The Classic Polar Cruise Antarctic Peninsula Facts Pics And More - Nexta Expeditions
The Classic Polar Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula Facts, Pics, and More

The Classic Polar Cruise: Antarctic Peninsula Facts, Pics, and More

When it comes to experiencing the vast wonders of Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula stands out as an unparalleled destination.

This stunning 1,300-km-long (810 miles) stretch of polar landscape offers the opportunity to encounter a variety of penguins, whales, seals, and seabirds. Additionally, it boasts rugged coastlines, rocky mountains, massive glaciers, sparkling bays, and numerous other extraordinary locations perfect for adventurous outdoor activities.

In essence, the Antarctic Peninsula has it all.

Here, we will highlight some of the many attractions (wildlife, locations, and activities) that captivate visitors to this incredible destination. While not exhaustive, this overview will give you a glimpse of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences awaiting you on the Antarctic Peninsula.

blog-image

Antarctic Peninsula Animals

Exotic wildlife is a major draw for travelers to the polar regions. On the Antarctic Peninsula, you have a good chance of seeing two core penguin species, as well as various seals, whales, and seabirds. Here are some of the notable animals you might encounter.

Gentoo Penguin

The gentoo penguin is the only penguin species currently increasing in both population size and distribution, making them a relatively common sight along the Antarctic Peninsula.

blog-image

Adélie Penguin

Adélie penguins are easily identifiable by their unique eyes. They are not only found on the Antarctic Peninsula but also across the continent, being one of only two penguin species that are permanent residents of Antarctica—the other being emperor penguins.

blog-image

Antarctic Shag

Also known as blue-eyed shags, these are the only Antarctic seabirds to maintain year-round nests when ice conditions permit. They are frequently seen on the Antarctic Peninsula.

blog-image

Snow Petrel

The pristinely white snow petrel is one of only three seabird species that breed exclusively in Antarctica and is a frequent visitor to the Antarctic Peninsula.

blog-image

Giant Petrel

Known as “long swimmers” in Greek, giant petrels are the only members of the Procellariidae family (which includes petrels, prions, and shearwaters) with legs strong enough to support walking.

blog-image

Weddell Seal

These large seals live farther south than any other seal and are known for their singing. Weddell seals can also be identified by their uniquely mottled fur.

blog-image

Leopard Seal

The only seal species to eat other seals, leopard seals are Antarctica’s top predator. They are sometimes seen lounging on ice floes, though they spend much of their lives underwater.

blog-image

Antarctic Fur Seal

These common residents of the Antarctic Peninsula resemble sea lions and can even sit up and use their flippers to walk. Once nearly hunted to extinction, Antarctic fur seals are now recovering and have a healthy population.

blog-image

Crabeater Seal

The Antarctic Peninsula is home to many crabeater seals, the most abundant large mammal in the world. Perhaps this is why they sleep so peacefully...

blog-image

Humpback Whale

Humpback whales are a favorite among whale enthusiasts, named for how they bend their backs before diving. Their lunges make for some great photos, too.

blog-image

Minke Whale

Minke whales are a type of fin whale, capable of projecting a cry as loud as an airplane take-off. You have a good chance of seeing them along the Antarctic Peninsula.

blog-image

Fin Whale

Also known as “razorbacks,” fin whales have a distinctive facial coloration that aids them in hunting.

blog-image

Antarctic Peninsula Areas

The Antarctic Peninsula is a vast region with too many fantastic sites to see in a single voyage. However, we strive to show you the best places that time and local conditions allow. Below are just a few of the unforgettable areas you could visit.

