Gentoo penguins and their chicks - photos by Chloe JonPaul

Antarctica For All Ages: The Trip of a Lifetime

By Chloe JonPaul

“After life in the vastness of a vacant continent, civilization seemed disappointingly narrow, cramped, superficial, and empty.”

- Frank Hurley, photographer on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endeavor

Those words certainly ring true for me.  As an older woman traveling alone to such a distant place, I knew that I would have to start planning well in advance and explore all my options before booking passage. While I didn’t realize it at the time I was considering such a trip, Frank Hurley’s comments would have a tremendous impact upon me upon my return.

Prior Planning

The Internet provides a wealth of information for anyone planning this kind of trip.  The web site iExplore.com lists the top seven companies offering expedition cruises to Antarctica. Ships sailing to Antarctica are limited to carrying no more than 200 people aboard and the sailing schedule runs from mid-November to mid-February.

After speaking with a woman who had traveled to Antarctica the year before, I decided to book with Abercrombie & Kent.  Her glowing account of the trip and description of the fine service provided by A & K convinced me. The other feature I found enticing was that there would be stops in the W. Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

Iceberg splendor

Booking well in advance saved me $500.00 I was also able to select the least expensive cabin.  One spends very little time in the cabin on an expedition cruise. As it turned out, the cabin was extremely comfortable and nicely furnished.

An Argentine Barbeque

My journey began with a flight to Santiago, Chile.  A & K personnel met those of us who had arrived on that flight and escorted us to the Hyatt Regency. Later that afternoon we enjoyed a sight-seeing tour of the city which included the Presidential Palace, cathedral, and the highest point overlooking the city.

Early next morning, we left to catch the 8:30 flight to Ushuaia (pronounced Ush-Y-a), Argentina where we would board the Explorer II to begin our journey to Antarctica. It takes three and a half hours to fly from Santiago to Ushuaia.

After clearing immigration and customs, we were treated to an Argentine barbeque featuring lamb.  As an added bonus, we were entertained by a troupe of dancers from the Provincial Ballet - six young men dressed as gauchos and six lovely young women, graceful as swans in their filmy white gowns.

Waterfall at Stromness Bay

The next stop was Tierra del Fuego National Park. There are only five varieties of trees in this area and the only animals you’ll see are the fox, rabbit, and beaver.

The Falkland Islands

By early evening, we boarded the Explorer II where the first order of business was a mandatory emergency drill - life vests and all!

Our first stop was Port Stanley. The Falkland Islands are generally remembered as the place where Great Britain and Argentina fought a war but we discovered that their importance is especially significant in terms of the Gold Rush era.

Several sight-seeing options were available in Port Stanley.  I chose the audio tour so that I could have the chance to explore a bit on my own, including a stop in at the Globe Tavern a favorite haunt for the scientific crews who go there while on leave.

Upon leaving Port Stanley, we set sail for South Georgia.  Within a few hours, we entered the Antarctic Convergence sailing the Scotia Sea where there was a noticeable drop in temperature. There were plenty of albatross, petrels, and pichons flying around the ship. Dolphins could be seen splashing in the distance.

Chinstrap penguin

The expedition crews lectures were informative and eclectic - the exploitation of whales, seals, and fish, penguin life, Sir Ernest Shackleton, plate tectonics, and global warming -to name a few.

Each day we left the ship to board a zodiac which took us to our destination where would hike and climb or simply sit and observe the penguins and seals. Despite enormous swells at times, the ship’s crew did an excellent job of getting everyone into and off the zodiacs safely.

Highlights of This Fabulous Journey South

The author on a hike

Mountain or iceberg?

Some “WOW” Experiences

What You Can Expect

The Wee Hours of Morning

A Note of Encouragement for the Older Traveler

The majority of passengers on this voyage were at least fifty years old; most of them physically fit and energetic. I was amazed at how many people were making this journey for the second time.  As one person put it: “Once is not enough.  You just have to come back.”

Before embarking on this kind of trip, be sure to have a complete physical and discuss the trip with your doctor to see if there might be anything on the agenda that might be harmful for you to engage in. I was delighted to hear from the crew that there was a 97 year-old woman on a recent expedition.

A Final Thought

It is my hope that the Antarctic Treaty will continue to be enforced; that this vast, incredibly beautiful continent will remain pristine and wild.

In her book, Terra Incognita, Sara Wheeler writes: “I know nothing will ever be like this again.  I’ll never feel quite so separated from my anxieties.  It’s as though God has given me a gift, once in my life, to step off the planet for two months and listen to a different music.”

And I echo her words… amen to that!

Chloe Jon Paul is a freelance writer and world traveler who lives in Bowie, MD.