Antarctica: what it’s like to go on an expedition cruise – 04/16/2024 – Tourism

It is possible that explorer James Cook turned over in his grave when it was discovered that, in 1772, he was less than 150 km away from discovering Antarctica and gave up. After three expeditions after the lands that supposedly balanced the Northern Hemisphere, he declared: “No one will ever venture further than me and that the lands located to the south will never be explored.”

On the one hand, he was right, since navigating the waters of the inhospitable Antarctica is a challenge even today, let alone back then. However, the Russians and the British arrived, almost together, for the first time in 1812, and planted their feet and flags in the frozen ground. Poor Cook.

Touring Antarctica is a remarkable experience. But no matter how much technology modernity offers, this is still considered an adventure expedition, with quite complex logistics. If you are nothing like sailor and writer Amyr Klink, you need to travel with an experienced and qualified team, including guides, ship captains, doctors and other professionals who can deal with unforeseen situations. In addition to a safe, equipped vessel that follows the region’s conservation guidelines.

The adventure begins on the Chilean coast, starting from the city of Punta Arenas or on the Argentine coast, in the city of Ushuaia. Leaving Brazil, it is necessary to fly to one of these cities, with mandatory stops in the capitals Santiago or Buenos Aires.

The vessels begin navigation on a first stretch that lasts around three days, measuring 570 km, and connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans: it is the famous crossing of the Strait of Magellan. The strait alludes to a labyrinth. Some points on the route are approximately 3 km long — subject to strong winds and sea currents. No wonder it is considered one of the most turbulent regions of the oceans.

Some companies offer the option of flying to King George Island, the closest to the Antarctic peninsula, which is home to several scientific research bases from countries such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Korea, China and Russia. The island is 95 km long and has a landing strip for charter flights, with scheduled departures depending on the sudden change in the region’s climate. But the flight is peaceful and lasts around two hours.

Expedition activities

Most expeditions last from 7 to 20 days and include stops at different points on the peninsula and adjacent islands. Quark Expeditions has been promoting trips to the region for 30 years and has the largest polar class fleet operating there, allowing trips to be made by people aged 8 and over. Packages start at US$15,000, or R$76,000, for departures in November 2024.

There are several types of cabins on the boats, some even with a private external balcony. Passengers have access to a series of onboard activities, such as lectures and presentations on the history, fauna and flora of Antarctica. It is also possible to do other leisure activities, such as ice hiking, boat trips and stand-up paddleboarding among the icebergs.

The latter is one of the most intense and challenging experiences of the expedition, which provides specific clothing for cold waters in case of a fall, the ‘drysuit’, and a boat accompanies the paddle throughout the entire route.

The cold on the ship’s deck is quite bearable with the correct clothing. This also works in the so-called ‘zodiacs’ — inflatable motor boats that go out to explore the marine fauna and the continent. You must follow a checklist for each trip, with all special equipment such as parka, rubber boots, life jacket and gloves.

Trips can only be carried out between October and March, a period in which average temperatures are minus 11 degrees Celsius — the Antarctic summer. In winter, no way. Temperatures can reach up to −80 °C on the continent, with winds of more than 300 km/h, making conditions extremely dangerous for navigation, in addition to many access routes being blocked by ice.

Despite the extreme conditions, life flourishes in this environment. Penguins, seals, whales and other marine animals feed in the frigid waters surrounding Antarctica, while migratory birds use the region as a stopping point on their journey north.

Penguins cross our paths, most of the time, with a group, or a female that passes by gliding across the ice, teaching her chick to do the same. Colonies can have anywhere from 200 to 400 penguins together, and watching them is so fascinating it could take all day.

The so-called zodiacs also take travelers to Antarctica’s biggest attraction: whales. The emotion of seeing them can be described as a mixture of fascination and humility. The first reaction upon seeing them is generally amazement due to their size, especially when compared to our inflatable boats, which come within a distance of up to five meters of the animals.

At the end of the day, back on the boat, travelers meet in the room before the restaurant to share photos, history and experiences. There is a sense of camaraderie that comes when a group of strangers unite around a common goal, and as the expedition progresses, these people become friends and teammates, united by the shared experience of overcoming obstacles and challenges.

When to go: October to March — Antarctic summer period
Airlines operating the route: Sky Airlines, Latam, Aerolíneas Argentinas
Vessel: Quark Expeditions (from US$15 thousand, or R$76 thousand, for departures in November 2024)