Explore on your own rating
There is no DIY: every step is run by the ship's expedition team.
Where ships dock
- No ports: Zodiac landings at sites approved for each voyage
- Most voyages leave from Ushuaia (Argentina) or Punta Arenas (Chile; some fly over the Drake to King George Island)
Getting to town
Everything ashore is a guided Zodiac landing run by the expedition team. Landings follow IAATO rules (often no more than 100 people ashore at a site at once).
The Drake Passage crossing takes about two days each way and can be very rough; the "Drake Shake" vs. "Drake Lake" is luck. The South Shetland Islands (e.g., Deception Island, Half Moon Island) are often the first landings.
Fares are as reported by the sources below and change often. Treat them as estimates.
Money & entry
Currency: Ships use U.S. dollars or euros onboard; bring Argentine pesos or Chilean pesos for Ushuaia/Punta Arenas.
Entry: No visa for Antarctica, but your expedition operator must hold the national permit/environmental authorization. U.S.-organized expeditions file State Dept advance notification (DS-4131) and EPA environmental documentation; passengers don't apply themselves. Entry rules for the departure port (Argentina or Chile) still apply (IAATO / eCFR 40 CFR Part 8, checked Oct 2026).
Top sights nearby
- Penguin colonies (Gentoo, Chinstrap, Adélie)
- Deception Island caldera (South Shetlands)
- Lemaire Channel
- Whales in the Gerlache Strait
Beaches
- Polar plunge (if offered)
Safety & tips
- Pick an IAATO member operator.
- Bring seasickness remedies for the Drake.
- Boots are usually loaned; layers are on you.
- Biosecurity: your gear will be vacuumed and checked.
Check U.S. State Department travel advisories before you sail.
⏰ Back to the ship on time
Expedition staff control all landings; weather can cancel any of them.
Ship time can differ from local time. Your ship won't wait for independent travelers.