Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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temperatures near the Antar ctic Peninsula v ary betw een lo ws of 5°F to 10°F (-15°C
to -12°C), and highs of 35°F to 60°F (2°C-16°C).
What y ou see during y our journey to Antar ctica may depend on when y ou go .
November is mating season for penguins and other bir ds, and visitors can vie w their
offspring in D ecember and J anuary. The best months for whale-watching ar e February
and March.
Safety
EXTREME WEATHER Cold temperatur es, the wind-chill factor , and perspiration
conspire to pr ohibit the human body fr om keeping itself warm in Antar ctica. Travelers
need to outfit themselv es in the highest-quality outdoor clothing av ailable. Tour opera-
tors are constantly amazed at how under-prepared people can be when they visit Antarc-
tica, and so they will provide clients with a packing checklist. Ask y our tour company if
it provides its guests with waterproof outerwear or if you are expected to bring your own.
The thin oz one layer and the glar e from snow, water, and ice make a high-factor sun-
screen, a hat, and sunglasses imperativ e as well.
SPECIAL HEALTH CONCERNS Everyone should bring anti-motion sickness medica-
tion on their trip to Antar ctica. If you are suffering fr om a special health pr oblem or
taking prescription medication, bring a signed and dated letter fr om your physician for
medical authorities, in case of an emergency. Delays of up to 4 w eeks aren't uncommon
on guided trips to the interior, so visitors should seriously consider the extremity of such
a journey, submit themselves to a full medical exam before their departure, and bring the
quantity of medication necessary for a long delay.
MEDICAL SAFETY & EVACUATION INSURANCE All passenger ships have a physi-
cian on boar d in the ev ent of a medical pr oblem or emergency; ho wever, passengers
should discuss an ev acuation policy with each operator . Emergency evacuation can be
hindered by bad weather, and anyone with an unstable medical condition needs to keep
this in mind. Also, check y our health insurance to v erify that it includes ev acuation,
because it can be unbeliev ably expensiv e. F rom the S hetland I slands alone, it costs
$40,000 (£27,000) to evacuate one person.
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GETTING THERE
By Ship
Few would have guessed that the collapse of the S oviet Union in the early 1990s would
spawn tourism in Antar ctica. But when R ussian scientific ship cr ews found themselv es
without a budget, they spr uced up the ships' interiors and began r enting the vessels out
to tour operators on a r otating basis. These ships (as well as others that have since come
on the mar ket) are specially built for polar seas, complete with antir oll stabilizers and
ice-strengthened hulls. A fe w of these ships hav e icebreakers that can chip thr ough just
about anything.
Before you go, it helps to kno w that a tour 's itinerar y is a r ough guide of what to
expect on y our journey . Turbulent w eather and ice conditions can cause delays or
detours. Wildlife sightings may prompt your group to linger longer in one area than the
next. The ship's crew and the expedition leader of y our tour will keep y ou informed of
any changes to the program.
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