National Geographic Endurance
Expedition ship · €€€€A purpose-built polar vessel with an ice-strengthened X-Bow hull for a steadier ride, carrying around 130 guests with naturalists, kayaks and a fleet of Zodiacs.
Destination Guide · Antarctica
The Antarctic Peninsula
64°49′S 63°29′W
In brief
The Antarctic Peninsula is the northernmost, most accessible reach of Antarctica, reached by expedition ship across the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, Argentina. It is by far the most-visited part of the continent, governed by the Antarctic Treaty and managed under the strict guidelines of IAATO, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.
The Antarctic Peninsula is the long, mountainous arm of the continent that curls north toward South America — and it is the part of Antarctica nearly everyone who travels here ever sees. There are no towns, no hotels and no roads. You arrive by sea, you live aboard your ship, and the Peninsula reveals itself slowly: a coastline of tidewater glaciers, ice-choked channels and black volcanic shores, threaded with more wildlife than almost anywhere on Earth.
Getting there is part of the journey. Most voyages begin in Ushuaia, at the southern tip of Argentina, and cross the Drake Passage — roughly two days of open ocean, sometimes glassy, sometimes ferocious. What waits on the far side rewards the crossing many times over: humpback and minke whales feeding in still bays, leopard seals hauled out on floes, and penguin colonies tens of thousands strong. Every landing is made under Antarctic Treaty rules and IAATO guidelines, with small groups, biosecurity checks and a respectful distance kept from all wildlife.
Why go to The Antarctic Peninsula
Reason · 01
Sailing the Lemaire Channel
A narrow, mountain-walled passage barely 1,600 metres wide at its tightest — mirror-still water, towering cliffs and floating ice. Travellers call it ‘Kodak Gap’ for good reason.
Reason · 02
Zodiac cruising among the ice
The Peninsula is explored in small inflatable Zodiacs — close to calving glaciers, sculpted bergs and resting seals, at the slow, quiet pace the landscape deserves.
Reason · 03
A continental landing
Setting foot on the Antarctic mainland itself — not an island — at a site such as Neko Harbour or Brown Bluff is, for many, the journey’s defining moment.
In pictures
The Antarctic Peninsula, seen
On film
Watch The Antarctic Peninsula
A short film to set the scene — sourced from YouTube and credited to its maker.
Where to stay
The finest beds in The Antarctic Peninsula
Hand-picked places to sleep, from the iconic to the characterful — each chosen for position as much as polish.
MS Roald Amundsen
Expedition ship · €€€A hybrid-powered, ice-strengthened expedition ship for roughly 500 guests, with a science centre, infinity pool and a long Norwegian polar pedigree.
Sylvia Earle
Small expedition ship · €€€€A stabilised, ice-strengthened small ship carrying about 130 guests, named for the ocean scientist — built for citizen science and a high guide-to-guest ratio.
What to see
Attractions worth your time
The sights that earn their fame — and a few the crowds miss.
The Lemaire Channel
Iconic passageA spectacular 11-kilometre strait between the mainland and Booth Island — sheer peaks, calm water and drifting ice make it the Peninsula’s most photographed sail.
Paradise Harbour
Continental landingA glassy, glacier-rimmed bay and one of the few places to step onto the Antarctic mainland — calving ice, gentoo penguins and reflections that justify the name.
Deception Island
Volcanic calderaA flooded volcanic caldera entered through a narrow gap called Neptune’s Bellows, with black-sand beaches, steaming shallows and the ruins of an old whaling station.
Cuverville Island
Penguin colonyHome to one of the Peninsula’s largest gentoo penguin colonies — thousands of nesting pairs on a steep rookery, busy and noisy through the austral summer.
Where to eat
Tables we send people to
From landmark restaurants to the small rooms only locals mention.
The expedition-ship dining room
Aboard ship · includedAll meals are served aboard. Dining rooms are relaxed and unhurried, often with picture windows onto the ice — chefs cater for every diet, and tables shift with the day’s landings.
The polar plunge
Once-in-a-voyage · includedNot a meal but a rite of passage — a brief, bracing leap into the Southern Ocean from the ship or shore, traditionally followed by hot drinks and a warming toast back on deck.
A continental-landing picnic
Guided ashore · weather permittingOn rare calm days, expedition teams may serve hot drinks or a simple bite ashore. Under IAATO rules nothing is left behind, and all waste returns to the ship.
Key facts
The Antarctic Peninsula at a glance
| Location | The northernmost arm of Antarctica, reaching toward South America |
|---|---|
| Reached from | Ushuaia, Argentina, by expedition ship across the Drake Passage |
| Famous for | Tidewater glaciers, icebergs, whales and vast penguin colonies |
| Governance | The Antarctic Treaty (1959); tourism managed under IAATO guidelines |
| Season | Late October to March, the austral summer; no winter tourism |
| Gateway port | Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego — the world’s southernmost city |
On a grand journey
The Antarctic Peninsula is a chapter of Andes to Antarctica.
Field Notes
Your questions, answered
How rough is the Drake Passage?
It varies enormously. The crossing takes about two days each way and can be calm — the so-called ‘Drake Lake’ — or genuinely rough, the ‘Drake Shake’, as this is where three oceans meet with no land to slow the swell. Modern stabilised expedition ships handle it well, and motion-sickness remedies are widely available aboard.
When is the best time to visit the Antarctic Peninsula?
The season runs from late October to March. November brings pristine snow and courting penguins; December and January offer the longest days, warmest weather and hatching chicks; February and March are best for whales and lower ice. Each month has its own character — there is no single best time.
How do you get to the Antarctic Peninsula?
Almost all voyages depart by expedition ship from Ushuaia, in Argentine Tierra del Fuego, crossing the Drake Passage. There are no commercial flights or ferries to the Peninsula itself, and no hotels — you travel and sleep aboard your ship for the entire journey.
Can you fly across the Drake Passage instead of sailing?
Yes. ‘Fly-the-Drake’ voyages fly travellers from Punta Arenas, Chile, to an airstrip on King George Island in the South Shetlands, where they board the ship — cutting roughly two days of open-ocean crossing in each direction. Flights depend on Antarctic weather and can be delayed, so flexibility is essential.
What wildlife will you see in Antarctica?
Expect gentoo, chinstrap and Adélie penguins in large colonies, plus crabeater, Weddell and leopard seals on the ice. Humpback and minke whales are common, especially later in the season, alongside seabirds such as albatrosses, petrels and skuas. There are no polar bears — they live only in the Arctic.
Begin a journey
Build a journey around The Antarctic Peninsula.
Travel here as a chapter of a grand journey, or as a trip of its own. We will tailor it to your dates and pace.