Danco Island

Gentoo penguins, Weddell seals, and crabeater seals can all be encountered at Danco Island, a core part of our Antarctic Peninsula route.

blog-image

Neumayer Channel

The glacier-bordered waterway of Neumayer Channel, which separates Wiencke Island from Anvers Island, is a good place to spot whales.

blog-image

Neko Harbour

A favorite among Antarctic Peninsula sites, Neko Harbour is a mountainous landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless wind-carved snow.

blog-image

Anvers Island (rarely a landing here)

The mountainous Anvers Island offers spectacular views and panoramic photos, though it is not always included in our Antarctic Peninsula trips.

blog-image

Paradise Bay

Another Antarctic Peninsula favorite, Paradise Bay is an absolute gem. Gentoo penguins, crabeater seals, colossal glaciers, dazzling icebergs, and rolling fields of snow characterize this prized peninsula site.

blog-image

Pléneau & Petermann Islands

Adélies, gentoos, blue-eyed shags, leopard seals, and humpback whales can be seen around these Lemaire Channel islands, making both Petermann and Pléneau (which we often see close together) excellent Antarctic Peninsula spots.

blog-image

Port Lockroy

Located on Goudier Island, Port Lockroy is a former research station and currently the planet’s southernmost post office. The penguins are fond of it, too.

blog-image

Wilhelmina Bay & Guvernøren

Wilhelmina Bay is among the best places to spot whales along the Antarctic Peninsula, and nearby Foyn Harbour will also give history lovers (and scuba divers) a rare treat: The wreck of the Guvernøren, a factory ship that ran aground in 1915, can be seen near Enterprise Island.

blog-image

Antarctic Peninsula Activities

The Antarctic Peninsula offers a wide range of activities. You can book the following activities on select voyages or join one of our Basecamp cruises, which include multiple activities in the price of the trip.

Snowshoeing

This is an activity everyone can enjoy, requiring no prior experience or athletic ability beyond basic fitness. Snowshoeing is one of the best ways to experience the starkly beautiful shorelines of the polar regions.

blog-image

Camping

What better way to feel like a real polar explorer than camping under the Antarctic sky in a snow dugout you’ve made with your own steam? (We promise, our sleeping gear is warm and comfortable.)

Kayaking

The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most ideal places to kayak in the polar regions, lending itself perfectly to this peaceful low-impact activity.

blog-image

Photo Workshops

You can also practice your picture-taking skills in the Antarctic Peninsula, learning from expert nature photographers who will help you get the most out of your camera.

blog-image

Scuba Diving

If you’ve got sufficient cold-water dive experience, you can also explore the underbelly of Antarctica’s icebergs and sea life by going polar scuba diving. This is obviously a less common activity available only to veteran divers, but those who can partake will be dazzled by the glimpse of a rarely seen ecosystem.

blog-image

Mountaineering

If you are more into heights than waves, check out the Antarctic Peninsula from some of its loftier viewpoints on a mountaineering excursion. While you will need to be in better physical shape for this activity than for most others, mountaineering is open to all passengers interested in giving it a try.

blog-image

Special Activities on Hondius and Janssonius

On our newest Polar Class 6 vessels, Hondius and Janssonius, we offer a number of special interactive workshops that explore various scientific topics. The goal of these workshops is to entertain, inform, and fully immerse you in the surreal Antarctic environment. Topics may include weather, geology, wildlife acoustics, plastic pollution, and videography. All workshops are led by expert guides or guest speakers.

blog-image

Antarctic Peninsula Basecamp Cruises

For adventure seekers looking for a truly activity-oriented Antarctic Peninsula voyage, our previously mentioned Basecamp trips are exactly what you’re looking for. Get a sample of what this experience has to offer via the video below. You’ll not only see some of the exciting activities you can enjoy but also hear the reactions of our passengers.

Time Zone, Weather, and Other Antarctic Peninsula Facts

  • The Antarctic Peninsula follows Coordinated Universal Time -3 (UTC -3). This means that if it is 18:00 UTC-3 (6 pm) during your expedition cruise trip to the Antarctic Peninsula, it would be 17:00 (5 pm) in New York City.
  • Antarctic Peninsula climate is milder than most people expect, because it’s located near the most northerly part of Antarctica. If you travel to the Antarctic Peninsula in January, which is summertime in the Southern Hemisphere, you can expect an average temperature of 1 to 2°C (33.8 to 35.6°F). June is the coldest part of the year, with a temperature range of typically -20 to -15°C (-4 to 5°F).
  • The peninsula is the only part of Antarctica that extends beyond the border of the Antarctic Circle.
  • The only flowering plants on the continent of Antarctica (the Antarctic pearlwort and the Antarctic hair grass) are found on the Antarctic Peninsula.
  • The Antarctic Peninsula was originally named Palmer Peninsula, after an American explorer who journeyed there in November of 1820. Other countries later gave it different names: Graham Land and Trinity Peninsula (Britain, 1832), San Martin Land (Argentina, 1940), and O’Higgins Land (Chile, 1942). It was not called the Antarctic Peninsula until 1964, when an international agreement was reached.
  • The Antarctic Peninsula is regulated under the international Antarctic Treaty System, which promotes use of the area for scientific study.
  • The peninsula is a continuation of the Andes Mountains, which run down almost the entire west coast of South America.
  • There are 28 countries (and research bases) currently contributing to the scientific research conducted on the Antarctic Peninsula.

