How to Visit Antarctica on a Budget

Co-authored by Angela Rice

Last Updated: January 29, 2021 References

People visit Antarctica every year by boat or plane, with boat travel being the most budget-friendly option.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Angela Rice
Luxury Travel Specialist
Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.} Some people book their cruises online prior to their trip, while others take the gamble of arriving in Ushuaia and finding a cheap deal while they are there. In any case, by planning your trip efficiently and finding a cheap cruise option, you will be able to visit Antarctica without breaking the bank.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Preparing for Your Trip

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Update or apply for a passport. Since you will be traveling outside of the country, you will need to have a valid passport. Visit a passport agency to fill out the required documents and have your picture taken. Plan on a wait time of up to 6 weeks to receive your passport.^{[2]
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- When applying for a passport, you will need to bring proof of your identity and citizenship.
- Depending on your country’s rules, you can renew your passport by mail.
2
Purchase affordable travel insurance. At a minimum, you will want to get an insurance plan that will cover emergency evacuation and medical fees. Cruise companies will require you to have emergency evacuation coverage due to the remote conditions of Antarctica. You can buy this kind of insurance through various travel agencies.
- Some cruise agencies may have a discount on travel insurance when you book a trip through them.
- You can also get travel insurance to cover a delayed trip, canceled trip, and lost or stolen items.
- Travel insurance will not cover pre-existing medical conditions.
- Talk with a travel agent to help you pick an insurance package that fits your needs.
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3
Travel in November for the best deals. You’ll want to plan your vacation sometime between October and March which is Antarctica’s summer season. For general tourists, this is the only time you can reach Antarctica due to the harsh weather conditions in the winter.
- Plan your trip early in the season to see icebergs and penguins building their nests. Your ability to go to shore may be limited early in the season.
- Go during the middle of the season to watch sea lion pups, penguins, and other birds.
- Go at the end of the season for a chance to see the whales.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Finding a Cheap Cruise Online

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Subscribe to tour agent mailing lists for deal notifications. Some of the cruise agencies will offer promotions or discounts when they need to fill spots on their boats. Most of these discounts are short lived so you will need to act fast.^{[3]
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- Most of these deals are offered within a week to a month before the boat leaves which might be unrealistic depending on your responsibilities.
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Check cruise agency websites for discounts. Sometimes good deals will be posted to a tour agency's website or facebook page. You can set up Facebook to send you notifications when a certain agency is offering deals on their trips.^{[4]
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- Always be aware of scams or false advertisements. If receiving an email offer, always double check that the email address corresponds with the actual cruise agency. Be sure to never provide personal information through an email offer to avoid having your information stolen. If you see an offer you like, call the agency directly to confirm that the offer is valid.^{[5]
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- The largest discounts are for trips that are leaving soon, but you could also save some money by booking a cruise way in advance. If you would rather have a set in stone departure date, it might be worthwhile to just settle for a small discount.
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Keep a flexible schedule. If you are lucky enough to find one of the major discounts, you will need to start heading to Ushuaia within a short amount of time. This may be difficult with a full-time job, but you could build up vacation time prior to the trip and use it when you need to.^{[6]
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- Trying to find a discount over a holiday might be a good way to reduce the number of work days you will have to take off.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Finding a Cheap Cruise Option in Person

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Travel to Ushuaia to book your cruise. You can get to Ushuaia by first traveling to Buenos Aires. From there, you can either take a bus or a plane to get to Ushuaia. There are many cruise agencies located in Ushuaia that depart for Antarctica on a daily basis.
- With so many boats departing, it's possible to find a discounted rate on a boat that needs to fill seats. Though this method is risky, it can save you a lot of money on your cruise ticket.
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Ask around for the lowest prices. Once in Ushuaia, you’ll want to gather as much price information as possible. Go around to the cruise agencies and take note of the lowest rates you have been offered. Many of the agencies will lower their rates or match the rates of their competitors if they know you are interested in booking a cruise.^{[7]
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- Add a few extra days to your vacation in order to find the best deal. Giving yourself some extra time will allow you to compare more options.^{[8]
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Keep an eye out for promotions and special offers. When boats have open spots that need to be filled, they will offer a last minute discount which can reduce your costs. Check in with the agencies frequently to see if they have any special offers for the day.^{[9]
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- Depending on the agency, a last-minute deal can save you between 30%-60% on your total costs.
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Compare the details of each package. You’ll want to find out how many people are on each ship, how many days the cruise is, how often you get to go on land, and if you get to go on the actual continent or just the surrounding islands.^{[10]
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- Some cruises will only take you to the surrounding islands.
- Depending on how much of the ice has melted, you may not be able to reach the continent early in the year.
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Choose a smaller boat to reduce cost. The larger ships will have more amenities but will also cost you more. Going on a smaller ship also increases the time you will be able to spend on land in Antarctica because only 100 people are allowed on shore at once.
- Smaller ships are rockier and are not recommended if you are prone to seasickness.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Saving on Travel Expenses

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Book a roundtrip flight online. You will need to fly to Buenos Aires before making your way to the port city of Ushuaia. Booking roundtrip versus one way will help reduce your flight costs. Research online for the best deals on flights for your specific dates.^{[11]
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- You can cut costs on flights by booking well in advance.
- Book your flight for a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday to save the most money on your ticket.^{[12]
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- Find a flight that leaves between 5 a.m.-7 a.m. or after 8 p.m. These are off-peak hours and the flights are usually cheaper.^{[13]
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Take a bus from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia. Instead of flying from Buenos Aires, you can take a bus to Ushuaia with a quick stop in Rio Gallegos.The bus will take longer but it is a cheaper option than flying.^{[14]
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- If you are under a time constraint, it is best to take a plane.
- If you want to see the surrounding countryside, taking the bus may be an enjoyable option.
3
Cut costs by staying in a shared hostel room. Hostels will be your cheapest lodging option while you wait to depart on your cruise to Antarctica. Hostels usually have the option of a private room or shared quarters. To minimize costs, you’ll want to rent a shared quarter space during your stay.^{[15]
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- Some hostels will offer free breakfast which can help you cut down on food costs.
- Some hostels may give you a discount depending on how many days you plan on staying.