Most people want to vacation in warm climates such the Caribbean or see the Effiel tower in Paris. Antarctica is not a travel destination for most travelers. It has an environment for not the faint of heart. It is inhabited by humans compared to the rest of the world. It is a land that is kept as natural as possible. Here are the top 5 reasons why most do not want to go to Antarctica.
- Isn’t it cold? Yes, it’s a desert of ice and snow. Only Penguins have adapted to live outside in Antarctic climate. Explorers who first came to this part of this world created shelters from the harsh climates, used the animals for food and warmth. Nowadays, the Antarctic environment is protected, and rarely visited in the dead of winter. Tourists have a chance to explore this island of ice and snow in it’s spring and summer (Between November and March) when Penguin chicks are born, whales come down to feed, and the ice has melted away. However, as a human, if you are used to the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the temperatures are about the same. Temperatures were hovering around freezing and the sun never fully set. It was an incredible experience.
- It’s expensive. Yes, it is. I booked it during a Cyber Monday deal and was planning it over a year and a half before COVID happened. If you want to go visit the white continent, there are ways to make it happen.
- I went solo, but I made friends the minute I landed in Ushuaia. The people who want to visit Antarctica are a different breed. They love animals, seeking out the 7th continent, researchers, or scientists, and most importantly, they are adventurers. It is easy to meet a new friend when on an adventure when you have the same goals as them.
- The impact of going to uninhabited locations always comes with a cost to the environment. I enjoy traveling with certain tour companies that take the environment into consideration. I chose to travel with Intrepid Travels or G-adventures for this reason. The impact of adventure travel can impact these remote areas. The climate is changing every day, and we should learn from it. The only way to learn from the environment and the climate is to study it.
- If you are not interested in nature, Antarctica is not for you. I love seeing animals in their natural habitat. I could watch penguins and their dopey walks for hours. Sea birds, seals, and various whales are other majestic animals that can be seen. Antarctica also has incredible landscapes of ice and snow.