antarctica travel restrictions covid 19

You are using an outdated browser. Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

Antarctica Traveler View

Vaccines and medicines, stay healthy and safe, after your trip.

All travelers should be up-to-date on routine vaccines . These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot. The risk of flu , measles , mumps , and other diseases easily spread from person-to-person is related to travel and living conditions. People from all over the world may travel to Antarctica on cruise ships . Sharing close living quarters with people from many different places increases the risk of exposure to illnesses.

All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see  Your COVID-19 Vaccination  for more information. 

Other travel vaccines should be considered according to what countries you travel through on your way to Antarctica.

Visit your doctor (ideally, 4–6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.

⇧ Top

For travelers to Antarctica, severe low temperatures and high winds are the primary health hazards. Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, and driest place on earth. Temperature patterns vary widely because the continent is covered in continuous darkness during the winter and continuous sunlight during the summer, with a few weeks of sunrises and sunsets between seasons.

The effects of the sun in Antarctica (because of the sun’s reflecting off the snow) can be damaging to the eyes and skin, and protective measures should be taken.

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic . Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip.

For more information on what to do if you are sick after your trip, see Getting Sick after Travel .

Map Disclaimer - The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on maps do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement are generally marked.

Other Destinations

If you need help finding travel information:

Message & data rates may apply. CDC Privacy Policy

File Formats Help:

• Adobe PDF file
• Microsoft PowerPoint file
• Microsoft Word file
• Microsoft Excel file
• Audio/Video file
• Apple Quicktime file
• RealPlayer file
• Zip Archive file

Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
• Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
• You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
• CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website.

Antarctica Travel Restrictions: What You Need to Know Now

Cruises are operating and we’re looking ahead to a busy Antarctica 2024-2025 season . Select Antarctica cruise lines still require vaccination and testing, but there are no current Argentina entry requirements or Chile entry requirements. Read on to learn about Antarctica now.

IN THIS POST – Antarctica Travel Restrictions: Antarctica Now Argentina Travel Restrictions Chile Travel Restrictions Chile & Argentina Now Current Cruise COVID Requirements Cancelled Antarctica Cruises Pre-Trip Advice More Antarctica Travel Resources

Important Note: If you are an AdventureSmith booked client, please contact your Adventure Specialist for the most up-to-date and detailed inf o . If you want to book a cruise to Antarctica, please contact us . If you simply want advice, please use the comments section below. This post on Antarctica travel restrictions was last updated on 1/9/2024 and is subject to change without notice.

STAY UP-TO-DATE

Keep on top of Antarctica travel updates .

Antarctica Now

Is Antarctica restricted? No, the Antarctica travel ban was lifted, Antarctica is open and  Antarctic cruising  is happening normally. However, travelers should always be prepared for changes. Availability can be tighter with consolidated or altered departures. Port countries may implement new restrictions if needed. And some ship operators and scientific bases have maintained their Antarctica travel restrictions.

We recommend all travelers consider Travel insurance . See our  Antarctica travel guide  for advice on the  best travel insurance for Antarctica . Note that supplemental medical evacuation insurance is required on most Antarctica cruises .

Because most travelers to Antarctica get there through Chile and Argentina, we focus on these entry points in the following sections. Learn more about  how to get to Antarctica .

Argentina Travel Restrictions

Effective September 14, 2022 Argentina travel restrictions have all been removed. COVID testing, a health declaration form and travel insurance are no longer required. For most travelers a valid passport is all that is required to enter Argentina. However, Argentina entry requirements have changed frequently in the past due to epidemiological circumstances. Travelers should check for Argentina travel restrictions before arriving. For more details visit the US State Department or the  US Embassy in Argentina .

Chile Travel Restrictions

Effective May 10, 2023 all Chile COVID travel restrictions have been lifted. COVID testing and travel insurance is no longer required, but our experts highly recommend traveling with health insurance that has coverage for SARS CoV 2 (COVID-19). For more details visit the  U.S. State Department  or  Chile Travel .

Chile & Argentina Now

Travelers transiting through Argentina or Chile should be mindful of a few COVID protocols upon arrival and while traveling. Masks are required inside medical facilities. Observe signage regarding physical distancing. Keep two meter distance from others. Inter-city/state travel restrictions may reappear, requiring local permits to enter or transit. In Argentina, a nationwide curfew may be reinstated per a change in the epidemiological situation.

FIND YOUR ANTARCTICA TRIP

Let our experts match you with the best option.

Current Cruise COVID Requirements

Most  Antarctica cruise lines  no longer have COVID requirements, meaning most options are cruises that don’t require a vaccine. However, that can always change and AdventureSmith travelers will be kept informed. Here are current policies for the operators we work with (subject to change without notice):

• G Adventures requires all guests to show proof of primary COVID vaccination series.
• Intrepid Travel requires all guests to show proof of primary COVID vaccination series plus an additional booster dose.

