- DESTINATIONS / Antarctica
- 28 November 2019
WHEN PLANNING AN Antarctica voyage, it is important to know that no journey is the same and that you cannot plan an exact itinerary.
The best cruising months are December through to the first half of February, and superyachts visiting Antarctica are required to have an Antarctic Permit. This takes about six months to process, so advance planning is important.
It is also highly recommended that yachts use the services of an expert polar guide and an Antarctic pilot, who will help advise on vessel choice and modification, apply for and manage your Antarctic permit, and guarantee a safe voyage under the ever-changing weather and ice conditions.
Above all, flexibility is the key to success in Antarctica.
For those planning on taking this voyage of a lifetime, these are the top six spots you won’t want to miss.
1. The South Shetland Islands
The South Shetland Islands are an archipelago of wildlife-rich islands located on the edge of the Drake Passage. There are numerous penguin colonies, seals and seabirds around the islands.
As the most accessible land in the Antarctic, the South Shetlands has an interesting history from the sealing and whaling eras. This is also where the majority of Antarctic logistics and research stations are located.
2. Antarctic Sound and the Weddell Sea
Known as Iceberg Alley, Antarctic Sound lies at the north-east point of the Antarctic Peninsula where large tabular icebergs drift north from the Weddell Sea.
Don’t be fooled by the northerly latitude; the area is dramatically different to the Western Antarctic Peninsula both in its geography and species, as a large gyre transports colder water and sea ice from the southerly reaches of the Weddell Sea to this northerly point. For this reason, there is an opportunity to land at Adélie penguin colonies while cruising through Antarctic Sound.
3. Danco Coast and Gerlache Strait
On the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, one of the most breathtakingly scenic areas is found along the Danco Coast, where numerous islands and channels are found in the Gerlache Strait.
Here, you can cruise among eerily sculpted icebergs, pass immense glaciers and ice cliffs, and visit a number of gentoo penguin colonies. Historic locations like the UK’s Port Lockroy allow for a snapshot of Antarctica’s colourful past. You can visit the museum and send a postcard from the southernmost post office in the world.
4. The Lemaire Channel and Penola Strait
Just south of the Gerlache Strait is the stunning LeMaire Channel and Penola Strait. Often inaccessible early in the season due to sea ice, the grandeur of the five-nautical-mile-long Lemaire Channel acts as gatekeeper of the Penola Strait.
The Penola offers multiple locations to explore including a breeding colony of 3,000 pairs of gentoo penguins on Petermann Island and the nearby Iceberg Graveyard where all shapes and sizes of grounded ice sculptures await. The Penola Strait is a place where the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula truly tower over you.
5. Crystal Sound and Antarctic Circle
If sea-ice conditions permit, it is possible to venture south on the western side of the Peninsula toward the Antarctic Circle. The aptly named Crystal Sound is located close to the Antarctic Circle at 66°33’S.
Landing at the deserted British base on nearby Detaille Island is a step back in time – the base has remained untouched since it was abandoned in the 1950s.
Due to the challenges of sea ice, however, the area is not as commonly visited by commercial expeditions or private vessels.
6. The Gullet and Marguerite Bay
South of the Antarctic Circle, squeezed between Adelaide Island and the Tyndall Mountains, a narrow passage known as the Gullet offers incredible mountain scenery on either side of the ice-strewn waters of this hidden channel.
This rarely visited passage eventually opens out onto spectacular Marguerite Bay, first visited by the French Polar explorer Dr Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who named the beautiful bay after his wife. Only a hardy few allocate the time and effort to get this far south, and the rewards are many if you are able to reach Marguerite Bay.
Previous article
Navigating the white continent
