Antarctica Tours from South America: Ships, Routes and Seasons

Antarctica is the last great wilderness on Earth: a continent of ice where penguins outnumber people, whales feed beside the ship and icebergs the size of buildings drift past in silence. Almost every journey begins in South America, and most expedition ships sail from Ushuaia, at the tip of Argentina, across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula. Choosing the right ship, route and dates makes all the difference, and that is where we help.

This guide compares the types of Antarctic voyages, explains how ship size changes your experience, shows what you see in each month and how to combine Antarctica with Patagonia, Buenos Aires or Chile.

How to get to Antarctica from South America

There are two ways to reach the Antarctic Peninsula, the part of the continent that almost all visitors explore:

• By ship from Ushuaia. Most expedition ships leave from Ushuaia, sail down the Beagle Channel and cross the Drake Passage, the open ocean between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands. The crossing takes at least two days each way. It can be calm or rough, and it is part of the adventure: albatrosses follow the ship, and the expedition team prepares you with talks on wildlife, history and ice.
• By plane from Punta Arenas. On a fly-cruise, a charter flight takes you from Punta Arenas in Chile to King George Island in the South Shetlands, where you board your ship. You skip the Drake Passage and gain days in Antarctica. Flights depend on the weather, so delays of a day or more are possible, and we plan spare time around them.

Read more about Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, in our guide to the top places to visit in Argentine Patagonia.

Types of Antarctica tours compared

Every voyage is an expedition: the captain and the expedition leader change the plan each day around the weather, the sea ice and the wildlife. That flexibility is what makes the best moments possible.

Small ship or large ship? Why size matters

The rules of the Antarctic Treaty and of IAATO, the association of Antarctic tour operators, protect the continent by limiting how many people can land at once. That is why the size of your ship decides how much of Antarctica you actually touch:

For most of our travellers we recommend a small or mid-size expedition ship with a strong expedition team, comfortable cabins with a window or balcony, and Zodiac landings every day the weather allows.

Where you go: highlights of the Antarctic Peninsula

• The South Shetland Islands: the first landfall after the Drake, with penguin colonies and research stations.
• Deception Island: the flooded caldera of an active volcano. Ships sail into it through a narrow gap in the crater wall known as Neptune’s Bellows.
• The Lemaire Channel: a narrow passage between towering cliffs and glaciers, one of the most photographed places in Antarctica.
• Paradise Harbour and Neko Harbour: glacier-lined bays where you can set foot on the Antarctic continent itself.
• Port Lockroy: a historic British base, now a museum with a shop and the famous Penguin Post Office, staffed again for the 2026–27 season.

Antarctic wildlife

On the Peninsula you will see three species of penguin, gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie, along with Weddell, crabeater and leopard seals, and humpback and minke whales and orcas. Wildlife has no fear of people here, so the rules ask visitors to keep a respectful distance and let the animals have the right of way.

When to go to Antarctica

The season is short and ships fill up early. For December and January, booking 10 to 12 months ahead gives you the best choice of ships and cabins.

Things to do in Antarctica

• Zodiac landings and cruising among icebergs, penguin colonies and glaciers, included on every expedition ship.
• Kayaking through the ice, usually with limited places and often at extra cost.
• Camping on the ice for a night under the Antarctic sky, on selected ships and dates.
• The polar plunge, a swim in the Southern Ocean for the brave.
• Photography and lectures by the ship’s naturalists, historians and glaciologists.

Optional activities depend on the ship and the weather, so tell us which ones matter most and we choose a voyage that offers them.

Combine Antarctica with Patagonia and South America

You will fly a long way to reach the end of the world, so make the most of it:

1. Buenos Aires, 2 nights: Tango, food and the city, while you recover from the long flight.
2. Ushuaia, 1–2 nights: Arrive at least a day before your ship. Sail the Beagle Channel or walk in Tierra del Fuego National Park.
3. Antarctic voyage, 10–12 days: The expedition from Ushuaia across the Drake Passage.
4. El Calafate, 3 nights: After the voyage, the Perito Moreno Glacier and, if you still have energy, the trails of El Chaltén.

Or fly to Punta Arenas for a fly-cruise and add Torres del Paine before or after. See our guides to Patagonia hiking tours and Patagonia for senior travellers, and all our Patagonia tours.

What to pack for Antarctica

• Waterproof outer layers: a waterproof jacket and trousers for Zodiac rides and landings. Many ships lend rubber boots, and some give you an expedition parka; we tell you what your ship includes.
• Warm layers: thermal base layers, a fleece, a warm hat, a neck gaiter and waterproof gloves.
• Sun protection: sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen; the light reflected by the snow and ice is intense.
• Seasickness remedies for the Drake Passage, after talking to your doctor.
• Spare camera batteries and memory cards: the cold drains batteries quickly.

Before you book: requirements and insurance

• No visa for Antarctica. You do need to meet the entry rules of Argentina or Chile, the countries you sail or fly from.
• Permits are handled by the operator. Every expedition operator must be authorised by its national Antarctic authority under the Antarctic Treaty.
• Travel insurance with emergency evacuation cover is essential, and expedition operators require it. There are no hospitals in Antarctica, and rescue can take days.
• Biosecurity: your boots, clothes and bags are cleaned before every landing so that no seeds or diseases reach the continent.

Read the official visitor guidance of IAATO and the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat.

Why plan your Antarctica trip with us?

• The right ship for you: we compare ships, cabins, routes and dates, and explain what each voyage really includes.
• Everything around the voyage: international and domestic flights, hotels in Buenos Aires, Ushuaia or Punta Arenas, and the extra night that protects you from delays.
• Patagonia before or after, planned by our own team in Argentina and Chile.

Tell us when you would like to travel and we will propose the best voyages: start planning your Antarctica trip.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to Antarctica from South America?

Most travellers take an expedition ship from Ushuaia, Argentina, across the Drake Passage, which takes at least two days each way. The alternative is a fly-cruise: a charter flight from Punta Arenas, Chile, to King George Island, where you board the ship.

When is the best time to visit Antarctica?

The season runs from late November to March. November has pristine snow and courting penguins, December and January the longest days and penguin chicks, and February and March the best whale watching.

How many days do you need for an Antarctica trip?

A classic voyage from Ushuaia lasts about 10 to 12 days. A fly-cruise from Punta Arenas takes about 6 to 8 days. Add two or three days for flights and a night in the gateway city before departure.

Is the Drake Passage dangerous?

Expedition ships are built for it, and the crew watches the weather closely. The crossing can be rough, so seasickness remedies help. If you prefer to avoid it, choose a fly-cruise.

Do you need a visa to visit Antarctica?

No. Antarctica has no visa, and the expedition operator holds the permits required under the Antarctic Treaty. You only need to meet the entry rules of Argentina or Chile.

Can you set foot on Antarctica?

Yes, on expedition ships of up to 500 passengers, with Zodiac landings at sites such as Neko Harbour and Paradise Harbour on the continent itself. Ships with more than 500 passengers cannot land their guests.

Can you combine Antarctica with Patagonia?

Yes. Ushuaia is in Argentine Patagonia, so it is easy to add El Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier, or Torres del Paine in Chile if you fly from Punta Arenas.