blog-image

Title image by Dietmar Denger

Best Deals

Related Trips

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Puerto Madryn

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special

calendar22 Oct 2025 - 11 Nov 2025
clock21 Days / 20 Nights
From $ 14.250 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar11 Nov 2025 - 21 Nov 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage

calendar17 Nov 2025 - 27 Nov 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 7.750 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar21 Nov 2025 - 01 Dec 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar27 Nov 2025 - 16 Dec 2025
clock20 Days / 19 Nights
From $ 14.800 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar27 Nov 2025 - 09 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Weddell Sea – In search of the Emperor Penguin, incl. helicopters

calendar01 Dec 2025 - 11 Dec 2025
clock11 Days / 10 Nights
From $ 12.900 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar09 Dec 2025 - 21 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar11 Dec 2025 - 29 Dec 2025
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 14.500 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar16 Dec 2025 - 28 Dec 2025
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 9.700 per person
Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

calendar21 Dec 2025 - 08 Jan 2026
clock19 Days / 18 Nights
From $ 15.600 per person
Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop - Nexta Expeditions
Antarctica
Ushuaia

Antarctica - Basecamp - free camping, kayaking, snowshoe/hiking, mountaineering, photo workshop

calendar28 Dec 2025 - 09 Jan 2026
clock13 Days / 12 Nights
From $ 10.550 per person

Blog
go-leftgo-right

Under the Greenland Ice Sheet - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Under the Greenland Ice Sheet

Anyone who ventures to the right part of the globe can encounter vast amounts of ice, but a Greenland cruise offers something truly unique: ice sculptures hidden beneath the northern ice sheet. Scientists once thought these sculptures were rocky hills buried in ice, similar to the Ghost Mountains in Antarctica. However, it turns out that Mother Nature has crafted one of the most exclusive art exhibits in the world. These sculptures are not visible from the surface, but some scientists have managed to get a sneak peek using radar equipment.
Around Spitsbergen vs. North Spitsbergen - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Around Spitsbergen vs. North Spitsbergen

Svalbard, particularly Spitsbergen, was the first polar expedition cruise destination. It's no surprise that there are numerous trip programs available in this region. Among the most unique are the Around Spitsbergen and North Spitsbergen cruises.
Adélie penguins in the Ross Sea - Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Adélie penguins in the Ross Sea - Antarctica

The Adélie penguin population in the Ross Sea has reached its highest numbers in 30 years, with up to a million breeding pairs during the summer. This accounts for about 38 percent of the entire Antarctic Adélie population.
Deep Sea Dwellers: 10 Facts about The Antarctic Giant Isopod - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Deep Sea Dwellers: 10 Facts about The Antarctic Giant Isopod

On average, the Giant Antarctic Isopod grows to 9cm (3.5in.) in length. This may not seem very large, but factors including low light levels, freezing cold water, and a lack of oxygen prevent these isopods from growing very large. Other species of isopods, including the Giant Isopod, have been known to grow up to 40 cm (16 inches) in length!
Weddell seals: The data collectors scientists of Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Weddell seals: The data collectors scientists of Antarctica

Weddell seals inhabit some of the coldest and darkest waters deep within the Ross Sea ice, making them the southernmost naturally occurring mammals on Earth. During the winter and summer months, their movements are largely governed by the presence of sea ice and the availability of suitable breathing and exit holes.
What’s so Special about East Spitsbergen? - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

What’s so Special about East Spitsbergen?