Cancelled Antarctica Cruises

In recent seasons, some operators were forced to leave travelers with their Antarctica cruise cancelled. Other operators had to consolidate ships and departures. However, with more experience operating Antarctica cruises post-pandemic, operators are now delivering more dependable departures. If you find yourself with an Antarctica cruise cancelled, then we recommend working with your cruise line or booking agency to reschedule your cruise or request a refund, based on the options presented by your cruise operator. If you have had your Antarctica cruise cancelled and you are seeking to book a new cruise with true experts,  contact us .

Advice Before You Leave Home

For two weeks prior to your departure, and during travel to your destination, we recommend you follow common sense protocols regarding masking and social distancing to avoid contact with COVID-19. Take reasonable measures to reduce the risk of exposure and follow all CDC guidelines. Even for trips and where a COVID-19 test is not required, we recommend you test 72 hours prior to departure and do not travel if you test positive.

Wear masks in airports and aboard airplanes. Be careful in bars, restaurants and other crowded places that are higher risk. Arriving for your trip healthy will provide peace of mind and help you to enjoy your trip.  

MORE ANTARCTICA RESOURCES : Antarctica Travel Guide Antarctica Cruises Luxury Antarctica Cruises Falkland Islands & South Georgia Cruises Cruises with Flights to Antarctica Best Time to Visit Antarctica Antarctica Cruise Cost How to Get to Antarctica Things to Do in Antarctica Places in Antarctica Antarctica Ships Best Antarctica Cruise Lines Antarctica Cruise Deals Antarctica Cruise Reviews

If you have questions about Antarctica travel restrictions or are looking for advice, please use the comments below. We will answer your questions to make this Antarctica COVID travel update even better. If you are interested in booking a trip to Antarctica , please contact us . Thanks.

Comments will be moderated and will appear after they have been approved.

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required.

What are the restrictions for Antarctica when you get there? Can you explore freely?

Hi James, Antarctica expedition cruises will visit designated landing sites where guests can disembark for shore excursions. Visitors may explore freely but are required to stay within designated areas and within certain boundaries and/or marked trails. Numerous guides and expedition leaders are with you ashore providing information about the wildlife, geology and history of the area while also ensuring travelers are following the guidelines and restrictions that protect wildlife, environment, and safety of visitors.

Your cruise may offer group activities like snowshoeing or kayaking, where you are expected to stay close within your group and follow the instructions of your guides.

Let our experts prepare you for Antarctica, one phone call is more productive than hours of internet research. Please contact us directly if we can help you plan an incredible trip.

Are there any non smoking cruises? Cheers

Thanks for your question Cindy. Most Antarctica cruise ships do allow smoking but it is very restricted and typically only permitted on one deck at the stern (back end) of the ship. This way smoke goes out to sea and doesn’t bother guests. It is forbidden to either throw cigarette butts overboard or smoke on shore in Antarctica. We hope this helps you enjoy a smoke-free expedition. If you are interested in booking please contact us .

Hurtigruten also still require vaccination.

It would be really helpful if you could list those cruise lines who DONT require it. Thank you.

Thanks for your feedback, Angie. We have chosen to list only the Antarctica cruise lines that are among our curated selection of small Antarctica expedition cruises . Since the vast majority have dropped requirements, we have found it easier to list the few operators who still have requirements in effect.

Our specialists are the most well-versed on these vetted options, and keep our traveling clients individually in the loop on them. We would urge you to ask your booking agent or operator for specifics regarding your trip.

I just need to comment on this website and on an excellently written article. You have by far the best and most detailed info available. You might just become my new travel agent. Well done!

Glad to hear you’re finding our resources useful! Find more Antarctica cruise & travel guides or contact us to hone in on your ideal Antarctica cruise .

What about SilverSea Silver Endeavor cruise? What is their policy?

Hello, at this time Silversea requires all crew and guests aged 12 years and older to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Travelers are not required to test prior to boarding.

Can you show proof of Covid antibodies instead of getting a booster?

Hi Teri, thanks for your question. Argentina currently has no entry requirements and an individual operator will not accept proof of antibodies in lieu of a booster shot.

Hi. I heard tourists can no longer take photos while kneeling, siting or laying on their stomach. Also no tripods, monopods etc. Have you heard of these new regulations? Thank you.

Hi Chris – great question. Yes, IAATO has made updates to their Biosecurity Procedures for the 2022-2023 Antarctica cruise season to include the following: “No sitting, kneeling, or lying down on the ground or snow, or leaving any equipment on the ground or snow, close to animal activity or fecal matter (e.g., within a minimum of 10m of nests or breeding adults, wildlife transit pathways, haul out sites).”

