Live Your Best Lives
After visiting more than 40 countries, if I had to choose the one that impressed me the most, it would definitely be Antarctica.
Antarctica, known as the Seventh Continent, is the last discovered and the only uninhabited continent on Earth. It belongs to no country and lacks many traces of human presence, which is perhaps what makes it so unique.
The process of going to Antarctica is a very torturous thing. I spent almost 37 hours on the plane, and also had to take a week-long boat ride. In short, the whole process was not so enjoyable. If you like vacation, you can forget about Antarctica.
But if you are determined and go through all the torture of planes and boats, you can see the most beautiful scenery. This is probably one of the manifestations of more work, more rewards.
Literally, "Antarctica" in Chinese means the southernmost point of the Earth. In reality, it also has various meanings, including Antarctica, the South Pole, the Antarctic continent, the Antarctic region, and the Antarctic Circle. Geographically, the South Pole refers to both the South Pole and the South Magnetic Pole.
This time I went to Antarctica, to the Antarctic Peninsula, the closest point to the Argentinian mainland. This is where most people travel to Antarctica. You can see penguins, glaciers, and everything you want, except emperor penguins. (There are special trips to the South Pole, but they are very expensive.)
Antarctica has two seasons: the cold season runs from April to October, and the warm season runs from November to March. Near the pole, the cold season is characterized by polar night, during which dazzling auroras often appear near the Antarctic Circle. The warm season, on the other hand, is characterized by polar day, with the sun always shining obliquely.
Due to the unique location, the best time to visit is from November to March. The peak season is from December to January, when you can see penguins giving birth.
Flights departing from China: Shanghai - Qatar - Buenos Aires (with a stopover in Sao Paulo) - Ushuaia
I recommend buying Qatar Airways, which is relatively inexpensive. No matter how you fly from Asia to South America, you'll circle the globe, so there's no shortcut. If you're departing from New York, you can fly directly to Buenos Aires, then transfer to a domestic flight to Ushuaia.
The first few flights were fine, but once in Buenos Aires, you needed to transfer from the international airport to the domestic airport and then catch the flight to Ushuaia.
You may see another itinerary, which is to fly to the Antarctic Peninsula and then take a boat trip. This method can avoid seasickness when crossing the Drake Passage and save 4 days, but the price is about 40,000 more expensive.
Argentina was the most complicated visa application I've ever had. South American visas are significantly more complex than those for other countries. I recommend using a travel agency for more convenience. Argentina doesn't accept individual travel visas, so using a travel agency has a high approval rate. Whether or not you need an interview depends on luck.
Materials needed:
*Fill in the complete personal information form
* A passport valid for more than six months with at least two blank visa pages
*2 4*4 color photos with a light blue background (both ears must be visible)
*Copy of business license or organization code certificate with official seal
*Proof of financial status: copy of property ownership certificate, income certificate, vehicle ownership certificate, etc. that reflect personal financial status, copy of savings passbook, stock delivery note, credit card statement for the last 6 months. The more the better. If the deposit or property ownership certificate belongs to a spouse, attach a copy of the marriage certificate.
*Copy of the front and back of an international credit card, with the cardholder's name in pinyin and the Visa or MasterCard logo on the front and the cardholder's signature on the back.
*The notarized Spanish version of the guest's employment certificate and the certification of the Foreign Affairs Office (see the sample of the employment certificate, the notarized seal is sufficient). The notarized certificate must be handwritten. (The notarized certificate requires the guest's ID card, household registration booklet, and labor contract. The specific requirements may vary depending on the notary office.)
* Provide proof of student status or a copy of your student ID and household registration, as well as a notarized copy. Also, remember to provide your Antarctic travel ticket when applying for a visa. (The issue of tickets will be discussed below.)
*No vaccinations are required to travel to Argentina
Ferry tickets are harder to buy than plane tickets, so buy the ferry tickets first and then buy the plane tickets. When I decided to go to Antarctica in April, I was stuck at this place. Due to the limited time and the limited number of ships, tickets were very tight, especially for some medium-sized ships.
Why choose a medium-sized ship to visit Antarctica? To maximize the chance of spending more time ashore!
There are landing sites in Antarctica, each of which is determined by the weather. Some large ships are too large to land at many sites. Fewer landing sites mean fewer opportunities for you to reach shore.
Kayaking is done in groups, typically 10 people per boat. The more people there are, the longer the queues and the shorter the ride. Therefore, try to choose a boat with around 100 people. I took the Expedition, which seats 126 and is considered an expedition-class boat.
There are also luxury expedition cruises, which are equivalent to star-rated hotels on land. The onboard facilities are better, but the cost is also higher. There are also various activities on board, such as lectures on Antarctic knowledge, movies, bars, and you can enjoy drinks while looking at the glaciers in the evening. There is also an onboard gym.
If you make the reservation too late and there are no ferry tickets available, you can only buy them through the booking platform, which will be more expensive than buying them directly from the official website.
Tips:
Attached is the address for booking ferry tickets: http://www.quarkexpeditions.com/en
The ship takes tourists to Antarctica from November to March and to the Arctic from June to September, so there is polar bear promotion on the website.
The official ferry ticket office regularly offers special deals, especially a few days before sailing, due to unfulfilled berths and ticket cancellations. However, this is not recommended, as traveling all the way to Ushuaia and waiting in line is time-consuming and expensive, including accommodations. It's best to buy your tickets in advance.
After buying your ticket, the ferry will usually arrange for you to stay overnight at a hotel in Ushuaia. You can leave your luggage at the hotel, and someone from the ferry will pick it up at your scheduled time, allowing you to board the ferry directly. They will also store your luggage in your room, but I'm not sure if this is done for every ferry, so be sure to confirm with the ferry after purchasing your ticket!
