Icebergs in the Gerlache Strait at sunset in Antarctica, December 2021.
When to Go to Antarctica
The best time to go is November to March. Based on what you want to see or do, consider the following:
Penguins: They will be nesting early in the season and have eggs by mid-December usually. Some will start hatching at the end of December. January and beyond is the best time to see chicks in their fledgling stage, where they look like little feather dusters. If you want to see baby penguins, go in January to be safe.
Whales: February and March are when whale numbers are at their peaks. The January trips that ran after my December trips saw a very large amount of whales. (We saw a good amount of killer whales in December, along with some humpbacks.)
Fast Ice and Snow Activities: There’s always more snow earlier in the season will have more snow. If you want a chance to see fast ice (sea ice that’s fastened to the coastline) and walk around on it, going earlier in the season (November to mid-December) is your best chance. Although, you can still find it in January at times. It’s never guaranteed.
I’m wearing a float coat in this photo, which is a coat that’s also a life jacket. Underneath, I’ve got on an ultralight down jacket, two thermal tops, one tank top, two pairs of thermal bottoms, rain pants, two pairs of wool socks and waterproof boots. Also, I’ve got a fleece buff, fleece hat with wear warmers and waterproof gloves.
What to Pack for Antarctica*
I packed terribly, so I want you to learn from my mistakes. Most days the weather was right around freezing, give or take a few degrees. Some days the sun was shining, and other days, it was pouring snow.
Important Note: Waterproof and water-resistant are not the same thing. Everything for Antarctica should be waterproof. Due to biosecurity reasons (to prevent invasive plant species), you have to wash off your boots and vacuum all your clothing before your first landing. Then, you have to wash and sanitize your boots or anything that touches the ground between landings, which is so much easier when you have waterproof clothes/bags.
- Waterproof hooded raincoat
- If you’re taking a cruise, they will most likely give you a jacket. If not, you’ll want a very warm waterproof jacket or one you can put warmer layers under.
- Rain boots (These need to be waterproof, insulated & knee-high. I recommend either Muck Boots or Boggs. You can possibly rent these through your cruise company.)
- Waterproof pants (These need to be wide enough to go OVER your boots. I recommend full-zip pants.)
- Ultra-light hooded down jacket (This saved me! If your outer jacket isn’t not insulated, then add a fleece over this.)
- 3-4 thermal tops (I layered two of these most days. I like these Patagonia Capilene and Columbia Omni-Heat ones.)
- 2-3 Thermal bottoms (I wore a pair of Patagonia Capilene thermals underneath a pair of fleece-lined leggings every day. Some days I put a pair of fleece jogger sweat pants over them. Then, my waterproof pants on top.)
- 4 pairs of thick Merino Wool Socks (I wore two pairs most days.)
- 2-3 pairs of gloves (I really loved these Seirus Soundtouch Xtreme All Weather Gloves but also had a pair of lightweight gloves and a pair of wool ones as a backup.)
- Fleece buff (I had two just in case one was wet.)
- Fleece hat with ear covers or flaps
- For sunny days, I wear this Columbia baseball hat with ear warmers over it to keep it from blowing off.)
- Sunglasses and ski goggles for snowy Zodiac rides (I was so jealous of everyone who had googles.)
- Sunscreen and Chapstick with SPF
- You will get sunburned. Apply regularly. I really love this matte face SPF because it doesn’t leave your hands greasy, so there’s less chance of SPF getting on my camera.)
- Dry bag backpack (The most common brand I saw was Overboard. I took a normal backpack with a rain cover, which was a huge mistake.)
- Lightweight dry bag for your camera and phone (I use a 13-liter Sea to Summit one for my camera with wide lens and kept my phone in this one-liter Sea to Summit dry bag in my jacket pocket.)
- Hiking poles or walking stick (Your cruise ship might have these, but they are really helpful in the deep snow.)
- Hand and foot warmers (Two pairs for each day of the trip, excluding sea days.)
- Meclizine (We had 20-foot waves on the Drake Crossing, which is an average crossing.)
- Nuun electrolytes (Hydration is important, especially after being in the sun all day or dealing with rough seas.)
Gentoo penguins swimming near Useful Island, Antarctica.
Camera Gear
You need at least a 500-600mm lens for wildlife shots. Due to IAATO rules, you can’t get closer than 15 feet to penguins and other animals. I recommend having two camera bodies—one with a wide lens and another with a zoom, so you aren’t changing lenses in the extreme weather. (Consider renting gear through LensRentals.com. I’ve used them before for many shoots.) There’s really no need to bring a tripod.
- Wide angle-lens (Recommended: 24-70 mm f/2.8)
- Zoom (I bought this Sigma Nikon 150-600mm lens because it was the lightest weight zoom I could find. While it was very sharp, the focus was very slow. I’d almost recommend shooting a Nikon 70-200 with the 1.4x teleconverter and/or a Nikon 500mm prime because the focus is faster. You can rent these cheaply from LensRentals.com.)
- Rain covers (I recommend the LensCoat RainCoat in both the large and small sizes.)
- Consider dry bags for your cameras as well. (I use this lightweight Sea to Summit bag for one camera body with a wide-angle lens)
- Circular polarizing filter
- I highly recommend the PeakDesign’s Slide camera straps, wrist strap or Capture clip that attaches to your backpack strap.
Travel Insurance
Due to the pandemic, I highly recommend travel insurance more than ever! If you are flying into Argentina, you have to show proof of insurance that covers COVID-19. I highly recommend Safety Wing, which is what I used for my trip and time living in Buenos Aires after my Antarctica trip. Policies are only $68 or less/month. It covers quarantine for policies that 28 days or more. Even if you are only going to be traveling for a couple weeks, I recommend buying a 28-day policy in case in you quarantined so you just have that coverage in case you need it.
*Please note that some affiliate links are used in this post. If you make a purchase, I earn a small commission at no cost to you, which goes toward the cost of maintaining this blog. If you would like to support this blog and are ready to make a purchase, these links are one way to show your support. I only recommend products and companies I truly love and use. Please email me with any questions.
