South Shetland Islands: Landing Sites, Wildlife, Stations

A lichen-orange rock spire above mossy green flats and a meltwater lagoon on the Aitcho Islands, with dark island peaks across the water — Gilad Rom, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

What are the South Shetland Islands, and can you visit them?

The South Shetland Islands are a chain of more than 20 islands stretching about 280 miles (450 km) along the north side of the Antarctic Peninsula, between 61° and 63° South. Most Antarctic cruises land here: a dozen Treaty-listed sites, from Deception Island's caldera to Half Moon Island's chinstraps, took 588 landings in 2025-26, and fly-cruises start on King George Island.

Facts checked October 15, 2026 against 28 sources.

South Shetland Islands at a glance

July: no trips
August: no trips
September: no trips
October: no trips
November: in season
December: in season
January: best
February: best
March: in season
April: no trips
May: no trips
June: no trips

Best Season

Type: Region
Location: 62°00′S, 58°00′W
Part of: Antarctic Peninsula
Season: IAATO recorded landings from October 19, 2025 to April 1, 2026. January and February are the mildest months, and visits to Hannah Point are strongly discouraged until mid-January.
Best months: January to February
Getting there: By ship across the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, two days each way on Atlas's schedule, or by a charter flight of two hours or less from Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Puerto Williams to the Teniente Marsh airstrip on King George Island, where fly-cruise passengers board.
Wildlife: Chinstrap penguins at Half Moon Island and Baily Head, gentoos at Yankee Harbour, Adélies at Penguin Island and Turret Point, a few macaroni penguins at Hannah Point; southern giant petrels; elephant, Weddell and fur seals.
Landings: Twelve sites with Antarctic Treaty guidelines, most with at most 100 people ashore at once; Ardley Island allows 20 and Point Wild 30. Together they took 588 of the 3,425 Peninsula landings IAATO recorded in 2025-26.

The South Shetland Islands are a chain of more than twenty islands and islets. They run about 280 miles (450 km) from Smith and Snow islands in the west to Elephant and Clarence islands in the east, along the north side of the Antarctic Peninsula.¹ For most cruise passengers they are the first or last Antarctic land of the trip. Quark says the Antarctic adventure begins when the Drake Passage is behind you and the islands come into view.² Aurora closes its 11-day voyage with "a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands" before heading back north.³

Where are the South Shetland Islands?

They lie between 61° and 63° South, across the Bransfield Strait from the Peninsula.¹ The strait is about 60 miles (97 km) wide and 200 miles (320 km) long.⁴ From west to east the main islands are Smith, Snow, Livingston, Deception, Greenwich, Robert, Nelson, King George, Gibbs, Elephant and Clarence, with many smaller islets around them.¹

Three of them have their own pages here:

Deception Island, the flooded volcano.
King George Island, the largest of the group, where fly-cruise passengers land.⁵
Elephant Island, where 22 of Shackleton's men camped at Point Wild from April 17 to August 30, 1916.⁶

Are the South Shetland Islands part of Antarctica?

Yes, in every way that matters to a traveler. The Antarctic Treaty covers everything south of 60° South,⁷ and the whole chain lies south of 61°.¹ The same visitor rules apply here as on the continent, including the Treaty's general guidelines for visitors.⁸ They are islands, though, not part of the mainland. For the rules ashore, see Antarctica visitor rules.

How did the South Shetland Islands get their name?

They were named after the Shetland Islands, which lie at about the same latitude in the Northern Hemisphere.¹ William Smith, master of the brig Williams, sighted Livingston Island on February 19, 1819. He charted the chain roughly later that year, and on October 16, 1819, he took possession at King George Island in the name of King George III. Smith first called the islands New South Britain, then changed the name to South Shetland or New South Shetland. Argentina and Chile call them Shetland del Sur.¹

Where can you land in the South Shetland Islands?

There are a dozen sites with Antarctic Treaty visitor guidelines. A few more, such as Edinburgh Hill and Walker Bay on Livingston Island, have guidelines from IAATO.⁹ The landing counts below are IAATO's for the 2025-26 season.⁹

