Regardless of your Antarctic expedition cruise itinerary, you'll have to pass through the sub-Antarctic on the way to the White Continent! This dynamic, wildlife-rich, and ever-changing frontier of the Southern Ocean is often perceived by many as being just another part of Antarctica, but the reality is very different! We have put together a handy guide, covering the what, where, and why of the sub-Antarctic, specific to the areas of our current operation, between South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.
What is the Sub-Antarctic?
The term sub-Antarctic can be a little confusing. While definitions vary, it generally refers to the islands, archipelagos, and oceanic waters found in the region of the Antarctic Convergence. This is the zone where cold Antarctic waters meet the (relatively!) warmer waters of the Southern Ocean. The sub-Antarctic area lies between roughly 45° and 60° S latitude.
The sub-Antarctic comprises windswept, isolated islands, dramatic coastlines shaped by thundering seas, nutrient-rich waters supporting remarkable marine life, and unique ecosystems on land, in the water, and in the air. From a geographical perspective, the sub-Antarctic can be viewed as a broad band stretching around the entire southern latitudes of Earth, encompassing the Falkland Islands and South Georgia below South America, and extending to Macquarie Island halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica.
Numerous other islands and island chains dot the remote seas of the sub-Antarctic, including the Prince Edward Islands, the Saint Paul and Amsterdam Islands, the Crozet Islands, the Campbell Islands, Bouvet Island, the Kerguelen Islands, and the Auckland Islands. Many are protected nature reserves, and some host research stations and seldom-visited outposts. Others have played key roles in both Antarctic and global exploration, and their shores have hosted tales of survival and shipwreck.
As of 2025, our Antarctic expedition itineraries focus on the Antarctic Peninsula and Weddell Sea, making the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the South Sandwich Islands especially relevant to our expedition cruise experiences. These islands act as a gateway to Antarctica, where the wildness of the far south begins to truly assert itself, but a vague hint of connection to South America and the civilized world remains.
Why Explore the Sub-Antarctic on an Expedition Cruise?
With all our expedition cruises to Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic forms just one part of an overall voyage between South America and Antarctica. However, that doesn't mean that this region is merely a view as you pass by! Instead, some of the most immersive wildlife experiences on Earth can be found here, along with spectacular, untouched landscapes unlike those of Antarctica and the world you left behind.
Abundant Wildlife Encounters
Some of the richest wildlife concentrations on Earth are found in the sub-Antarctic, and many islands are crucial breeding locations for birds and seals. For example, the Falkland Islands are home to the largest colonies of black-browed albatrosses on Earth, while South Georgia supports countless fur and elephant seals, along with king penguin colonies numbering in the hundreds of thousands. The list of species is almost endless, especially regarding bird life!
Stunning Landscapes and Seascapes
From the towering peaks and glaciers of South Georgia to the tussock-covered ridges and basalt cliffs of the Falklands, the terrain across the sub-Antarctic is dramatic, wild, and remarkably varied. Further south, the South Sandwich Islands are heavily glaciated, evoking classic images of Antarctica.
The Southern Ocean itself, including the Drake Passage and the Scotia Sea, is a beautiful, inspiring seascape, again home to a surprising amount of life, from whales to seabirds. Waters here may be rough on occasion, but that all adds to the true feeling of adventure that an expedition cruise to Antarctica should bring!
A Polar 'Gateway' Drug
Visiting these regions allows you to gradually move from the more temperate sub-Antarctic into the full polar environment of Antarctica itself, following migration routes and a natural progression towards the Pole. Viewed as the gateway to Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic is the perfect way to wet your appetite for what is yet to come!
With us, you'll have the opportunity to land in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia on many of our expedition itineraries, while the more remote South Shetland Islands can be visited on more specific voyages, often venturing into the Weddell Sea. Regardless of your itinerary, you'll be offered immersive workshops and lectures on board as you explore the sub-Antarctic, giving you the chance to get to know this unique region of our world more intimately!
Get to Know our Sub-Antarctic Destinations
The Falkland Islands
Located about 560 km off the South American mainland, the Falkland Islands are firmly part of the sub-Antarctic marine ecosystem. With hundreds of bird species, five penguin species, and large populations of seals and sea lions, the islands provide a dramatic backdrop for some of the most immersive and unique wildlife encounters on the planet.
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago, with many of the smaller islands offering opportunities to land, whether for wildlife, history, culture, or landscapes. The capital, Stanley, is also often a port of call, offering the chance to meet Falkland Islanders and get a taste of authentic island life. The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory.
The Falkland Islands are especially of interest to birders, renowned for their albatross, shearwater, and petrel colonies. Of note is the caracara, a large bird of prey found in limited numbers across South America but well represented in the Falkland Islands. In addition to marine and bird life, the native flora of the Falkland Islands, which includes endangered sub-Antarctic species, is another draw - perfect for photography!
