Antarctica Travel Guides

fast facts

Size: 13,209,000 sq km or 5,100,021 sq miles (size varies die to changing ice shelves)
Percent of Earth's Land Area: 8.9%
Climate: Antarctica is the coldest and windiest spot on the planet. In fact, the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was recorded in Antarctica (-129.3ºF) and the mean winter temperatures range from -40º to -94ºF. Winds are commonly measured at up to 200 miles per hour.
Population: Officially none, but governmental research stations are home to small groups of scientists at all times. In addition to these research stations, in 2003 alone, over 13,000 tourists visited the continent!

Antarctica, almost 98% solid ice, was finally considered a continent in 1840, and not just a group of isolated islands. Today it has active territorial claims submitted by Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway and the United Kingdom. (Many of these claims are not recognized by some countries and remain in a constant disputed status)

Remote, isolated, and frozen all year, Antarctica is arguably the most untouched and undisturbed continent on the planet. A visit to Antarctica offers many advantages over anywhere else on earth. Some reasons are that Antarctica has the cleanest air in the world and it is also the darkest place on earth, making it ideal for astronomical interests.

traveling to antarctica

Visiting can be expensive and time consuming. Most visitors want to feel Antarctica's terra firma under their feet, but for those with less time and money ‘flight-seeing’ is a good alternative. Three countries operate airstrips on the continent - Argentina, Chile and Britain - but none have facilities for private or commercial landings. All private landings need advance permission, which is almost impossible to obtain. The more than 50 aircraft wrecks strewn across the continent are testament to the perils of Antarctic aviation. Since the late 80s ice-breaking ships have taken numerous tourists to Antarctica.

Antarctica is beyond comprehension and sure to amaze any traveler seeking a true adventure to the world’s most remote wilderness.

Early summer (October and November) is the time when the pack ice is breaking up and the birds, especially penguins, are courting and mating. December and January are the height of the austral summer and bring with them warmer weather, up to 20 hours of daylight each day. This is when the majority of tourists visit Antarctica. This is also when the penguins are hatching eggs and feeding chicks. The most amazing whale-watching opportunities are during the late summer months of February and March.