Antarctica cruises from Argentina

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

The climate in Ushuaia is considered to be cold oceanic with cold winters and cool summers due to its proximity to the South Pole. The coldest month is June with an average temperature of 2°C, but the average annual temperature hovers around 7°C. Rainfall is consistent throughout the year, though it's rarely heavy and tends to be a constant drizzle instead. Moderate snow usually starts falling from April to November, with June and July seeing the highest annual snowfall.

Antarctica is one of the most remote and coldest places in the world so it's really important to pack all the essentials. Here are some of the items you’ll need to pack for your cruise:

• warm base layers – and lots of them

• pair of waterproof and windproof pants

• waterproof and windproof jacket (you might be provided with this on your cruise)

• snug-fitting beanie

• two sets of gloves –  waterproof and woolly

• bathers – for your Antarctic dip (optional, but totally worth it!), and swimming in the pool aboard the Ocean Endeavour

• sun protection – yup, it’s sunny enough to get burnt in Antarctica!

• moisturiser

• camera

Ushuaia might be a remote outpost city, but it's also the gateway to some of Patagonia's most stunning landscapes including Tierra del Fuego National Park. There are plenty of things to see and do in Ushuaia whether you want to see wildlife, go hiking or enjoy Argentinean food. Here are some of our favourite things to do:

• Visit the Maritime and Presidio Museums 

• Cruise the Beagle Channel in search of wildlife

• Trek to the Laguna Esmeralda 

• Peruse the local shops 

• Go hiking in Tierra del Fuego National Park

• Enjoy craft beers and steak 

• Explore Martial Glacier

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance

The best time to do an Antarctica cruise from Argentina is from late spring to early autumn. This is when the temperatures rise above freezing and the sea ice melts enough to allow access for polar ships. Generally, you can’t travel to Antarctica during winter as the weather conditions are too treacherous to travel to the region safely. There are also long periods of constant darkness on the high interior plateau.

If you're doing a cruise to see the incredible polar wildlife, then the best time to go really depends on the animals you’d like to see. February to March offers the best whale sightings of the year, December is prime time to see seal pups (particularly on the Falkland and South Georgia islands), and November to early December is when you can watch the impressive courting rituals of penguins and seabirds.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have.

Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access on our polar vessels. Some ships have lifts but these may not access all decks on the ship. There are often stairways, and passengers need to be mobile enough to keep themselves steady and be able to get around reasonably without being assisted. We can help you to further clarify whether the trip you’re interest in is right for you. 

However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Argentina has some of the most progressive rights in the world for the LGBTQIA+ community and is generally a welcoming destination for LGBTQIA+ travellers. In 2010, the country became the first Latin American nation to legalise same-sex marriage and Buenos Aires hosts one of the largest annual Pride parades in South America. The capital city of Buenos Aires has a thriving queer scene with many LGBTQIA+ friendly hotels, B&Bs, bars and nightclubs. That said, some places are less tolerant, particularly smaller towns in more remote parts of the country, so it's best to use discretion when in doubt.

For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or ILGA before you travel.