South Georgia
Arguably the crown jewel of sub-Antarctic wildlife, the island of South Georgia really is a must-visit. With colonies of king penguins numbering hundreds of thousands, along with gentoo and macaroni penguins, millions of seabirds, and vast harems of elephant seals and fur seals, this island is beyond compare! South Georgia, or to give it its proper title, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, is a British Overseas Territory in the Southern Ocean.
Technically a group of islands, with South Georgia itself being the largest and most well-known, the South Georgia Group includes numerous smaller islands and islets, including Shag Rocks and Black Rock, which jut from the sea to the northwest. South Georgia is mountainous, glaciated, and rugged, with peaks rising to just under 3,000 meters (9626 ft). It lies about 1,400 km (870 mi) east of the Falkland Islands and has historically played a key role in the exploration of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea.
Several historic settlements and outposts remain, almost all of which have roots in the historic sealing and whaling industries that once plundered the wildlife-rich seas of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic. Today, South Georgia is home to a permanent British research station at King Edward Point, near Grytviken, where the graves of famed explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and his right-hand man, Frank Wild, can be visited.
South Sandwich Islands
Lying further southeast of South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands are administered as part of the same British Overseas Territory. There are no permanent residents on the South Sandwich Islands, and the landscape is far wilder, glaciated, and inhospitable than that of South Georgia. There are 11 main islands in the chain, forming an island arc that is prone to earthquakes and unpredictable weather.
The islands are far more barren, with vegetation limited to lichens and mosses, marking a change as the true Antarctic edges closer. Across the island chain, a variety of bird species breed, with large colonies of petrels, fulmars, and skuas. The islands are also an important breeding site for chinstrap penguins, especially Saunders Island. Saunders Island also features an active stratovolcano, with a permanent lava lake at its summit - quite the contrast from the ice, snow, and wild water all around!
The South Sandwich Islands are visited less frequently, due to their remote position to the northeast of the Antarctic Peninsula. We usually visit the chain during longer, more exploratory voyages, such as our Remote Weddell Sea Explorer voyage.
What Wildlife Can You See in the Sub-Antarctic?
Penguins
This list isn't exhaustive and applies only to the sub-Antarctic areas in which we currently operate.
King Penguin - With their striking golden-orange cheek patches and formal upright stance, king penguins thrive on islands like South Georgia, where they form massive rookeries.
Macaroni Penguin - Identified by their yellow head plumes, they nest in large numbers on rocky sub-Antarctic islands.
Gentoo Penguin - Found across sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions, they are relatively adaptable and approachable, making them excellent photography subjects.
Magellanic Penguin - Most common along the coast of South America, the Magellanic penguin also breeds in the Falkland Islands.
Southern Rockhopper Penguin - One of the smaller penguin species, the southern rockhopper penguin is also found in the Falkland Islands.
Seals & Sea Lions
Southern Elephant Seal - The largest of the seal family, they haul out on sub-Antarctic beaches in huge numbers, with large males, known as beachmasters, dominating harems.
Fur Seal - Once decimated by sealing, they now thrive in many areas thanks to successful conservation.
Sea Lion - Found across the Falklands, South American sea lions are often found alongside fur seals.
Further south, other species of seals will likely make an appearance, including leopard seals and Weddell Seals.
Seabirds
Albatross - Several species of albatross can be found across the sub-Antarctic, including the wandering albatross and black-browed albatross, which breed on the many islands in the region.
Giant petrels, shearwaters, prions, terns, and skuas - Many species breed on remote islands and traverse vast distances across the Southern Ocean during their migration periods.
Whales & Marine Life
Humpback whales, orcas, sei whales, southern right whales, minke whales, fin whales, sperm whales, and several species of dolphin regularly pass through or feed in the sub-Antarctic region. Some dolphin species, such as Peale's dolphin and Commerson's dolphin, are found only in the seas of South America and the sub-Antarctic around the Falkland Islands and the Drake Passage.
Some Striking Sub-Antarctic Facts
- Some sub-Antarctic islands can host five or more species of penguin in a single archipelago.
- The wingspan of a wandering albatross, common across the sub-Antarctic, can reach over 3.5 metres, and they routinely traverse thousands of kilometres in a feeding trip.
- Many of the beaches you walk on may host tens of thousands of fur-seal pups or elephant seals in their haul-out during breeding season.
- Vegetation is limited and hardy: tussock grasses, cushion plants, lichens, and mosses dominate, with trees absent on most sub-Antarctic islands.
- Sub-Antarctic sea waters are among the most productive in the Southern Ocean. Large Krill, squid, and fish populations support a diverse marine ecosystem.