We’ve previously discussed our north Spitsbergen journeys and Spitsbergen circumnavigations, but the eastern parts of this incredible island have not received the attention they deserve. Despite the name, our east Spitsbergen voyages explore much more than just the eastern side of Spitsbergen.
Polar bear feast - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar bear feast

The polar bear was relishing his meal; the snow and his face were turning red from the blood. As we observed him eating, our own stomachs began to grumble. It was time for lunch.
Seven Tips to Get the Most out of Your Expedition Cruise - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Seven Tips to Get the Most out of Your Expedition Cruise

Polar cruises are easy to enjoy, but there’s an art to getting the most out of them.
Greenland: East vs. West - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Greenland: East vs. West

East and West Greenland offer vastly different experiences due to their unique climates, wildlife, habitation, and geology.
Encounter with the emperor penguin in Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Encounter with the emperor penguin in Antarctica

Dutch journalist Gemma Venhuizen embarked on the MV Ortelius during the Weddell Sea cruise 'In search of the emperor penguins'. She had several encounters with this majestic penguin species - both from the sea and from the air.
Living the Antarctic Dream - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Living the Antarctic Dream

From October to March, during the Austral summer, thousands of breeding gentoo, Adèlie, and chinstrap penguins flock to the Western Antarctic Peninsula to rear their chicks and feast on krill before the harsh winter arrives. Alongside the penguins, field biologists from around the world gather to study these habits for conservation research. Observing these animals is one thing, but residing in an Antarctic field station for an entire breeding season is another. One particular field camp on King George Island, managed by American scientists, has perfected this Antarctic lifestyle and has thrived for over 30 years.
12 photo tips to make better pictures on your Antarctica cruise - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

12 photo tips to make better pictures on your Antarctica cruise

During your trip in the Arctic or Antarctic cruise you and your camera equipment will be exposed to a variety of challenging conditions. Be careful with your equipment and protect it from the salty spray when in Zodiacs, on a beach, or on deck. Salt water and electronics is not a good mix!
Eight Engaging Reindeer Facts - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Eight Engaging Reindeer Facts

When we think about reindeer, we might also think of Saami herders or the holidays or teams of these beloved Arctic animals pulling a bell-covered sleigh across the nighttime sky. Only the first of these options, however, is something you're likely to encounter on an Arctic expedition cruise - and that's only in Northern Norway.
Ancient Arctic Exploration - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Ancient Arctic Exploration

When it comes to polar exploration, the Arctic boasts a much longer history compared to Antarctica.
Eight Antarctic Misconceptions - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Eight Antarctic Misconceptions

Antarctica has given rise to some pretty far-fetched rumors.
Graham Land: A landscape dominated by volcanoes - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Graham Land: A landscape dominated by volcanoes

An Antarctic cruise may explore the upper tip of the Antarctic Peninsula where one finds Graham Land, a jagged, glaciated part of Antarctica with a landscape dominated by volcanoes. Despite the volcanoes being over 200 million years old they are far from extinct with volcanic activity occurring today. Graham Land is connected to Palmer Land at the point where the Antarctic Peninsula widens from around 75 km to around 200 km south of Marguerite Bay.
Orcas (aka Killer Whales) of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Orcas (aka Killer Whales) of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic

Orcas are highly social and intelligent members of the dolphin family Delphinidae. They are sometimes referred to as killer whales, though this name has somewhat fallen out of fashion due to inaccurately characterizing orcas as ferocious predators.
Deception Island deceptively active - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Deception Island deceptively active

In Antarctica, the South Shetland archipelago is home to Deception Island, a volcanic-rounded island that is 15 km in diameter with a shield volcano. The volcano is mainly basalt-andesite and was one of the first parts of Antarctica to be discovered, probably around 1820 by UK and USA sealers.
Seven Frightfully Fun Polar Ghost Stories - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Seven Frightfully Fun Polar Ghost Stories

The polar regions are unparalleled when it comes to ghost stories.
Polar Cuisine in Pictures - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar Cuisine in Pictures

Embarking on a polar expedition cruise to some of the world's most remote and wild locations doesn’t mean you have to compromise on fine dining.