Boating and Cruises
As most points on the peninsula are only reachable through water (and only so during the Southern Hemisphere summer months when the waterways are open), the trip offers a number of boating sports and activities.
The main cruise boats are often larger vessels or icebreakers, but smaller chartered sailing options are available, and most voyages will include trips on zodiacs, small inflatable crafts used to reach shore. More adventurous options, like the National Geographic Explorer voyage, also offer optional kayaking and scuba trips. Remember, however, that the voyage involves some very real dangers and you might enjoy the trip more going with the more reputable agencies. Also be sure to investigate the environmental credentials of your choice.
Some of the more popular choices include:
All Patagonia
Juana Fadul 40
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
54-2901-433622
allpatagonia.com
Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic
96 Morton St., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10014
1-800-EXPEDITION
212-765-7740
expeditions.com
Polar Cruises
20525 Dorchester West
Bend, OR 97702
888-484-2244
polarcruises.com
Wildlife Watching
As you explore tour operator options, be sure to ask about wildlife watching opportunities on the cruise and on land.
The Antarctic Peninsula has a fascinating mix of wildlife specifically adapted to the harsh conditions, including a wide range of lichens, penguins, seals, seabirds and whales.
Some of the more famous species include the emperor penguin, the enormous elephant seal and the sei whale. Many tour operators will include knowledgeable biologists as guides and, if you're a wildlife enthusiast, be sure to ask about whale watching, bird watching, trips to penguin colonies or inland camping.
The National Geographic Explorer voyage has a particularly robust program for naturalists.
Sightseeing
péninsule antarctique image by Pollarys from
Fotolia.com
Contrary to popular belief, there's far more to Antarctica than ice, from the incredible shapes and colors of icebergs in Hope Bay and the cliffs of the Lemaire Channel plunging straight into the sea to the mountains of Paradise Bay and an interesting, albeit small, museum in Port Lockroy.
Most tour operators will stop by all of these main destinations, but it never hurts to double-check if you're particularly interested in a certain destination.
Research Stations
work in the cold image by antoine perroud from
Fotolia.com
Check with your tour operator to see if a visit to a research station is on the itinerary. It can be one of the most rewarding parts of the trip.
Be warned that researchers, often depending on how long they've been at the station, will be anywhere from extremely excited to see groups of tourists to annoyed that you're not all penguins, but if you're respectful and interested in the research, conversations with the researchers can be very rewarding.
Large national research stations include Gonzalez Videla (Chile), Port Lockroy (UK) and Esperanza (Argentina).
