Finding The Best Antarctica Cruises

By Brenda Lee


A good place to start is knowing where you want to depart for this epic Antarctic adventure. There are several options, but the most common by far is the Argentina departure. There are also some Antarctica cruises that leave from Chile, as well as some Ross Sea tours that leave from South Africa or New Zealand.

The Antarctic Peninsula is the place to go for travelers who want to lay their eyes upon the iconic icebergs and glaciers that are depicted in so many movies. The great thing about this area is that it is one of the easiest to get to on the continent, and it is also considered the most picturesque. In addition to all the wonderful wildlife, travelers also get to see the famous Deception Island as well as a range of icy mountain peaks.

With how much there is to enjoy on this continent, it is easy to see why so many days are necessary to really get the most out of everything. For those who are on a budget, though, there are tours as short as six days, which can be much more affordable than the more extravagant ones. Some trips even depart for the continent by sea, and some visit the Weddell Sea, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands, lasting for as long as eighteen days.

It takes a strongly reinforced hull to withstand the battering that ships get in waters like this. Most of the cruise ships are small since this is the safest and most maneuverable way to traverse the waters, and some ports don't allow bigger ships. An important consideration is that only 100 people are allowed to disembark at once, so groups larger than that have to visit the land in rotations.

There are plenty of hikes that more active travelers can take, as well as gorgeous excursions to just relax. Those who want to get as close as they can to the wildlife might consider looking for a trip that including kayaking. Skiing and camping are other great options when it comes to getting the most out of this beautiful area.

When thinking of the Antarctic, one rarely tends to think of it as a desert due to the fact that it is frozen solid, but that is in fact what it is. At less than two inches of precipitation per year on average, it has less annual precipitation than the Sahara desert. The other notable extremes of the continent are most obviously the cold, getting as low as -129 degrees Fahrenheit, and the high coastal winds reaching up to 200 miles per hour.

Most of the wildlife in this area lives underwater. All of the creatures that do live on land rely on the underwater creatures in order to survive. This is a great place to see a variety of seabirds, seals, whales, and much more.

Penguins are by far the most famous seabird in this area. While there are seventeen species that live underwater, only four of them actually breed on the land. The best place to see them is in the water since that is when they are at their most graceful.




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