These additional protocols are in response to Avian Influenza and are mandatory for all IAATO Operators and their staff operating in Antarctica. They are also likely to evolve as more information and guidance regarding (HPAI) H5N1 becomes available. You can learn more about the new protocols and read the press release here. IAATO 2022-23 Biosecurity Protocols Regarding Avian Influenza .

We hear of strict vaccine requirements for passengers but there’s no transparency about vaccine status of the entire crew.

Hi Mary, All of the operators and ships we partner with require the crew to be fully vaccinated and tested prior to boarding. Please see the Antarctica Cruise Vaccination & Testing Requirements above where we specifically detail the vaccination policy that our polar partners have for their crews. AdventureSmith provides peace of mind because we have personally vetted, and hand selected each partner operator and are clear when sharing their policies. If you are interested in booking an Antarctica trip , please contact us.

Hi there, I have a COVID-related question… Are there PCR testing facilities in Ushuaia for foreign visitors needing a negative test result before returning home? If so, are these clinics likely to be open over the Christmas weekend of December 24 & 25 for testing?

Hello. At this time there are no COVID-19 testing options at the Ushuaia airport (USH). There is a clinic in Ushuaia that can provide testing. Find contact info and hours on their Facebook page .

Some of the expedition ships operating in Antarctica can offer COVID-19 testing aboard the ship prior to disembarkation. Availability and pricing varies by ship so check with your Antarctica travel operator. Another good option is to test in Buenos Aires before returning to the US. Rapid antigen testing centers are available in Argentina’s Ezeiza (EZE) and Aeroparque (AEP) airports. Results in 30 minutes are handy for departing travelers.

We hope this helps and have an amazing trip to Ushuaia!

For citizens of countries that are not exempt from an Argentinian Visa, but residing in USA, is there provision in place to get a visiting visa or an ETA?

Hi Robin, Thank you for reaching out. Without knowing your country of citizenship it is difficult to offer specific advice. However, it is our understanding that Argentina will be issuing visas for international travelers that require them beginning on November 1, 2021. To learn if a visa is required visit Argentina Migrations’ official page or your countries’ consulate. In the United States, visa services can answer detailed questions and expedite applications for visas to Argentina. Please note that the information on this page is purely informational and intended to help cruise guests prepare for Antarctica cruises . Good luck with your visa application and please keep us posted if you learn that visas are not available for your country.

Learn More About Antarctica From Our Expert Crew

Eager to learn more about what it is like to travel in Antarctica? Let our firsthand experience be your guide. Learn about the seasons, cost, places, activities and more. Want to do more research? Read our other COVID resources to get an even more full picture.

Contact Us - Antarctica Travel Restrictions: What You Need to Know Now

Travel is best planned one-on-one, and we’re here to help you with your specific needs.