Site	Island	What is there	People ashore at once	Landings 2025-26
Whalers Bay	Deception	Remains of the Norwegian Hektor whaling station, Historic Site and Monument 71¹⁰	100	191
Half Moon Island	Half Moon, between Greenwich and Livingston	Chinstrap penguins on the rock outcrops, a whaling dory on the beach, Argentina's Cámara summer station nearby¹¹	100	147
Yankee Harbour	Greenwich	Several thousand pairs of gentoo penguins, a sealers' trypot and the foundation of their hut¹²	100	80
Telefon Bay	Deception	Volcanic craters up to 150 ft (45 m) deep¹³	100	70
Barrientos Island	Aitcho Islands, between Robert and Greenwich	Gentoo and chinstrap penguins on an island whose center is a carpet of moss¹⁴	100	37
Pendulum Cove	Deception	Geothermally heated water and the ruins of a Chilean station destroyed in 1967¹⁵	100	18
Penguin Island	Off eastern King George	Deacon Peak, a volcanic cone 560 ft (170 m) high; Adélie and chinstrap penguins¹⁶	100	12
Point Wild	Elephant	The site of Shackleton's men's 1916 camp, mostly seen from small boats¹⁷	30	11
Turret Point	King George	Rock stacks, Adélie and chinstrap penguins, elephant seals¹⁸	100	8
Baily Head	Deception	A chinstrap colony in a natural amphitheater, for ships of 200 passengers or fewer¹⁹	100	8
Ardley Island	Off King George, in Maxwell Bay	Gentoo and Adélie penguins on one beach; the rest of the island is a specially protected area²⁰	20	4
Hannah Point	Livingston	Gentoo, chinstrap and a few macaroni penguins²¹	100, no more than 50 on the Point	2

By our count, these twelve sites took 588 of the 3,425 landings IAATO recorded on the Peninsula in 2025-26, about one in six.⁹ Almost half of them, 287, were on Deception Island. Half Moon Island is the busiest site outside Deception, and the HX itinerary calls it "staggeringly photogenic".²² HX also puts the Yankee Harbour gentoo colony at around 4,000 breeding pairs.²²

Point Wild and Hannah Point sit at the bottom of the list for different reasons. Point Wild is "principally a small boat cruising site with occasional opportunistic landings at low tide".¹⁷ At Hannah Point, visits are "strongly discouraged" from October until penguin incubation ends in mid-January. After that only one ship a day is allowed, for no more than six hours.²¹

What wildlife can you see in the South Shetland Islands?

Three penguin species breed widely here, and a fourth breeds in small numbers.

Chinstrap penguins breed at Half Moon Island, Barrientos, Penguin Island, Turret Point, Point Wild and Hannah Point.¹¹¹⁴¹⁶¹⁸¹⁷²¹
Gentoo penguins breed at Yankee Harbour, Barrientos, Ardley and Hannah Point.¹²¹⁴²⁰²¹
Adélie penguins breed at Penguin Island, Turret Point and Ardley.¹⁶¹⁸²⁰
Hannah Point lists macaroni penguins among its breeders, in small numbers.²¹

For how the species differ, see penguin species.

Southern giant petrels nest on the north cliffs of Barrientos and around the crater lake on Penguin Island, and both areas are closed to visitors.¹⁴¹⁶ Southern elephant seals and Weddell seals haul out at Penguin Island, Turret Point and Ardley. Antarctic fur seals come ashore at Turret Point, Ardley and Point Wild, and the guidelines warn that they can be aggressive.¹⁶¹⁸²⁰¹⁷ Fin and humpback whales appear off Point Wild late in the season.¹⁷ More on what swims offshore is in whales of Antarctica.

The rules here exist for a reason. At Hannah Point, elephant seals have fallen from the cliff-top wallow twice since 1995 because they were disturbed.²¹

Who lives in the South Shetland Islands?

Only scientists and the staff who support them, but there are a lot of them. COMNAP's list of national Antarctic facilities puts 19 research stations in the islands, run by 12 countries.²³ Ten of those stations are open year-round, out of 43 year-round stations in the whole of Antarctica. Nine of the ten are on King George Island.²³ Adding up each station's reported peak population gives about 890 people, by our sum.²³ Fly-cruise passengers drive past Chile's Frei and Russia's Bellingshausen stations on King George Island on their way to the ship.²⁴

How do you get to the South Shetland Islands?

By ship across the Drake Passage, or by plane to King George Island. Atlas schedules two days on the Drake each way from Ushuaia.²⁵ Aurora expects to near the South Shetlands and the tip of the Peninsula on the afternoon of day four of its voyage.³ Many standard Peninsula itineraries name the islands: Quark's Antarctic Explorer and Aurora's Spirit of Antarctica among them, while HX's Highlights of Antarctica describes Deception and Half Moon islands.²³²²

Fly-cruises skip the Drake. In 2025-26, 170 southbound flights into the Teniente Rodolfo Marsh airstrip on King George Island supported 126 air-cruise voyages carrying 11,764 passengers.²⁶ The charters leave from three Chilean towns: Punta Arenas (Antarctica21 and others), Puerto Natales (Lindblad) and Puerto Williams (Silversea), and take about two hours or less.²⁴⁵²⁸ Our King George Island page compares the three. The trade-offs are in fly or sail the Drake Passage and flights to Antarctica. For budgets, see the cheapest way to Antarctica.

Do all Antarctica cruises stop in the South Shetland Islands?

