30 Images to Convince You that Now is the Time to Visit Antarctica

Dec 22

"If Antarctica were music it would be Mozart. Art, and it would be Michelangelo. Literature, and it would be Shakespeare. And yet it is something even greater; the only place on earth that is still as it should be. May we never tame it."

-Andrew Denton

Antarctica is truly one place on earth that words cannot describe appropriately. It is a place that must be felt and seen with the heart. Its pristine untapped beauty is magical and at the same time surreal. You know you are there in it and all around you, but simultaneously the environment and moment is incomprehensible. It is humbling. You compared to this majestic space are tiny. You fill with deep emotions and may be brought to tears. And you weep for the gratitude of being amongst it and understanding true natural beauty. Admittedly, it's hard to not get a good photo and although each image is potentially better than the next, they still don't fully capture the magnitude of its crystal deserts and unique creatures.

Take a look and see for yourself. . .

If all of the beauty, stunning landscapes and marine mammals weren't enough, there's also a tremendous opportunity to make friends that will last a lifetime on your journey across the Drake Passage and to the seventh continent. Think about it. The type of individuals who also crave being engulfed by the one of a kind scenery and willingness to learn more intimately about life on the white continent have to be like-minded; together crossing off a bucket-list item. In Antarctica and on the boat there are many moments of sharing, time for laughter, delicious food and of course, dance parties.

I experienced my first trip to the southern polar region with Quark Expeditions and it was the cherry on top of everything else. Comfortable accommodations, extremely thoughtful and friendly staff, and of course those infamous yellow parkas were all included. We started the journey from Port Ushuaia, in Ushuaia, the southern most capital city of Patagonia, Argentina, which is also a charming little town with great colors and cute shops and restaurants. I arrived the afternoon before departure, stayed at Hotel Albatross and rested before Sunday morning's launch. Our trip was 11 days, including two days to get through the infamous Drake Passage to the Antarctic peninsula and another two back after visiting the south Shetland islands.

Here is our journey: