Unfortunately, it is impossible to drive to Antarctica as no roads or bridges link it with the nearest continent of South America. It is separated by over 1000 km of the Southern Ocean, an area known as the Drake Passage. Such a distance with incredibly inhospitable conditions makes the prospect of a bridge or tunnel completely unfeasible.
During the Southern Hemisphere winter, the extreme cold in Antarctica creates large swathes of sea ice. This means that the continent often doubles in size. However, most of the Drake Passage does not freeze over and remains as open sea. This means there is no possibility of an ‘ice bridge’ forming to link Antarctica with the southern tip of South America.
Antarctica is situated on and around the South Pole in the far south of the Southern Hemisphere. The closest other major land masses to Antarctica are the southern tips of Chile and Argentina to the north. However, these countries are 1000 km away across the Southern Ocean, which surrounds Antarctica.
Antarctica is a large continent, but when we talk of visiting Antarctica, we generally refer to just two small areas. The first is the Antarctic Peninsula and its surrounding islands, such as South Shetland Island, Anver Island, and Deception Island. This area is a landmass that stretches up across the Antarctic Circle towards the tip of South America. Separated from Chile and Argentina by the Drakes Passage, it’s the most hospitable and accessible part of Antarctica.
The second area in Antarctica that people visit is the South Pole. This incredibly remote area is the southernmost point of the globe. Reaching here is far from cheap, but it’s an aspiration for many intrepid travelers.
As one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable locations, it won’t surprise you to learn there are very few ways to get to Antarctica. We’ve focused on travel to the Antarctic Peninsula, which is the most accessible area. Here are the limited options that you have:
Road – There’s no road connection to Antarctica from any country on the planet. There are also no roads on Antarctica should you somehow manage to get your vehicle there.
Sea – During the summer months, many cruise and tour ships ply the waters of the Drakes Passage to Antarctica. Sailing between Ushuaia in Argentina and the Antarctic Peninsula, the 1000 km journey can be completed in as little as 48 hours. Tours and cruises aren’t cheap though and range from $4,000 to $15,000 depending on the duration and the level of comfort. There is no way to travel independently to Antarctica, so you’ll need to do it as part of a tour.
Air – If the idea of days at sea sailing to Antarctica doesn’t excite you, there is also the option of flying. The limited flying season in Antarctica runs between December and February. During this time, conditions are generally safe for flying, although unpredictable weather can still curtail plans.
Flights to Antarctica almost exclusively depart from Punta Arenas in southern Chile. They typically take 2 hours to reach the Antarctic Peninsula or 10 hours to reach the South Pole. There’s no scheduled flight service to Antarctica, so all flights operate on a charter basis. This means you’ll need to book your visit as part of a tour rather than as an independent traveler. Expect to pay $8,000 or more for a tour to Antarctica with flights. There’s further information on flying to Antarctica in our blog post on the subject.
The best and the only time you can visit Antarctica is during the Southern Hemisphere summer. Covering the period from late November through to early March, temperatures at this time are mild enough for aircraft to land and visitors to spend time outside. It remains bitterly cold, with temperatures averaging -10°C across this period. It’s also a time of the year that experiences 24-hour daylight and the phenomenon of the midnight sun.
The summer months contrast favorably with the winter months. Near permanent darkness and temperatures averaging -20°C make this a very inhospitable place. Conditions only worsen as you progress further south towards the South Pole. The adverse winter conditions and sea ice mean there are no boat tours or commercial flights to Antarctica during this period.
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