Swim with humpback whales in Moʻorea, September 2027 · from CHF 4,500See the trip →
Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Americas

Americas

Antarctica

A frozen continent with no country, run by a peace and science treaty, where whales, seals and penguins are watched from the ship, small boats or the shore.

A large iceberg floating on calm water in the Antarctic
Antarctic Peninsula · Photo: Matthew Stephenson on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, open for travel. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard. Checked by Ocean Calling on 30 Sep 2026. Sources: During your visit, IAATO; Antarctica, US State Department, 11 Oct 2025; British Antarctic Territory travel advice, UK FCDO.

WhalesWildlife watching

Why Antarctica

Antarctica is not a country. It has no government, capital or visa, and it is protected by the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 and its Environmental Protocol. Visitors go by ship, mostly from Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile, in the summer from November to February. Landings are ruled by strict wildlife distances, and there are no hospitals for days. South Georgia is a UK territory with its own entry permit. We place it under Americas only because the ships leave from South America.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

ArgentinaChileFalkland Is.Antarctic Peninsula, AntarcticaSouth Shetland Islands, AntarcticaSouth Georgia, Antarctica

When to go

Nov-Feb. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass

Meets the Ocean Calling standard.

Antarctica is protected by an international treaty, and visitors follow clear rules: no feeding or touching wildlife, keep your distance from seals, and slow boats near whales. We would only work with members of IAATO, the Antarctic tour operator association. We watch whales, seals and penguins from the ship, small boats or the shore, never in the water, and we follow strict biosecurity. There is no ocean swimming and no diving. Some evidence is still thin, so we keep learning.

Evidence is still thin here. We are checking again with official sources.

Checked 30 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in Antarctica

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Antarctic Peninsula

Exploring

The long arm of the continent that reaches toward South America, visited by ship and small boat in summer.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Whales, seals and penguins (from the ship, small boats or landings, never in the water)

When: Nov-Feb. Landings are possible from November to February. The UK says the area is not reachable from March to October.

South Shetland Islands

Exploring

The first landing place on most Peninsula voyages, with penguins and seals.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Penguins and seals (from the shore, at the distances set by the rules)

When: Nov-Feb. Landings are possible from November to February.

South Georgia

Exploring

A UK territory with king penguins, fur and elephant seals and albatrosses, inside a very large marine protected area.

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: King penguins, fur seals, elephant seals and albatrosses (from the shore)

Animals

Animals recorded in Antarctica

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Humpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableOrcas surfacing close together in calm Arctic Norwegian watersOrca (killer whale)Orcinus orcaSeen in 55 countries in the AtlasData DeficientBlue whale blowing a tall spout off San DiegoBlue whaleBalaenoptera musculusSeen in 29 countries in the AtlasEndangeredFin whale surfacing, showing its white right lower jawFin whaleBalaenoptera physalusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo long-finned pilot whales surfacing side by sideLong-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala melasSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSei whale's tall dorsal fin breaking a calm sea surfaceSei whaleBalaenoptera borealisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasEndangeredAntarctic minke whale surfacing among sea ice in AntarcticaAntarctic minke whaleBalaenoptera bonaerensisSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedLarge southern elephant seal resting on a wet beach, face turned to the cameraSouthern elephant sealMirounga leoninaSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLeopard seal resting on rocks at the water's edge with its mouth wide openLeopard sealHydrurga leptonyxSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAdult king penguin standing on short grass beside a large brown downy chickKing penguinAptenodytes patagonicusSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGentoo penguins in shallow turquoise water at the shore, one leaping out of the sea, photographed in the Falkland IslandsGentoo penguinPygoscelis papuaSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a rockhopper penguin with yellow crest feathers, red eye and orange-red bill, standing in tussock grassSouthern rockhopper penguinEudyptes chrysocomeSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasVulnerableThree black-browed albatrosses with their bills together at a Steeple Jason Island colony, against blue skyBlack-browed albatrossThalassarche melanophrisSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHuge flock of sooty shearwaters flying low over the sea beside a rocky coastSooty shearwaterArdenna griseaSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWilson's storm-petrel resting on calm water with its wings raised above its backWilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat shearwater flying low over calm water, its reflection belowGreat shearwaterArdenna gravisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernShort-tailed shearwater resting on the open seaShort-tailed shearwaterArdenna tenuirostrisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhite-chinned petrel floating on blue water with its white chin patch showingWhite-chinned petrelProcellaria aequinoctialisSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAntarctic fur seal rising upright out of the water with wet fur and closed eyesAntarctic fur sealArctocephalus gazellaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasEndangeredImperial shag perched on a rock at the water's edge, with an orange knob at the base of the billImperial shagLeucocarbo atricepsSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernThree macaroni penguins on a rocky slope, golden crest feathers over the eyesMacaroni penguinEudyptes chrysolophusSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasVulnerableChinstrap penguin leaping clear of rippled blue water while swimmingChinstrap penguinPygoscelis antarcticusSeen in 4 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCrabeater seal lying on pack ice, pale golden coat marked with long scarsCrabeater sealLobodon carcinophagaSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRoyal penguin standing on rocks, yellow-orange crest and white faceRoyal penguinEudyptes schlegeliSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSouthern bottlenose whale surfacing with a blow, its back marked with pale scratchesSouthern bottlenose whaleHyperoodon planifronsSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernThree hourglass dolphins swimming beside a ship in dark blue waterHourglass dolphinLagenorhynchus crucigerSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernAdélie penguin resting on rocks beside two grey chicksAdélie penguinPygoscelis adeliaeSeen in 2 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernArnoux's beaked whale surfacing beside an iceberg in AntarcticaArnoux's beaked whaleBerardius arnuxiiSeen in 2 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWeddell seal with a pale, speckled face looking toward the cameraWeddell sealLeptonychotes weddelliiSeen in 1 country in the AtlasLeast ConcernGroup of emperor penguins standing together on sea iceEmperor penguinAptenodytes forsteriSeen in 1 country in the AtlasEndangeredRoss seal resting on pack ice, seen side-on with its short snout and dark backRoss sealOmmatophoca rossiiSeen in 1 country in the AtlasLeast Concern
Dreaming of Antarctica?

Tell Rocío what you would love to see

There is no trip here yet. If enough people ask, it helps us decide where to go next.

Message on WhatsAppEmail RocíoGet new dates first

Also in Americas
ArgentinaBermudaBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCosta RicaEcuadorEl SalvadorFalkland IslandsFrench GuianaGuatemalaGuyanaMexicoNicaraguaPanamaPeruSurinameUnited StatesUruguay

← Back to the Ocean Atlas

For partners

Based in Antarctica?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Antarctica. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

Partner with Ocean Calling
You might like

Join the list and get CHF 50 off your 2027 trip

Join →