Every fly-cruise and many sea voyages do, but none can promise a particular site. Fly-cruises start or end on King George Island, and Aurora's voyages, for one, plan a last landing here on the way out; which site you get depends on weather, ice and rules that favor small ships.²⁶³ Three of those rules decide a lot:

Baily Head, Deception's chinstrap amphitheater, takes only ships carrying 200 passengers or fewer, two a day.¹⁹
Hannah Point visits are strongly discouraged until mid-January, and after that it takes one ship a day, for at most six hours.²¹
Point Wild is mostly seen from small boats.¹⁷

Our pick: if a South Shetland site is the reason you are going, choose a ship under 200 passengers and an itinerary that names the site, and treat it as a hope, not a plan. Fly-cruise passengers should not expect much of King George Island itself: its three guideline sites took 24 landings between them in 2025-26.⁹

When is the best time to visit the South Shetland Islands?

January and February. Those are the mildest months, and by then visits to Hannah Point are no longer discouraged. Monthly means at Russia's Bellingshausen station on King George Island averaged 34°F (1.3°C) in January and 35°F (1.4°C) in February from 2011 to 2025, by our average of the station record.²⁷ The landing season runs longer than that. In 2025-26, IAATO recorded landings across about 164 days, from October 19, 2025 to April 1, 2026.⁹ Month-by-month detail is in Antarctica weather by month and the best time to visit Antarctica.

South Shetland Islands at a glance

July: no trips
August: no trips
September: no trips
October: no trips
November: in season
December: in season
January: best
February: best
March: in season
April: no trips
May: no trips
June: no trips

Best Season

Type: Region
Location: 62°00′S, 58°00′W
Part of: Antarctic Peninsula
Season: IAATO recorded landings from October 19, 2025 to April 1, 2026. January and February are the mildest months, and visits to Hannah Point are strongly discouraged until mid-January.
Best months: January to February
Getting there: By ship across the Drake Passage from Ushuaia, two days each way on Atlas's schedule, or by a charter flight of two hours or less from Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales or Puerto Williams to the Teniente Marsh airstrip on King George Island, where fly-cruise passengers board.
Wildlife: Chinstrap penguins at Half Moon Island and Baily Head, gentoos at Yankee Harbour, Adélies at Penguin Island and Turret Point, a few macaroni penguins at Hannah Point; southern giant petrels; elephant, Weddell and fur seals.
Landings: Twelve sites with Antarctic Treaty guidelines, most with at most 100 people ashore at once; Ardley Island allows 20 and Point Wild 30. Together they took 588 of the 3,425 Peninsula landings IAATO recorded in 2025-26.

Voyages that visit South Shetland Islands

Landings depend on weather and ice, so no operator can promise a specific site.

