasickness pills

You can get them on the ship, or you can bring your own. You’ll get seasick when you go through the Drake Passage.

Cash and credit cards

The ship is managed like a hotel. The hygiene is very good. The rooms are cleaned twice a day. You don’t need to tip daily. When you get off the ship, you can put about 100 USD in an envelope and write your cabin number and name on it and leave it at the front desk.

Bind your credit card to the ship when you board. Just report your name when you pay for things on the ship. There is a small shop on the ship. You have to pay for your drinks in the bar yourself. If you want to have a drink with your meal, you have to pay for it yourself. 300 USD in cash is enough.

Because there are really no shopping malls in Antarctica for you to go on a shopping spree, you may visit some research stations from other countries, where there are souvenir shops. You can send a postcard or use your credit card to pay.

Camping gear (optional)

The ship will also organize an overnight camping trip, which you need to book when you buy your ticket. There are limited spots. Camping is sleeping overnight on the Antarctic mainland. You will have a guide and don’t need any experience.

Photography equipment

If you are not a photography enthusiast, it is recommended to bring a GoPro, attach it to a certain place on the ship, and take time-lapse photos. You can edit a short video after you get back, which will be very impressive.

Daily diet

Meals are free and on a set time every day. The price of your ticket includes three meals and afternoon tea. Because the ship caters to tourists from all over the world, the food is pretty good. There are curries, and one day they even made Chinese food. But if you have a very “Chinese stomach”, it’s recommended to bring your own instant noodles and Lao Gan Ma chili sauce.

Clothing on board

The temperature on the ship is around 20 degrees Celsius (about 68 Fahrenheit). You can wear a T-shirt. When you go to the deck, you can wear jeans + the fleece jacket provided by the cruise company. The fleece jacket is given to everyone, so it’s clean and warm.

Cruise ticket prices range from 40,000 to 200,000 yuan (about 5,700 to 28,500 USD). There are 4-person cabins, 2-person cabins, 2-person scenic rooms and suites. Usually, the voyage time is 12 days, with the first and last days of the journey added on.

Internet on board

There is internet on the ship, but it’s very expensive. 100 MB costs 100 USD.

Entertainment activities

To avoid everyone getting bored, there are some entertainment activities on the ship, such as darts. For foreigners, a beer, a friend, and an afternoon and evening will pass by in a flash. If you can’t stand the loneliness, you can refer to my method of bringing a projector and downloading movies to watch.

The interior of Antarctica is almost barren. The only life there is some simple plants and one or two types of insects. However, the ocean is full of life. There are algae, corals, starfish, and sponges, and there are also many tiny creatures called krill in the sea. Krill are the food source for many fish, seabirds, seals, penguins, and whales in Antarctica.

The harsh climate of Antarctica makes it difficult for plants to grow. Occasionally, you can see some mosses, lichens, and other plants. There are birds and marine mammals near the coast and islands. Penguins are the most common birds. In the summer, penguins often gather along the coast, creating a typical Antarctic scene. The main marine mammals are seals, sea lions, and dolphins. Whales gather in the oceans around the continent, making it an important whaling area in the world. Due to excessive hunting, the number of whales has decreased significantly, and seals and other marine mammals have also become almost extinct.

Penguins

There are many kinds of penguins. The ship will give you a book, which you can read when you have nothing to do during the two days you’re crossing the Drake Passage. Note that you usually won’t see Emperor penguins. Emperor penguins are only found in the circle around the South Pole. When you go ashore, you can watch penguins walk and ski. When you’re on the ship, you can watch them swim. In short, penguins are everywhere.

Whales

Whale watching is a matter of luck. You never know when they will jump out of the water. The cruise company will announce every time a whale appears. It’s beautiful.

Black Ice

Let me explain what black ice is. The ice we usually see has bubbles in it, so it appears white to the naked eye. Due to the unique conditions in the polar region, the bubbles in the ice gradually disappear under constant pressure, and when this ice is in the water, it appears black.
When it’s taken out of the water, it’s completely transparent, completely transparent, completely transparent, really. It takes at least 2,000 years, even tens of thousands of years, to form black ice, so when you’re on the Zodiac, the crew will help you find it. You can bring it back to the bar and enjoy a black ice whiskey that’s tens of thousands of years old!

Don’t bring drones, they are not allowed on the Antarctic continent. Unless you have special filming permits.

You can’t touch penguins or scare them. You wouldn’t want to touch them anyway because their feathers are hard and waterproof. The first time you see penguins, you’ll be excited because they’re so cute. After a few days, you’ll find that penguins are just smelly, stupid birds.

You can’t take anything back from Antarctica. Follow the instructions of the cruise staff after you go ashore. Don’t go to places they tell you not to. There are seals, and they will eat you.

Fires are easy to start in Antarctica. Be sure to pay attention to fire safety.