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Phone (required because some email replies get blocked) *
• Country of residence (required in order to comply with privacy laws) * United States of America - US Afghanistan - AF Aland Islands - AX Albania - AL Algeria - DZ American Samoa - AS Andorra - AD Angola - AO Anguilla - AI Antarctica - AQ Antigua and Barbuda - AG Argentina - AR Armenia - AM Aruba - AW Australia - AU Austria - AT Azerbaijan - AZ Bahamas - BS Bahrain - BH Bangladesh - BD Barbados - BB Belarus - BY Belgium - BE Belize - BZ Benin - BJ Bermuda - BM Bhutan - BT Bolivia - BO Bosnia and Herzegovina - BA Botswana - BW Bouvet Island - BV Brazil - BR British Virgin Islands - VG British Indian Ocean Territory - IO Brunei Darussalam - BN Bulgaria - BG Burkina Faso - BF Burundi - BI Cambodia - KH Cameroon - CM Canada - CA Cape Verde - CV Cayman Islands - KY Central African Republic - CF Chad - TD Chile - CL China - CN Hong Kong, SAR China - HK Macao, SAR China - MO Christmas Island - CX Cocos (Keeling) Islands - CC Colombia - CO Comoros - KM Congo (Brazzaville) - CG Congo, (Kinshasa) - CD Cook Islands - CK Costa Rica - CR Côte d'Ivoire - CI Croatia - HR Cuba - CU Cyprus - CY Czech Republic - CZ Denmark - DK Djibouti - DJ Dominica - DM Dominican Republic - DO Ecuador - EC Egypt - EG El Salvador - SV Equatorial Guinea - GQ Eritrea - ER Estonia - EE Ethiopia - ET Falkland Islands (Malvinas) - FK Faroe Islands - FO Fiji - FJ Finland - FI France - FR French Guiana - GF French Polynesia - PF French Southern Territories - TF Gabon - GA Gambia - GM Georgia - GE Germany - DE Ghana - GH Gibraltar - GI Greece - GR Greenland - GL Grenada - GD Guadeloupe - GP Guam - GU Guatemala - GT Guernsey - GG Guinea - GN Guinea-Bissau - GW Guyana - GY Haiti - HT Heard and Mcdonald Islands - HM Holy See (Vatican City State) - VA Honduras - HN Hungary - HU Iceland - IS India - IN Indonesia - ID Iran, Islamic Republic of - IR Iraq - IQ Ireland - IE Isle of Man - IM Israel - IL Italy - IT Jamaica - JM Japan - JP Jersey - JE Jordan - JO Kazakhstan - KZ Kenya - KE Kiribati - KI Korea (North) - KP Korea (South) - KR Kuwait - KW Kyrgyzstan - KG Lao PDR - LA Latvia - LV Lebanon - LB Lesotho - LS Liberia - LR Libya - LY Liechtenstein - LI Lithuania - LT Luxembourg - LU Macedonia, Republic of - MK Madagascar - MG Malawi - MW Malaysia - MY Maldives - MV Mali - ML Malta - MT Marshall Islands - MH Martinique - MQ Mauritania - MR Mauritius - MU Mayotte - YT Mexico - MX Micronesia, Federated States of - FM Moldova - MD Monaco - MC Mongolia - MN Montenegro - ME Montserrat - MS Morocco - MA Mozambique - MZ Myanmar - MM Namibia - NA Nauru - NR Nepal - NP Netherlands - NL Netherlands Antilles - AN New Caledonia - NC New Zealand - NZ Nicaragua - NI Niger - NE Nigeria - NG Niue - NU Norfolk Island - NF Northern Mariana Islands - MP Norway - NO Oman - OM Pakistan - PK Palau - PW Palestinian Territory - PS Panama - PA Papua New Guinea - PG Paraguay - PY Peru - PE Philippines - PH Pitcairn - PN Poland - PL Portugal - PT Puerto Rico - PR Qatar - QA Réunion - RE Romania - RO Russian Federation - RU Rwanda - RW Saint-Barthélemy - BL Saint Helena - SH Saint Kitts and Nevis - KN Saint Lucia - LC Saint-Martin (French part) - MF Saint Pierre and Miquelon - PM Saint Vincent and Grenadines - VC Samoa - WS San Marino - SM Sao Tome and Principe - ST Saudi Arabia - SA Senegal - SN Serbia - RS Seychelles - SC Sierra Leone - SL Singapore - SG Slovakia - SK Slovenia - SI Solomon Islands - SB Somalia - SO South Africa - ZA South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - GS South Sudan - SS Spain - ES Sri Lanka - LK Sudan - SD Suriname - SR Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands - SJ Swaziland - SZ Sweden - SE Switzerland - CH Syrian Arab Republic (Syria) - SY Taiwan, Republic of China - TW Tajikistan - TJ Tanzania, United Republic of - TZ Thailand - TH Timor-Leste - TL Togo - TG Tokelau - TK Tonga - TO Trinidad and Tobago - TT Tunisia - TN Turkey - TR Turkmenistan - TM Turks and Caicos Islands - TC Tuvalu - TV Uganda - UG Ukraine - UA United Arab Emirates - AE United Kingdom - GB United States of America - US US Minor Outlying Islands - UM Uruguay - UY Uzbekistan - UZ Vanuatu - VU Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic) - VE Viet Nam - VN Virgin Islands, US - VI Wallis and Futuna Islands - WF Western Sahara - EH Yemen - YE Zambia - ZM Zimbabwe - ZW
• Newsletter Subscribe to our email newsletter
• By submitting this form, you consent to our privacy policy .
• Hidden IP Location

Talk to an AdventureSmith Travel Specialist Call us toll free at 1-877-620-2875 . Call us direct at 530-583-1775 .

Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm Pacific Time.

Address 40169 Truckee Airport Road, Suite 201 Truckee, CA 96161

Covid outbreak at Antarctic research station forces temporary travel ban

A Covid outbreak at an American scientific research station in Antarctica has forced U.S. officials to temporarily halt all travel to the remote outpost.

The National Science Foundation, which operates McMurdo Station on the southern tip of Antarctica’s Ross Island, announced new measures over the weekend to help control the outbreak, which was first reported by NBC News on Friday .

“Consistent with the U.S. National Science Foundation’s commitment to balance research and operational needs while containing the spread of Covid cases in Antarctica, NSF is implementing a pause on all travel to the continent for the next two weeks, effective immediately, while we reassess the situation,” agency officials said in a statement released Saturday .

The temporary ban does not include essential travel for health and safety reasons, according to the agency. There is also a medical clinic located at the station to provide health care to its residents.

The agency confirmed that 10% of the research station’s population have tested positive for Covid during this recent outbreak. There are 885 people currently living and working at McMurdo Station.

The agency said it “highly recommends” KN-95 masks be worn at all times and will provide them to residents.