Antarctica Express Air-Cruise (6 days, sail south and fly north, Magellan Explorer)
Antarctica21 · Magellan Explorer · 6 days · Ushuaia, Argentina to Punta Arenas, Chile (flight from King George Island included) · Fly one way · November
Fare details
Magellan Explorer, Nov 17 to 22, 2026: $5,995 per person in a Triple Suite shared by three (reserved when read); Porthole Cabin $6,795, Veranda $7,495 and Deluxe Veranda $7,795 per person, two sharing. Open when read: one Deluxe Veranda at $7,795 and one berth in a men's shared Veranda Cabin at $7,495. Sails from Ushuaia via Puerto Williams and Cape Horn (landing weather permitting) across the Drake Passage; includes the flight from King George Island to Punta Arenas and one hotel night there. If the return flight is delayed, the ship keeps cruising with full board until it can fly, and if the delay passes two days with no flight in sight may sail back to South America; no refund either way. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $5,995about $999 a day
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Antarctica Express Air-Cruise (fly south and sail north, Magellan Discoverer)
Antarctica21 · 7 days · Punta Arenas, Chile (flight to King George Island included) to Ushuaia, Argentina · Fly one way · March
Fare details
Magellan Discoverer, Mar 4 to 10, 2027 (the itinerary page calls the trip 6 days and 5 nights; the booking engine dates span 7 days): $6,795 per person in a Triple Veranda Suite shared by three (reserved when read); Deluxe Veranda $8,495 per person, two sharing (all reserved). Open in the booking engine when read (the itinerary page's departure list marked it Sold Out): one berth in a women's shared Deluxe Veranda at $8,495 and two Grand Veranda Suites at $9,995 per person. Includes the flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island; the ship returns via Cape Horn and Puerto Williams to Ushuaia. Cruise fare refunded if the outbound flight cannot leave by 2 PM on day 4. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $6,795about $971 a day
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Antarctica Classic in Depth (Expedition)
G Adventures · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to December
Fare details
Lowest fare open to book, per person sharing a Lower Deck Twin, Nov 11, 2026: $8,254.35, Last Minute 35% off until Oct 16, 2026 (regular $12,699); on Dec 1 the cheapest open cabin was an Upper Deck Obstructed View Triple at $8,759.40, 40% off until Oct 31, 2026 (regular $14,599); includes one Ushuaia hotel night, transfers and a parka, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $8,254about $635 a day
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Antarctica Classic (Expedition)
G Adventures · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to January, March
Fare details
Lowest fare open to book, per person sharing a Lower Deck Twin, Mar 22, 2027: $8,559.20, 20% off in G's October Expedition Sale until Oct 31, 2026 (regular $10,699); Lower Deck Triples, from $6,974.25 on Mar 13 (regular $9,299), were waitlisted on every date; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, transfers and a parka, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $8,559about $778 a day
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Highlights of Antarctica
HX Expeditions · Fridtjof Nansen · 12 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · October to March
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Fridtjof Nansen, Oct 30, 2026, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $10,589; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); includes a Buenos Aires hotel night with breakfast, economy flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, drinks and gratuities. Four January and February departures sail on Roald Amundsen instead.
from $8,830about $736 a day
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Classic Antarctica, Realm of Penguins and Icebergs (Sea Spirit)
Poseidon Expeditions · Sea Spirit · 12 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to December, February
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person in a Triple Suite shared by three, Nov 28, 2026, after a 25% Seasonal Savings discount for new bookings made Oct 1 to Nov 30, 2026 (was $11,795); program days include a hotel night in Ushuaia; drinks package and parka included; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $8,846about $737 a day
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Best of Antarctica's Whale Season (Discoverer)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · 12 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · March
Fare details
Lowest fare, per person sharing a two-bed Ocean Stateroom, Mar 4, 2027, Explorer's Antarctica Sale price (regular $14,995, no end date shown); a Balcony Stateroom was $9,897; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $8,997about $750 a day
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Antarctica: Sail & Fly the Drake Passage (9 days, Silver Wind)
Silversea · 9 days · Puerto Williams, Chile (Santiago hotel night and charter flight from Santiago included) to King George Island, Antarctica (flight to Puerto Williams, a night at The Cormorant at 55 South and the charter to Santiago included) · Fly one way · October to November, January to March
Fare details
Silversea's lowest Antarctic fare of the season: $9,000 per guest, two sharing, Oceanview Suite (240 sq ft), Last-Minute fare (paid in full, non-refundable), Oct 20, 2026; Veranda Suites $10,300. Later departures cost $14,300 to $22,400. The same route run the other way (fly south, sail north) starts at $9,700 on Oct 29, 2026. Includes the Santiago hotel night, charter flights, a night at The Cormorant at 55 South, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and expedition activities. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $9,000about $1,000 a day
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Antarctic Peninsula: An Explorer's Expedition (Ocean Nova)
Intrepid Travel · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to January
Fare details
Lowest fare with space, per person sharing an Explorer Twin, Nov 16, 2026, shown discounted from $12,445 with no end date; the $7,556.25 Quad, sold only to groups of four, had no places; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; operated by Polar Latitudes; read Oct 15, 2026
from $9,334about $849 a day
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Antarctica: Discovery and Learning Voyage (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December to January
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin, Dec 27, 2026 (three female berths showing when read) and Jan 6, 2027 (waitlisted); a twin porthole is $11,900 per person but was waitlisted on Dec 27 and on request on Jan 6; flights to Ushuaia not included; read Oct 14, 2026