After buying the boat ticket, plane ticket and visa, the next step is to shop, buy and buy.
Argentina uses pesos, and most domestic banks do not accept direct exchange, so you need to make an appointment in advance. In most places in Argentina, you can use US dollars. After exchanging US dollars, you can go to the airport to exchange pesos. Credit cards are accepted on board.
The Antarctic Peninsula is really not cold, at least not that cold (the Northeast may be a little colder)!
waterproof pants
The boat will give you jackets, so you don't need to buy waterproof pants. When you go ashore, you will be given boots on the boat, so you can leave your pants outside. Because there is snow ashore, sometimes it is knee-deep, so remember to buy waterproof pants.
non-slip shoes
Boots will be distributed when you go ashore, and non-slip shoes are worn when you go to the deck.
Gloves
Be sure to bring gloves, the wind is very strong and your hands will be frozen and you won’t be able to hold the camera steady.
UV protection sunglasses
You must bring them! Otherwise, you will suffer from snow blindness and your eyes will tear up very quickly without sunglasses.
sunscreen
The ultraviolet rays in Antarctica are very strong, and the air is good, without the protection of haze, so both boys and girls should remember to bring it.
waterproof backpack
When you are kayaking, water will splash up, so it is recommended to buy a waterproof camera bag to put the camera in.
swimsuit
The boat will organize you to go into the water, but it’s not real swimming, you just go into the sea and come out. It’s not cold in the water, but you will be quickly blown silly by the wind when you come out. I wish you good luck.
seasickness medicine
You can collect it on the boat or bring your own. You will feel dizzy when crossing the Drake Passage.
Money and credit cards
The boat is managed like a hotel, with good hygiene and cleaning twice a day. You don't need to tip on a regular basis. When you get off the boat, just put about $100 in an envelope with your cabin and name written on it and leave it at the front desk.
You just need to bind your credit card when you board the ship and just report your name for any consumption on board. There is a canteen on board, and you have to pay for the bar yourself. If you want to have a drink during a meal, you also have to pay for it yourself. $300 in cash is enough.
Because there are really no shopping malls in Antarctica for you to go shopping, you may go to some countries' scientific research stations, which have souvenir shops and accept credit cards.
Camping equipment (optional)
We also offer a one-night camping trip on board, which needs to be booked when you buy your ticket, as the number of people is limited. Camping means sleeping on the Antarctic continent for one night with a guide, so no experience is required.
photography equipment
If you are not a photography enthusiast, it is recommended to bring a Go Pro and tie it to a place on the boat to take time-lapse photos. It will be very shocking to edit a short film when you go back.
Meals are free for a limited time each day, and the boat ticket price includes three meals and afternoon tea. Because we cater to the international crowd, the food is quite good, with curry and even Chinese food one day. However, if you have a strong "Chinese" appetite, it is recommended to bring your own instant noodles and Lao Gan Ma.
The temperature on board is around 20 degrees Celsius, so you can wear a shirt. For deck wear, jeans and a jacket provided by the ship are sufficient. The jacket is given to everyone, so it is very clean and warm.
The cost of the boat ticket ranges from 40,000 to 200,000, and there are 4-person cabins, 2-person cabins, 2-person viewing rooms and suites, etc. Generally, the journey time is 12 days including the front and rear cabins.
There is internet on the ship, but it is very expensive, $100 for 100MB.
To prevent boredom, there are some entertainment activities on board, such as darts. For foreigners, a beer and a friend can easily make an afternoon or evening pass. If you can't stand the loneliness, you can follow my example and bring a projector and download a movie.
The interior of Antarctica is almost completely barren, with the only life there being some simple plants and one or two insects. However, the oceans are teeming with life, with algae, corals, starfish, sponges, and numerous tiny organisms called krill, which provide food for Antarctica's many fish, seabirds, seals, penguins, and whales.
Antarctica's frigid climate makes it difficult for plants to grow, though mosses and lichens can occasionally be seen. Birds and marine mammals can be found along the coast and islands, with penguins being the most common. In summer, penguins often gather along the coast, creating a representative Antarctic scene. Marine mammals include seals, sea lions, and dolphins. The oceans surrounding the continent are home to large herds of whales, making it a major whaling area. However, due to excessive hunting, whale numbers have drastically decreased, and seals and other marine mammals have almost become extinct.
There are many different penguin species, and you'll be given a book on board to read during your two days of sailing across the Drake Passage. Note that emperor penguins are not generally visible to the public; they are only found around the South Pole. You can see penguins walking and skiing when you're ashore, and swimming while you're on board. In short, penguins are everywhere.
Watching whales depends on luck. You never know when they will jump out of the water. Every time a whale appears, the boat will make an announcement, which is very interesting.
Let's explain what black ice is. Ordinary ice has bubbles inside it, so it appears white to the naked eye. However, due to the unique characteristics of the polar regions, the bubbles gradually disappear under constant pressure. When this ice is submerged in water, it appears black. Once it's scooped up, it's completely transparent. It really takes at least 2,000 years, or even tens of thousands of years, to form black ice. So, when you're on a kayak, the crew will help you find it. Once you've scooped it up, you can bring it to the bar and enjoy some black ice whiskey from thousands of years ago!
Don't bring a drone, as it's not allowed in Antarctica unless you have a special permit.
You can't touch penguins or scare them. You wouldn't want to, because penguins have hard, waterproof fur. The first time you see a penguin, it's exciting and cute, but after a few days, you realize they're just stinky, goofy birds.
In Antarctica, you cannot take anything back with you. After going ashore, you must obey the instructions of the ship crew. Don't try to commit suicide in places they don't allow you to go. There are seals there and they will eat you.
Fires are very likely to occur in Antarctica, so you must pay attention to fire safety.
