Last Updated on January 20, 2024
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My lifelong dream of visiting ANTARCTICA came true!!!
I’ve longed to see the White Continent for nearly 15 years. But traveling to Antarctica can be extremely expensive. Initially, it was the cost of getting there that prevented me from going. And then life happened, as it does… I got hitched and had a couple of awesome kids and various other grown-up responsibilities were added to my plate. There were always reasons why now wasn’t a good time to go.
But something changed. In the last few years, I supported my best friend as she fought breast cancer three times. Even though the fight was not mine, she is my soulmate, and having a front seat to the devastation that is cancer urged me to love harder and live louder.
With that in mind, I reserved my spot aboard Quark Expedition’s Antarctic Explorer: Discovering the 7th Continent cruise.
[This post on Visiting Antarctica: 12-Day Itinerary was originally published May 2019, and updated March 2022.]
More about Antarctica
Antarctica is Earth’s southernmost continent and the home of the South Pole. I visited in February, but since Antarctica is below the equator, it was summer when I arrived. But as a native Floridian with Caribbean roots, I consider anything below 50 degrees Fahrenheit freezing. I compiled a list of must-have cold-weather gear to help you stay warm while visiting Antarctica or any frigid destination.
Photo Courtesy of Quark Expeditions
The cost of a voyage to the 7th Continent is hefty. I opted for a shared, triple cabin which cut the price down a bit, but I still had to shell out $7,000 USD or my spot. This expedition was the greatest adventure of my life and the most expensive trip I’d ever taken.
Antarctica Itinerary
Here’s more information about my journey to the “End of the Earth”:
Courtesy of Quark Expeditions
Day 1: Fly from Washington, DC to Buenos Aires, Argentina
The entire Antarctic adventure starts in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I flew from Washington, DC to Buenos Aires with Avianca. I was tired after my 12-hour journey, but I made the most of my 24-hour Buenos Aires stay.
Day 2: Fly from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Argentina
On day two we took a charter flight from Buenos Aires to “El Fin Del Mundo” or “The End of the World” also known as Ushuaia, Argentina. Ushuaia is the world’s southernmost city. Once in Ushuaia, we had a few hours to walk around and explore this small port city before we board our ship.
Days 3 & 4: Crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica
We crossed the infamous Drake Passage on days three and four. The Drake is the body of water between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. The Drake Passage is 500 miles across, which makes it the shortest and most direct route to the Antarctic Peninsula from Ushuaia. The Drake Passage is the confluence of three Oceans: it connects the southwestern portion of the Atlantic Ocean with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean. This body of water can get so turbulent that it is often referred to as the Drake Shake, as opposed to the Drake Lake – when the waters are calm.
Crossing the Drake has become a rite of passage for many travel enthusiasts from around the world. While I’d hoped for the Drake Lake, we weren’t that fortunate. We experienced the Drake Shake on our way over.
Days 5-8: Visit the Antarctic Peninsula
Photo Courtesy of Quark Expeditions
On the fifth day, we arrived on the Antarctic Peninsula and touched down on our 7th Continent. We cruised on zodiacs to explore different locations along the Peninsula. While there I saw tons of Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins, whales, sealions, and even a pod of orcas.
Photo: Courtesy of Quark Expeditions
Photo Courtesy of Quark Expeditions
Days 9 & 10: Crossing the Drake Passage to Ushuaia, Argentina
On the ninth day of our adventure, we said goodbye to Antarctica and started our journey back through the Drake Passage and Beagle Channel to return to Ushuaia. On our way back, we thankfully encountered the Drake Lake. It was smooth sailing.
Day 11: Disembark in Ushuaia and Fly back to Buenos Aires, Argentina
After we arrived at the Port of Ushuaia, we said goodbye to our Antarctic crew members as we disembarked from the Ocean Endeavor. While we waited for our return charter flight, we were given a tour of the Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) National Park, which is located in Ushuaia. We were then transferred to the airport for our flight back to Buenos Aires. I spent one more night solo in Buenos Aires.
Day 12: Fly from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Washington, DC
On the 12th day, I hopped on a plane for Washington, DC, and was reunited with my husband and little ones.
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