Though the station operates year-round, many scientists typically travel to McMurdo in November for field research during Antarctica’s summer season. It’s not yet clear what, if any, impact the outbreak could have on research and operations at the outpost.

Though most of the stricter Covid protocols from the past two years — including quarantines, charter flights and multiple PCR tests — have been relaxed, visitors to McMurdo must receive a bivalent booster shot and those who are at high risk for Covid are screened out.

Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change.

• Santa Barbara County
• San Luis Obispo County
• Ventura County
• U.S. / World
• Crime and Safety
• What’s Right
• News Channel 3 Investigates
• Local Forecast
• Interactive Radar
• SkyCam Network
• Full Election Results
• Election Coverage
• High School Sports
• College Sports
• More Sports
• Friday Football Focus
• News Channel 3-12 Livestream
• Livestream Special Coverage
• Morning News Guest Segments
• Events Calendar
• Entertainment
• Health Connections
• 805 Professionals
• Work For Us
• 805 Careers
• Advertise with Us
• Closed Captioning
• Download Our Apps
• EEO Public File Report
• FCC Public File
• How to find News Channel 12
• Public File Help
• Jobs and Internships
• Meet the Team
• Newsletters/Alerts
• TV Listings

Travel to Antarctica during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go

If you’re planning to travel to Antarctica, here’s what you’ll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Antarctica reported its first cases of Covid-19 in late December 2020. While scientists who observed strict quarantine rules sailed to the continent from the UK in November 2020, tourism remains severely restricted, with many cruise companies canceling their operations for the brief summer season.

What’s on offer

A remote icy wilderness at the end of the world, trips to Antarctica have grown in popularity in recent years, with travelers sailing across the Drake Passage from South America to catch a glimpse of sprawling penguin colonies, breaching whales and rare seabirds.

Because Antarctica is a scientific preserve, special teams have been able to restart research work on the continent from the end of 2020. While tourism isn’t banned, the fact that most visitors can only arrive via ship means it’s almost impossible to go right now, as many cruises are not running at this time.

What are the restrictions?

Antarctica’s unique position as an internationally administered region means that it isn’t subject to Covid restrictions. However, because tourists access the continent from Chile and Argentina, they are subject to the entry rules of those countries. Travel to Argentina is off limits to all but nationals and permanent residents, who must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure.

Chile has been open to tourists from all countries since December 8; however, all travelers must have proof of a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before departure, complete a health form and have travel insurance to cover the cost of Covid-related health care up to $30,000.

While all major cruise companies canceled operations for the 2020/21 season, summer season in the Southern Hemisphere, which occurs in late 2021, looks set to go ahead.

However, capacity will likely be reduced on most, if not all voyages, and cruise lines could issue safety protocols that require passengers to be fully vaccinated.

What’s the Covid-19 situation?

The first cases of Covid on Antarctica were reported on December 22, with 36 researchers and military personnel testing positive at a Chilean research base. Only a small number of full scientific expeditions to Antarctica have gone ahead since the pandemic began.

On January 8, a Spanish research ship headed to the continent from Spain was diverted after a coronavirus outbreak on board.

In March, 49 people stationed at a Chilean base in Antarctica received the Covid-19 vaccine as part of the South American country’s immunization program, and over 50 more were administered with their first dose in the following weeks.

What can visitors expect?

Any ships that do make it to Antarctica will find the waters far quieter than usual. If you’re on a ship that allows disembarkation, expect there to be strict protocols about handling equipment and protective gear.

Useful links

Chilean Government entry affidavit

Argentina’s official Covid-19 guidance

Our latest coverage

In May, the world’s largest iceberg calved from Antarctica , while in February, an iceberg bigger than New York City broke off near a UK base in the continent. Back in December 2020, Antarctica became the final continent to be reached by the Covid-19 pandemic , when 36 people tested positive on a Chilean research base. Before that, CNN Travel had reported on what it’s like to live on the continent virus-free , despite the pandemic. Looking to the future? Here, experts tell us their favorite ways of experiencing Antarctica .

Jump to comments ↓

CNN Newsource

News Channel 3-12 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here .

Ask LP: how can I travel to Antarctica?

Oct 7, 2020 • 3 min read

Antarctica's tourist season starts in November © DreamPictures / Getty Images

The far south of the world may have escaped the pandemic that’s locked down life elsewhere, but that doesn’t mean this summer season is smooth sailing. Antarctica has no cases of COVID-19  – partly due to efforts to keep it that way, and partly reflecting the restrictions placed on other countries. This impacts scientists who make up the temporary residents of the continent and also threatens the Antarctic tourist season, which generally runs from November to March or April.