from $9,650about $877 a day
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Highlights of Antarctica (Roald Amundsen)
HX Expeditions · Roald Amundsen · 12 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · January to February
Fare details
Lowest published fare on Roald Amundsen, per person with two sharing, Jan 9, 2027, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $11,773; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); Jan 19 and Feb 8 start at $10,141 and Jan 29 at $12,066; read Oct 15, 2026. Includes a Buenos Aires hotel night with breakfast, economy flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, drinks and gratuities; five days in Antarctica.
from $9,736about $811 a day
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Antarctica's Whale Season (Ocean Albatros)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Albatros · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · March
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person with three sharing a porthole Triple Stateroom, Mar 18, 2027; a Superior Balcony Stateroom for two was $13,195 per person and a Single Stateroom $14,895; the Mar 9 departure was listed from $15,109; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $9,895about $900 a day
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Antarctica: Basecamp, with free camping, kayaking, snowshoeing and mountaineering (Hondius)
Oceanwide Expeditions · Hondius · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November
Fare details
Lowest published fare, one berth in a shared quadruple porthole cabin, Nov 23, 2026 (one female berth showing when read); all Basecamp activities included; flights to Ushuaia not included; read Oct 14, 2026
from $10,150about $781 a day
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Antarctica & Falklands Expedition, Buenos Aires to Montevideo
HX Expeditions · Fridtjof Nansen · 19 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Montevideo, Uruguay · Sail both ways · March
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Fridtjof Nansen, Mar 19, 2027, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $14,398; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); includes a Buenos Aires hotel night and a one-way flight to Ushuaia; the ship crosses the Drake both ways, then calls in the Falklands and at Puerto Madryn.
from $10,485about $552 a day
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Antarctica Springs to Life (Ocean Victory)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Victory · 10 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November
Fare details
Lowest fare, per person with two sharing a Porthole Stateroom, Nov 13, 2026; a Balcony Stateroom was $11,795 per person and a Superior Balcony Stateroom $12,095; no sale price shown; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $10,595about $1,060 a day
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Antarctic Peninsula: An Immersive Odyssey (Ocean Nova)
Intrepid Travel · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to December
Fare details
Lowest fare with space, per person sharing an Explorer Twin, Nov 25 or Dec 15, 2026, shown discounted from $14,435 with no end date; the $8,771.25 Quad had no places; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; operated by Polar Latitudes; read Oct 15, 2026
from $10,826about $833 a day
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Iconic Antarctica: The Explorer's Route
HX Expeditions · Roald Amundsen · 16 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · October to December, March
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Roald Amundsen, Mar 4, 2027, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $13,861; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); includes a Buenos Aires hotel night and economy flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. All 2026-27 departures are on Roald Amundsen.
from $10,863about $679 a day
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Antarctica: Exploring the Peninsula (10 days, Silver Wind)
Silversea · 10 days · Puerto Williams, Chile (Santiago hotel night and charter flight from Santiago included) to Puerto Williams, Chile (charter flight to Santiago included) · Sail both ways · December
Fare details
$11,000 per guest, two sharing, Oceanview Suite (240 sq ft), Last-Minute fare (paid in full, non-refundable), Dec 12, 2026; Veranda Suites $12,100. All-Inclusive Plus fares (Residence from $31,600) are 25% refundable until Nov 11, 2026. Includes a Santiago hotel night, charter flights to and from Puerto Williams, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and expedition activities; some Antarctic gear is rented at extra cost on voyages that cross the Drake. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $11,000about $1,100 a day
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Antarctic Peninsula Expedition Cruise, Including South Shetland Islands
Heritage Expeditions · 12 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (hotel night included) to Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to January
Fare details
Deck 3 Superior Stateroom, per person with two sharing, on Heritage Discoverer, Nov 22 and Dec 2, 2027, after 20% off for bookings made before Oct 30, 2026 (regular $13,650); the Dec 12, 2027 and Jan 10, 2028 departures were sold out. Includes one hotel night with dinner and breakfast, transfers, meals, and house beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; excludes flights, kayaking, gratuities and laundry. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $11,020about $918 a day
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Antarctic Peninsula: The Classic Voyage (Ocean Albatros)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Albatros · 12 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to December
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person with three sharing a porthole Triple Stateroom, Nov 22, 2026; cheapest for two, a Superior Balcony Stateroom at $15,095 per person; the Dec 2 departure was listed from $13,995 and Dec 12 from $12,495; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $11,395about $950 a day
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Extended Antarctic Circle Crossing (Ocean Nova)
Intrepid Travel · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Lowest fare with space, per person sharing an Explorer Twin, Feb 26, 2027, on request, shown discounted from $15,365 with no end date; the $9,333.75 Quad had no places; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; operated by Polar Latitudes; read Oct 15, 2026
from $11,524about $823 a day
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Quest for the Antarctic Circle (Expedition)
G Adventures · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December, February
Fare details
