So, in addition to being colder and wetter, easy-season travel can have other complications. Likewise, snow can make landings more challenging and can make it harder or impossible to hike and camp on land. January is the warmest month of the year in Antarctica, and good weather means better odds of kayaking and paddling around the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding islands. It's possible to do this later in the season, but you'll need to venture much farther south, where it's colder. If you have an opportunity to land and walk on fast ice, as Gene did with Silversea Cruises during a late December trip, you'll want to aim for a trip early on in the season, as the fast ice melts away throughout the summer. In the leather folio I received for my December sailing with Atlas Ocean Voyages, I was told that temperatures during the Antarctic summer "usually reach between 30 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit," though this can vary depending on the specific month of your trip.
The best weather in AntarcticaĪntarctica is the most extreme continent on the planet: It can be incredibly cold, dry and windy. Humpback whales, orcas and minke whales are all frequently spotted in Antarctic waters, though you might have luck catching a glimpse of more rare whale species too, such as sperm, fin and blue whales. But even during my trip in December, we saw many humpback whales - and orcas were spotted in spades the following week. This is when whales are more easily seen gathering together in large groups before migrating north. If whale watching is at the top of your list, visit Antarctica later in the season, in February or March, as that's the best time for cetacean spotting. Related: Is this the ultimate Antarctica cruise ship? When Sloan went back to Antarctica in early February, he found the same chicks he had seen as tiny balls of fluff had grown nearly as big as their parents.īy signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. As the season progresses, you'll find baby penguins turning into adolescents. The sweet spot for seeing chicks that are still small and fuzzy is late December through early January. My colleague, Gene Sloan, visited just 10 days later and saw many baby chicks during several landings. I traveled to Antarctica in mid-December and missed the hatchlings by a week. Fresh snowfall at this time can make for incredible photos - and wintry landscapes.īy December, visitors are more likely to see penguin hatchlings. Travelers who visit Antarctica early in the season, typically in November, will likely see penguins nesting and protecting eggs. The best time to visit Antarctica to see wildlife depends on the animals you most want to see, and whether you have your heart set on photographing adorable baby penguins or whales breaching. Here are the best times to visit Antarctica for the activities likely to be on your bucket list. When the northern hemisphere is descending deeper into darkness, Antarctica is experiencing nearly 24 hours of sunlight - which means expeditions typically take place between late November and early to mid-March.
No matter your preference, you will certainly visit the White Continent during the austral summer. Some months confer longer days and warmer weather, while others may improve your chances of seeing the aurora australis, more commonly known as the southern lights.įor more TPG news delivered each morning to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Certain months are better for camping and hiking on the continent, or for photographing whales and penguins. Dreaming of a cruise around the Antarctic Peninsula to spot leopard seals or to watch young penguins chase each other playfully around a rookery? Hoping to plunge into below-freezing Antarctic waters or see glaciers calve from the vantage point of a kayak? You'll need to find the best time to visit Antarctica to get the once-in-a-lifetime experience you crave.ĭepending on what you want to do or see during your trip to Antarctica, you might favor an expedition earlier in the season or near the end.
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