In a normal year, travelers would converge on Ushuaia (Argentina), Punta Arenas (Chile), and, less frequently, ports in New Zealand and Australia to embark on the long journey south. The shortest route – across the swells and choppy waters of the Drake Passage from South America – takes two to three days to reach the Antarctic Peninsula . Air options like DAP’s overnight trips to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands ($6500 per person from Punta Arenas, Chile) usually gives another way to reach the far south from South America for a more limited time. Services are currently suspended.

There are two big obstacles to getting to Antarctica this year. One is the lack of cruises – most operators have cancelled their schedules for the remainder of the this year and early next year. If cruises can happen at all this season it will be towards the end of the usual period of operation. Hurtigruten has cancelled Antarctica departures until January 2021, but hopes to resume operations then. 

The other is the inaccessibility of gateway destinations. At the time of writing there’s no way into Chile , Argentina , New Zealand and Australia for foreign tourists. All these countries have closed their borders to non-nationals since March, and Argentina has recently paused plans to allow international flights back into the country until at least October 11. In all likelihood, this will be longer. Sub-Antarctic destinations have their own entry restrictions. The Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) are only accessible for essential travel with reduced air links. In order to reach Antarctica, any departing travelers heading south would need to transit Argentina (or one of the other jumping-off countries) and transfer directly to their cruise ship. As you’d expect there’s no confirmed plan for this at present. 

Adding all this up, 2020–21 may be a better time to save for a future Antarctic odyssey. However knock-on demand for 2021–22 is likely to be strong, as capacity is always limited and there is an Antarctic solar eclipse in November next year. That said, specialist travel companies are also keen to encourage booking, and deals for next year are available through experts like Discover the World .

One way for ice-cap enthusiasts to get their fix from Australia is to take a seat on one of the  scenic overflights of the continent run by Antarctica Flights . These 12 hour journeys – using a 787 Dreamliner for the first time – depart from various Australian airports from November to March. They don’t touch down and therefore count as a domestic charter flight. Currently there is not a requirement to wear a mask on these flights.

You might also like:

Is it sustainable to visit Antarctica?    How to pack for a trip to Antarctica    The eternal lure of icebergs: fulfilling a life-long dream of visiting Antarctica   

Explore related stories

Destination Practicalities

Mar 30, 2024 • 4 min read

Who wouldn't jump at the chance to visit the Emerald Isle? Here’s how to check if you need a visa before setting off on your Irish adventure. 

Mar 15, 2024 • 17 min read

Mar 2, 2024 • 8 min read

Jan 24, 2024 • 8 min read

Jan 23, 2024 • 4 min read

Jan 17, 2024 • 8 min read

Jan 15, 2024 • 7 min read

Jan 9, 2024 • 6 min read

Jan 8, 2024 • 11 min read

Jan 7, 2024 • 3 min read

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Antarctica’s biggest Covid outbreak yet puts US station McMurdo on pause

10% of personnel infected with authorities stopping inward travel just as peak research season begins

Antarctica’s largest-yet outbreak of Covid-19 has left 10% of personnel in its largest station infected and the US pausing all inward travel.

Infections have swept through US-run McMurdo station, the largest base in Antarctica. The National Science Foundation said it had recorded 98 positive tests since the beginning of October from a total population of 993.

The foundation was “moving to lower the density of the population to reduce the possibility of transmission” and had implemented a pause on all travel to the continent for the next two weeks to “reassess the situation”.

The outbreak comes as stations are gearing up for their maximum-capacity summer field season, where many scientists fly in to conduct two to three months of research. For a number of bases, this year marked the first full season of Antarctic research after two years of Covid-19 disruption. It is not yet clear what effect the pause on travel will have on research projects.

The Covid outbreak is not Antarctica’s first but appears to be the largest. In December 2020 the first cases were detected , with 36 people testing positive at Chile’s base. A year later an outbreak infected 11 of the 30 people in Belgian research station Princess Elisabeth, and in January 2022 there were 24 cases detected in an outbreak at Argentina’s Esperenza base.

Of the 64 active cases, “most have mild symptoms and are isolating in their rooms”, the NSF said. In an effort to contain the breakout and stop it spreading further, the NSF will be requiring residents to spend five days in isolation before transiting to the south pole or deep field, and recommending KN-95 masks be worn at all times.

Those testing positive will be required to isolate for five days, then mask an additional five days, and can return to work after two negative tests.

In March, as the world locked down in response to Covid’s rapid spread, the Antarctic programs agreed the pandemic could become a major disaster. With the world’s strongest winds and coldest temperatures, the continent roughly the size of the United States and Mexico is already dangerous for workers at its 40 year-round bases.

According to a document by the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs seen by the Associated Press: “A highly infectious novel virus with significant mortality and morbidity in the extreme and austere environment of Antarctica with limited sophistication of medical care and public health responses is high risk with potential catastrophic consequences.”

• Coronavirus

Most viewed

• Skip to main content
• Skip to "About this site"

Language selection

Search travel.gc.ca.