Lowest fare open to book, per person sharing an Upper Deck Obstructed View Triple, Dec 21, 2026: $11,634.35, 35% off in G's October Expedition Sale until Oct 31, 2026 (regular $17,899); includes one Ushuaia hotel night, transfers and a parka, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $11,634about $831 a day
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Antarctic Peninsula: The Classic Voyage (Discoverer)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · 12 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December, February
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person sharing the last two-bed Ocean Stateroom on the Dec 18, 2026 departure, sale price (regular $17,495); Dec 8 had only one men's shared berth left at $11,547; Feb 9, 2027 from $13,496 in a Porthole Stateroom; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $12,247about $1,021 a day
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Antarctica Direct: Fly the Drake Passage (8 days)
Lindblad Expeditions · National Geographic Explorer · 8 days · Puerto Natales, Chile (flight to King George Island included) to Puerto Natales, Chile (flight from King George Island included) · Fly both ways · November to February
Fare details
Lowest published fare: $12,600 per person, Category 1 window cabin, two sharing, on National Geographic Explorer, Nov 25, 2026, made up of $9,600 plus the required $3,000 flights between Puerto Natales and King George Island. That category was sold out when read Oct 14, 2026; the cheapest open cabins were a Category 3 on Nov 25 at $14,060 with flights (three sharing, $12,217 each) and a Category 1 on Dec 14 at $15,589. Includes the flights, a Puerto Natales hotel night before and after, meals, drinks, crew gratuities and kayaking. Other departures start as high as $21,000 with flights.
from $12,600about $1,575 a day
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Antarctica: Fly the Drake Passage (6 days, Silver Endeavour)
Silversea · Silver Endeavour · 6 days · King George Island, Antarctica (Santiago hotel night, charter to Puerto Williams, a night at The Cormorant at 55 South and the flight to King George Island included) to King George Island, Antarctica (flight to Puerto Williams, a night at The Cormorant at 55 South and the charter to Santiago included) · Fly both ways · October to February
Fare details
Lowest fare of the season: $13,000 per guest, two sharing, Veranda Suite (355 sq ft), Last-Minute fare (paid in full, non-refundable), Oct 20, 2026. The lowest All-Inclusive Plus fare is $22,400 (Nov 7, 2026); other open departures cost $22,700 to $34,100, and four were waitlisted. Every fare includes the hotel nights and flights from Santiago via Puerto Williams, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, expedition gear and guided Zodiac, hiking and kayaking outings. International flights cost extra. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $13,000about $2,167 a day
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Antarctic Circle Expedition
HX Expeditions · Roald Amundsen · 16 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · December, February
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person with two sharing, on Roald Amundsen, Dec 26, 2026, after HX 130th anniversary discounts (was $16,469; the extra anniversary discount applies only to bookings made by Nov 9, 2026); the Feb 18, 2027 departure starts at $18,476; includes a Buenos Aires hotel night and economy flights between Buenos Aires and Ushuaia.
from $13,578about $849 a day
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Christmas Season in Antarctica (Ocean Victory)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Victory · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person with two sharing a Porthole Stateroom, Dec 18, 2026; two women's berths in a shared Triple Stateroom were $11,895; a Superior Balcony Stateroom was $15,895; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $13,895about $1,263 a day
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Crossing the Antarctic Circle (Ocean Victory)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · Ocean Victory · 13 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Lowest fare open to any guest, per person with three sharing a porthole Triple Stateroom, Feb 12, 2027; the only other cabins for sale were one man's porthole berth at $16,695, a Junior Suite at $22,895 and the Premium Suite at $26,695; includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $14,295about $1,100 a day
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Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent (Ocean Explorer)
Quark Expeditions · Ocean Explorer · 11 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to March
Fare details
Lowest brochure fare not sold out, Triple Suite on Ocean Explorer, Nov 12, 2026 (marked Please Call when read; the $14,895 Triple Suite on Nov 21 was sold out, and the lowest fare bookable online was a Veranda Suite at $18,495 on Nov 21); includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights to Ushuaia; read Oct 15, 2026
from $15,095about $1,372 a day
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Extended Antarctic Circle Crossing (Discoverer)
Polar Latitudes Expeditions · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December
Fare details
Lowest fare, per person sharing a two-bed Ocean Stateroom, Dec 28, 2026, sale price (regular $21,695); includes one Ushuaia hotel night, not flights; read Oct 15, 2026
from $15,187about $1,085 a day
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Expedition Antarctica: South Georgia and Antarctic Peninsula
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises · Hanseatic Inspiration · 14 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight from Buenos Aires included) to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · February
Fare details
Balcony Cabin, Category 4 (27 m² including a 5 m² balcony), Feb 11, 2028, US$17,526 in the booking engine; €16,140 before an early-booking discount that ends Feb 28, 2027. Outside, Panoramic and French Balcony cabins were sold out. PLATINUM fare, per person with two sharing; includes full board, selected soft drinks, Zodiac landings, gratuities, harbour fees and a loaned parka and boots. Route: South Georgia, the South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from €15,240about €1,089 a day
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Crossing 66º South, Antarctic Circle (Sea Spirit)
Poseidon Expeditions · Sea Spirit · 15 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
Lowest published fare, per person in a Triple Suite shared by three, Jan 26, 2027 (shown as request availability); program days include a hotel night in Ushuaia; drinks package and parka included; flights not included; read Oct 15, 2026
from $15,295about $1,020 a day
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Antarctica Active: All Inclusive Activities
