Set to join an expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula soon? Or has this iconic region of the White Continent been calling your name since childhood? This expedition guide details everything you need to know about the Antarctic Peninsula, one of the most accessible parts of Antarctica, and the stage for some of our most immersive polar adventures.
The Antarctic Peninsula: The Gateway to the White Continent
Stretching northward toward South America, the Antarctic Peninsula is the most accessible and wildlife-rich region of Antarctica. This mountainous, stretching finger of rock, ice, and snow extends more than 1,300 kilometers from the heart of the continent toward the tip of South America, divided by rugged, glaciated coastlines and soaring peaks, and surrounded by ice-choked islands that dot the surrounding seas. To the east lies the mighty Weddell Sea, while to the west, the mysterious and even more seldom-visited Bellinghausen Sea.
To reach the Antarctic Peninsula by ship, the famed Drake Passage must be crossed. This unpredictable stretch of ocean is notoriously rough, but on occasion, it can be as flat as a mirror, known as a Drake Lake, as opposed to a Drake Shake. Whatever version of the Drake Passage you experience, the effort to reach the Antarctic Peninsula is worth it one hundred times over.
First sighted in 1820 and much explored throughout the early stages of Antarctic exploration, the Peninsula truly began to be understood during the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration. This icy realm has long captivated explorers, scientists, and adventurers alike, and is today where many of the continent’s most famous research stations and historic expedition sites are located. During expedition cruises to the Antarctic continent, you may have the opportunity to visit these past and present reminders of humankind’s enduring fascination with the frozen south.
The landscape of the Peninsula is one of striking contrasts. Towering glaciers plunge into icy bays filled with sculpted icebergs, while jagged mountain ridges, some reaching as high as 2,800 m (9,200 ft), rise dramatically from the sea. Its western coast, warmed by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, is often more navigable and teeming with wildlife, while the eastern side, facing the Weddell Sea, presents heavier pack ice and a wilder, more remote character.
Iconic Antarctic locations such as Elephant Island, James Ross Island, the Lemaire Channel, and Gerlache Strait form part of the Peninsula, while the South Shetland Islands, including Deception Island, lie further out into the Southern Ocean. The Peninsula forms part of West Antarctica, and covers around 522,000 square kilometres (202,000 sq mi).
Discover the Antarctic Peninsula with Oceanwide Expeditions
Joining an expedition cruise to the Antarctic Peninsula is your opportunity to walk in the footsteps of great explorers and to carve out your own story of discovery. Aboard our fleet of ice-strengthened vessels, designed specifically for polar exploration, and capable of operating in icy, unpredictable corners of our globe, your ticket to Antarctica awaits. Expeditions to the Antarctic Peninsula embody the essence of polar exploration, providing value for money with immersive activities and focused itineraries. In this ever-changing world, weather, ice, and wildlife dictate each day’s discoveries!
Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Voyages
Our Basecamp Antarctic Peninsula voyages are designed for guests who want to go beyond just observing, and instead truly engage with the polar environment. Using the ship as a launchpad, you’ll have the chance to try multiple activities such as kayaking, mountaineering, snowshoeing, camping, and photography workshops, all included in the price of your voyage.
These active, activity-focused expeditions get you closer to the landscapes and wildlife of the Peninsula, offering an immersive, hands-on Antarctic experience unlike any other.
Antarctic Peninsula Discovery and Learning Voyages
For those seeking to experience the very best of Antarctica’s wildlife and scenery, our Classic Antarctic Peninsula Discovery and Learning itineraries focus on the region’s highlights. Colossal icebergs, penguin colonies, glaciers, seabirds, seals, whales, and the most iconic locations in the Peninsula await!
Each day on a Discovery and Learning voyage offers new opportunities. You may find yourself cruising among sculpted icebergs in Paradise Bay, then visiting a bustling gentoo penguin rookery, or perhaps even exploring the historic British research base at Port Lockroy.
Deepest Antarctica: Beyond the Antarctic Circle Voyages
For the truly adventurous, some expeditions journey even farther south, beyond the 66°33′ line of latitude that marks the Antarctic Circle. Few travelers reach these remote waters, where the landscape grows ever more pristine, the wildlife more isolated, and the sense of discovery more profound.
Venturing south of the Circle is a big achievement, made possible through flexible itineraries defined by ice and weather. In the far south, each voyage is an authentic adventure at the edge of the world, and no two are ever the same.
Wildlife of the Antarctic Peninsula
The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the richest wildlife regions in the Southern Ocean, home to extraordinary biodiversity. During the Antarctic summer, the ice retreats, the sun shines nearly 24 hours a day, and the polar world comes alive in a frenzy of breeding, feeding, and migration.
Penguins
Three main species of penguins can be commonly encountered in the Antarctic Peninsula: gentoo, chinstrap, and Adélie. Emperor penguins are usually spotted further south, and in the Weddell Sea; however, vagrants may make a rare appearance. King penguins and rockhopper penguins are found farther north, in the sub-Antarctic. Macaroni penguins are also usually found more frequently in the sub-Antarctic. However, they may be spotted in the northern parts of the Peninsula on occasion.