Help us to improve our website. Take our survey !

COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

Antarctica travel advice

Latest updates: Editorial change.

Last updated: April 15, 2024 11:21 ET

On this page

Safety and security, entry and exit requirements, laws and culture, natural disasters and climate, antarctica - exercise a high degree of caution.

Exercise a high degree of caution in Antarctica due to the adverse and unpredictable weather conditions, as well as the lack of infrastructure and emergency services.

Back to top

Weather conditions

Antarctica is subject to extreme and unpredictable weather conditions. It is cold, dry and windy, with 99% of the continent covered by a permanent ice sheet.

These conditions put you at risk of frostbite and sun overexposure, which can result in dehydration and eye damage.

Ensure that you have equipment and clothing that meet Antarctic standards.

Communications

There are no public phone or other public communication services in Antarctica. In case of an emergency, you may have difficulties in obtaining outside assistance.

Research stations can house satellite telephones and postal facilities. However, they are fully dedicated to scientific research and, with rare exceptions, have no capacity to provide support of any kind to tourists or casual travellers.

If you plan to visit Antarctica as an independent traveller, ensure to be self-sufficient from the time that you leave the departure country until your return.

There are no tourist facilities on land, except a privately run base on the interior ice that caters to mountaineering-type expeditions

Travelling to Antarctica may have a potential harmful impact on the environment. As a result, you should avoid any travel that is not part of an international scientific expedition or organized through a tour operator. Various tourism companies can arrange excursions to the continent.

International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators

Antarctica is governed through an international treaty system and is not owned by any one nation.

Passport and visas

You may need a Canadian passport and/or a visa for the countries you transit as you travel en route to and from Antarctica.

Refer to the separate Travel advice and advisories for those countries.

Expedition permits

All Canadian travellers require a permit to visit Antarctica. Expedition tour operators will usually make necessary arrangements to obtain it on your behalf. Confirm this information with your tour operator before travelling.

Should you need to apply for a permit yourself, you must submit your request to the Antarctic Environmental Program at Environment Canada.

Apply for a permit - Environment Canada

Children and travel

Learn more about travelling with children .

Relevant Travel Health Notices

• Global Measles Notice - 13 March, 2024
• COVID-19 and International Travel - 13 March, 2024

This section contains information on possible health risks and restrictions regularly found or ongoing in the destination. Follow this advice to lower your risk of becoming ill while travelling. Not all risks are listed below.

Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably 6 weeks before you travel to get personalized health advice and recommendations.

Routine vaccines

Be sure that your  routine vaccinations , as per your province or territory , are up-to-date before travelling, regardless of your destination.

Some of these vaccinations include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella (chickenpox), influenza and others.

Pre-travel vaccines and medications

You may be at risk for preventable diseases while travelling in this destination. Talk to a travel health professional about which medications or vaccines may be right for you, based on your destination and itinerary. 

Yellow fever   is a disease caused by a flavivirus from the bite of an infected mosquito.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection.

• There is no risk of yellow fever in this country.

Country Entry Requirement*

• This territory has not stated its yellow fever vaccination certificate requirements.

Recommendation

• Vaccination is not recommended.

About Yellow Fever

Yellow Fever Vaccination Centres in Canada * It is important to note that  country entry requirements  may not reflect your risk of yellow fever at your destination. It is recommended that you contact the nearest  diplomatic or consular office  of the destination(s) you will be visiting to verify any additional entry requirements.

  Hepatitis B is a risk in every destination. It is a viral liver disease that is easily transmitted from one person to another through exposure to blood and body fluids containing the hepatitis B virus.  Travellers who may be exposed to blood or other bodily fluids (e.g., through sexual contact, medical treatment, sharing needles, tattooing, acupuncture or occupational exposure) are at higher risk of getting hepatitis B.

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all travellers. Prevent hepatitis B infection by practicing safe sex, only using new and sterile drug equipment, and only getting tattoos and piercings in settings that follow public health regulations and standards.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease. It can spread quickly from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of being infected with it when travelling internationally.

Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are fully protected against measles.

 The best way to protect yourself from seasonal influenza (flu) is to get vaccinated every year. Get the flu shot at least 2 weeks before travelling.  

 The flu occurs worldwide. 

•  In the Northern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs from November to   April.
•  In the Southern Hemisphere, the flu season usually runs between April and   October.
•  In the tropics, there is flu activity year round. 

The flu vaccine available in one hemisphere may only offer partial protection against the flu in the other hemisphere.

The flu virus spreads from person to person when they cough or sneeze or by touching objects and surfaces that have been contaminated with the virus. Clean your hands often and wear a mask if you have a fever or respiratory symptoms.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious viral disease. It can spread from person to person by direct contact and through droplets in the air.