Aurora Expeditions · Sylvia Earle · 14 days · from Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · November to December
Fare details
Lowest published fare, Aurora Stateroom Triple, one berth, on Sylvia Earle, Nov 24 and Dec 6, 2026, after a save up to 10% offer (was $16,995), sold out when read on Oct 14, 2026. Cheapest cabin still for sale: Balcony Stateroom Superior at $21,146 on Nov 24. Paddling, camping, snowshoeing and snorkelling are included; also includes drinks and one pre-voyage hotel night; flights not included.
from $15,296about $1,093 a day
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Antarctica: Exploring the Peninsula (10 days, Silver Cloud)
Silversea · 10 days · Puerto Williams, Chile (Santiago hotel night and charter flight from Santiago included) to Puerto Williams, Chile (charter flight to Santiago included) · Sail both ways · January
Fare details
$15,800 per guest, two sharing, Oceanview Suite (240 sq ft), Last-Minute fare (paid in full, non-refundable), Jan 8, 2027; Veranda Suites $17,100. All-Inclusive Plus fares are 50% refundable until Nov 8, 2026. A Feb 2, 2027 version sails from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams from $17,200. Includes a Santiago hotel night, charter flights to and from Puerto Williams, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi and expedition activities. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $15,800about $1,580 a day
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Antarctic Explorer Express
Aurora Expeditions · Douglas Mawson · 9 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (hotel night included) to Punta Arenas, Chile (flight from King George Island and hotel night included) · Fly one way · January
Fare details
Lowest published fare: Aurora Stateroom Triple (porthole), $15,895 per person with three sharing, on Douglas Mawson, Jan 7, 2027, the only departure; sold out when read Oct 14, 2026, as was every cabin below the Balcony Stateroom Category A, the cheapest still for sale at $20,095 per person, two sharing. Sails the Drake Passage south from Ushuaia and flies back from King George Island to Punta Arenas. Includes an Ushuaia hotel night, the flight, a Punta Arenas hotel night, meals and drinks.
from $15,895about $1,766 a day
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Falklands (Malvinas), South Georgia & Antarctica Sea Voyage (20 days, Magellan Explorer)
Antarctica21 · Magellan Explorer · 20 days · Punta Arenas, Chile to Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · October
Fare details
Magellan Explorer, Oct 28 to Nov 16, 2026: $15,995 per person, Porthole Cabin, two sharing; Veranda $17,995, Deluxe Veranda $18,795, Penthouse Suite $21,795. Sold out when read. Includes meals and drinks on board, guided landings, boot loan and the IAATO fee; no flights or hotel nights. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $15,995about $800 a day
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Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise (8 days, Magellan Explorer)
Antarctica21 · Magellan Explorer · 8 days · Punta Arenas, Chile (flight to King George Island included) to Punta Arenas, Chile (flight from King George Island included) · Fly both ways · November to March
Fare details
Lowest 2026-27 fare on Magellan Explorer: $15,995 per person, Porthole Cabin, two sharing, on the Nov 20, 2026 and Mar 2, 2027 departures (both Porthole Cabins reserved when read). December to February departures start at $18,995 and the Dec 20 to 30 departures at $19,995; four of the 17 departures were sold out. The cheapest open cabin was a Deluxe Veranda at $21,995 per person on Mar 2, 2027. Includes the flights between Punta Arenas and King George Island, two Punta Arenas hotel nights with breakfast, the welcome dinner, transfers, meals with wine, beer and soft drinks on board, boot loan and the IAATO fee. Cruise fare refunded if the outbound flight cannot leave by 2 PM on day 4. No 2026-27 promotion. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from $15,995about $1,999 a day
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Antarctic Marine Mammals: The World of Whales and Seals (World Voyager)
Quark Expeditions · World Voyager · 11 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina (hotel night and group flight to Ushuaia included) to Buenos Aires, Argentina (group flight from Ushuaia included) · Sail both ways · March
Fare details
Lowest published brochure fare: Infinity Suite on World Voyager, Mar 5, 2027, $16,890 per person, marked Please Call when read on Oct 14, 2026; a Veranda Suite was $17,690 with 3 cabins left. Includes Quark's $1,295 charter flight and hotel package. Scientists from the Friedlaender Lab and a Happywhale research associate sail with guests, and it is Quark's only itinerary that deploys hydrophones.
from $16,890about $1,535 a day
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Expedition Antarctica: Highlights first hand
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises · Hanseatic Inspiration · 22 days · Buenos Aires, Argentina to Ushuaia, Argentina (charter flight to Buenos Aires included) · Sail both ways · November
Fare details
Outside Cabin, Category 1 (22 m²), Nov 26, 2027, US$19,538.50 in the booking engine; €18,890 before an early-booking discount that ends Jan 31, 2027. The solo surcharge is 25% in categories 1 to 8. PLATINUM fare, per person with two sharing; includes full board, selected soft drinks, Zodiac landings, gratuities, harbour fees and a loaned parka and boots. Route: the Falklands, South Georgia, South Orkneys, South Shetlands, Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula. Read Oct 15, 2026.
from €16,990about €772 a day
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Spirit of Antarctica: In Partnership with New Scientist Discovery Tours
Aurora Expeditions · Douglas Mawson · 11 days · Ushuaia, Argentina (hotel night included) to Ushuaia, Argentina · Sail both ways · December
Fare details
Lowest published fare: Aurora Stateroom Triple (porthole), $17,006 per person with three sharing, after a save up to 10% offer (was $18,895), on Douglas Mawson, Dec 7, 2026, the only 2026-27 departure; sold out when read Oct 14, 2026. Cheapest cabin still for sale: Aurora Stateroom Superior (French balcony) at $18,536 per person, two sharing (was $20,595), limited availability; the Aurora Stateroom Superior Single was $20,595 for one person. Aurora's Stop Saying Someday offer (savings vary by departure) applies to bookings made and deposited by Dec 22, 2026. Includes an Ushuaia hotel night, meals, drinks and landing fees; flights not included.
from $17,006about $1,546 a day
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Lowest published price per person in the operator's currency, checked October 15, 2026. Taxes, flights and single supplements vary.