Gentoo Penguins
The most numerous species along the Peninsula, gentoo penguins are known for their bright orange bills and inquisitive nature. They nest on rocky shores and islands, often just meters from landing sites. In some areas, they have taken command of old research stations, transforming them into raucous rookeries.
Chinstrap Penguins
Named for the thin black band beneath their heads, chinstraps are, for some, the most photogenic of penguins. They gather in vast colonies, particularly around the South Shetland Islands and remote areas of the Peninsula.
Adélie Penguins
One of the most iconic Antarctic species, Adélies prefer the colder, ice-dominated areas further south, though they are also found along the Peninsula’s eastern side and surrounding islands. These penguins are full of character, making them fantastic photography subjects.
Seals
Seals are one of the most common sights throughout the Antarctic Peninsula, particularly during the breeding season for most species in the early part of the Antarctic expedition season between November and January.
Weddell Seals
Often seen resting on sea ice near the shore, Weddell seals are the southernmost breeding mammal on Earth and can dive to incredible depths in search of fish. Named for the Weddell Sea, these seals can also be commonly sighted in the icy waters of the Peninsula.
Crabeater Seals
Despite their name, crabeater seals feed primarily on krill using specialized teeth. They are among the most abundant seal species and an important part of the diet for orcas and leopard seals.
Leopard Seals
One of two true apex predators of the Antarctic Peninsula, leopard seals are sleek, powerful hunters known for their spotted coats, powerful, serpentine appearance, and ferocious reputation of patrolling the ice floes of the south.
Antarctic Fur Seals & Elephant Seals
On the South Shetland Islands and nearby beaches, you may also encounter fur seals and the massive southern elephant seal, the largest seal species on Earth. Typically, these species are more common in the sub-Antarctic, particularly on South Georgia.
Whales
The nutrient-rich waters around the Antarctic Peninsula attract numerous whale species each summer. The best period of spotting whales in Antarctica is toward the end of the expedition season, between February and March.
Humpback Whales
Among the most frequently sighted whales in Antarctic waters, humpbacks are famous for their surface acrobatics and tail flukes. They migrate across the world's oceans and gather in Antarctica to feed on the abundant krill.
Antarctic Minke Whales
Curious and agile, minke whales often approach Zodiac boats, providing remarkable close-up encounters. These smaller whales are among the most numerous found in the Southern Ocean.
Orcas (Killer Whales)
Highly intelligent and social, orcas patrol the icy waters in pods, hunting seals and penguins. They are the only natural predator of the leopard seal, and are a true apex predator of the oceans. In Antarctica, several subtypes of orcas exist, with the group found in the Antarctic Peninsula being type B1 and B2.
Fin and Blue Whales
These enormous baleen whales make appearances in more open patches of Antarctic water, particularly the open ocean and deeper channels found north of the mainland itself. Like humpbacks, they migrate across the world's oceans and rely on Antarctica's rich krill numbers.
Seabirds
A wide variety of seabirds can be found in the Antarctic Peninsula, with the region being an important breeding site for many of the world's most well-traveled species. Various petrels, including Wilson's storm petrels, blue petrels, and black-bellied storm petrels, are common, as are skuas, shearwaters, and fulmars. Antarctic shags, albatrosses, gulls, and prions are frequently spotted from the sub-Antarctic to the Peninsula, so it's best to keep that camera ready!
Snow Petrels
These delicate white birds are among the most southerly breeding bird species in the world. Their stark white plumage ranks them as one of the most beautiful birds in the southern skies. Remarkably, snow petrels migrate between both of Earth's poles, making their annual journey one of the longest on Earth, discounting the endless travels of the wandering albatross, of course.
Southern Giant Petrels
Impressive in size and wingspan, these giant scavengers can often be seen following in the wake of expedition vessels. With a wingspan reaching over 2 meters, giant petrels are aggressive predators - it's not hard to see their dinosaur lineage!
Book Your Antarctic Peninsula Adventure Today!
Whether you’re gliding silently through an iceberg-filled bay, standing amid a colony of penguins, or watching whales breach under the midnight sun, every moment in the Antarctic Peninsula seems intent on outdoing those that came before it.
Join us on a voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula and experience one of the most awe-inspiring regions on Earth, the beating heart of life in Antarctica.
Some Antarctic Peninsula Facts
- The Antarctic Peninsula is the warmest and most biologically diverse region of Antarctica.
- It is home to more than half of all known penguin colonies on the continent.
- The Antarctic Peninsula was first sighted in 1820 by Fabian von Bellinghausen.
- The Lemaire Channel is one of the most photographed places in Antarctica.
- The Peninsula is one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth, making it a vital area for climate research.
- The seas surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula are rich in krill, making it a key feeding location for marine mammals, seabirds, and penguins.
- Port Lockroy, a restored British base, serves as a museum and the world’s southernmost post office - you can send postcards home.
- The Peninsula offers some of the best kayaking, camping, and wildlife photography opportunities in Antarctica.