Places in South Shetland Islands

Deception Island

Visiting Deception Island: its four landing sites and their limits, the volcano's eruption risk, the whaling-era ruins, hot-water bathing rules and the Baily Head chinstrap colony.

Elephant Island

Shackleton's refuge in the South Shetlands: what happened at Point Wild in 1916, what the 22 men ate, why most ships only cruise past, the landing odds and the cruises that go.

Half Moon Island

Visiting Half Moon Island in the South Shetlands: the chinstrap penguin colony, landing beach and closed areas, Argentina's Cámara station, the falling nest counts and which voyages stop.

King George Island

Antarctica's fly-cruise gateway: how the gravel airstrip at Chile's Frei base works and how often flights slip, the fares, the research stations, what visitors see, the weather and the day trip.

Wildlife at South Shetland Islands

Chinstrap penguin

Chinstrap penguin facts for travelers: how many there are and where they breed, the South Shetland colonies ships land at and which ships may land, when the chicks hatch, the voyages that list them, and why numbers are falling.

Gentoo penguin

Gentoo penguin facts for travelers: how many there are and where they breed, the Antarctic landings with the biggest colonies, when the chicks are out, the cheapest voyages that visit them, and why scientists now propose four species.

Sources

1.South Shetland Islands (Gazetteer of the British Antarctic Territory, ID 111296), UK Antarctic Place-names Committee, via the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Data Centre). Accessed October 15, 2026.
2.Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent, Quark Expeditions. Accessed October 14, 2026.
3.Spirit of Antarctica (11 days, Ushuaia round trip): dates, cabin prices, inclusions, Aurora Expeditions. Accessed October 14, 2026.
4.Bransfield Strait (Gazetteer of the British Antarctic Territory, ID 107929), UK Antarctic Place-names Committee, via the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Data Centre). Accessed October 15, 2026.
5.Fly the Drake Passage: frequently asked questions, Lindblad Expeditions. Accessed October 14, 2026.
6.Point Wild (Gazetteer of the British Antarctic Territory, ID 111941), UK Antarctic Place-names Committee, via the SCAR Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica (Australian Antarctic Data Centre). Accessed October 15, 2026.
7.The Antarctic Treaty (1959), text, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
8.General Guidelines for Visitors to the Antarctic (ATCM), English poster, Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (poster published by IAATO). Accessed October 14, 2026.
9.IAATO Operator Use of Antarctic Peninsula Landing Sites, 2025-26 Season Report and Five-Year Overview, with appendix tables (ATCM 48 IP 199), International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). Accessed October 15, 2026.
10.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Whalers Bay, Deception Island, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 14, 2026.
11.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Half Moon Island, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 14, 2026.
12.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Yankee Harbour, Greenwich Island (ATCM, 2019), Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
13.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Telefon Bay (East), Deception Island, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 14, 2026.
14.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Barrientos Island (Aitcho Islands), Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
15.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Pendulum Cove, Deception Island, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 14, 2026.
16.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Penguin Island, King George Island (ATCM, 2018), Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
17.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Point Wild, Elephant Island (ATCM, 2018), Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
18.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Turret Point, King George Island (ATCM, 2018), Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
19.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Baily Head, Deception Island, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 14, 2026.
20.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Northeast beach of Ardley Island, Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
21.Site Guidelines for Visitors: Hannah Point, Livingston Island (ATCM, 2018), Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty. Accessed October 15, 2026.
22.Highlights of Antarctica Expedition Cruise (12 days, round-trip flights from Buenos Aires), HX Expeditions (Hurtigruten Expeditions). Accessed October 14, 2026.
23.COMNAP Antarctic Facilities List (November 2024), Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP). Accessed October 15, 2026.
24.Classic Antarctica Air-Cruise (8 days, Punta Arenas round trip): itinerary, ships, inclusions, Antarctica21. Accessed October 14, 2026.
25.2026-27 Antarctic departure pages (compiled from each departure page), Atlas Ocean Voyages. Accessed October 15, 2026.
26.IAATO Overview of Antarctic Vessel Tourism: The 2025-26 Season, and Preliminary Estimates for 2026-27 (ATCM 48 IP 200 rev. 1), International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). Accessed October 14, 2026.
27.READER monthly mean surface air temperature: Bellingshausen (WMO 89050), British Antarctic Survey (READER project). Accessed October 14, 2026.
28.Antarctica Fly Cruise Practical Guide, including the Antarctica Fly Cruise Policy, Silversea Cruises. Accessed October 15, 2026.