It is recommended that all eligible travellers complete a COVID-19 vaccine series along with any additional recommended doses in Canada before travelling. Evidence shows that vaccines are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. While vaccination provides better protection against serious illness, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19. Anyone who has not completed a vaccine series is at increased risk of being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and is at greater risk for severe disease when travelling internationally.

Before travelling, verify your destination’s COVID-19 vaccination entry/exit requirements. Regardless of where you are going, talk to a health care professional before travelling to make sure you are adequately protected against COVID-19.

Safe food and water precautions

Many illnesses can be caused by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated by bacteria, parasites, toxins, or viruses, or by swimming or bathing in contaminated water.

• Learn more about food and water precautions to take to avoid getting sick by visiting our eat and drink safely abroad page. Remember: Boil it, cook it, peel it, or leave it!
• Avoid getting water into your eyes, mouth or nose when swimming or participating in activities in freshwater (streams, canals, lakes), particularly after flooding or heavy rain. Water may look clean but could still be polluted or contaminated.
• Avoid inhaling or swallowing water while bathing, showering, or swimming in pools or hot tubs. 

Insect bite prevention

Many diseases are spread by the bites of infected insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas or flies. When travelling to areas where infected insects may be present:

• Use insect repellent (bug spray) on exposed skin
• Cover up with light-coloured, loose clothes made of tightly woven materials such as nylon or polyester
• Minimize exposure to insects
• Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in buildings that are not fully enclosed

To learn more about how you can reduce your risk of infection and disease caused by bites, both at home and abroad, visit our insect bite prevention page.

Find out what types of insects are present where you’re travelling, when they’re most active, and the symptoms of the diseases they spread.

Animal precautions

Some infections, such as rabies and influenza, can be shared between humans and animals. Certain types of activities may increase your chance of contact with animals, such as travelling in rural or forested areas, camping, hiking, and visiting wet markets (places where live animals are slaughtered and sold) or caves.

Travellers are cautioned to avoid contact with animals, including dogs, livestock (pigs, cows), monkeys, snakes, rodents, birds, and bats, and to avoid eating undercooked wild game.

Closely supervise children, as they are more likely to come in contact with animals.

Person-to-person infections

Stay home if you’re sick and practise proper cough and sneeze etiquette , which includes coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Reduce your risk of colds, the flu and other illnesses by:

•   washing your hands often
• avoiding or limiting the amount of time spent in closed spaces, crowded places, or at large-scale events (concerts, sporting events, rallies)
• avoiding close physical contact with people who may be showing symptoms of illness 

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) , HIV , and mpox are spread through blood and bodily fluids; use condoms, practise safe sex, and limit your number of sexual partners. Check with your local public health authority pre-travel to determine your eligibility for mpox vaccine.  

Medical services and facilities

There are no search and rescue or emergency evacuation facilities in Antarctica. In case of emergency, you will be responsible for the costs of your search, rescue and evacuation.

Make sure you get travel insurance that includes coverage for medical evacuation and hospital stays.

Travel health and safety

You must abide by local laws.

Learn about what you should do and how we can help if you are arrested or detained abroad .

The Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty on Environmental Protection—the Madrid Protocol—designates Antarctica as a natural reserve with established protected areas. Not owned by any one country, Antarctica is the site of environmental preservation efforts and scientific research.

Canada has implemented the Madrid Protocol into Canadian law with the Antarctic Environmental Protection Act. In doing so, the Canadian government now regulates the activities of its citizens in the Antarctic.

The Antarctic Environmental Protection Act prohibits Canadians and Canadian vessels, where applicable, from undertaking the following activities, except where a permit has been granted:

• activities related to mineral resources other than for scientific purposes
• interference with wildlife indigenous to the Antarctic
• introduction of animal or plant species that are not indigenous to the Antarctic
• any activity related to waste disposal
• any activity in a specially protected area

The weather in Antarctica is extreme. From March to September, temperatures can drop to -60C near sea level, and even lower in the interior. At the peak of winter, the continent receives little to no sunlight. Organized tours don’t operate during this period.

During mid-summer, from December to January, temperatures are around -2C to 4C. On the Antarctic Peninsula, temperatures can reach the low double-digits. There is sunlight up to 24 hours per day, depending on the location.

Blizzards are rare. However, in coastal areas, katabatic winds regularly reach speeds of 100 km/h. Gusts of up to 160 km/h are not uncommon.

Local services

There is no centralized number to reach emergency services.

Consular assistance

There is no Canadian government office in Antarctica. Canadians visiting Antarctica should advise Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa of their travel plans prior to leaving.

For emergency consular assistance, contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

Useful links

The decision to travel is your choice and you are responsible for your personal safety abroad. We take the safety and security of Canadians abroad very seriously and provide credible and timely information in our Travel Advice to enable you to make well-informed decisions regarding your travel abroad.

The content on this page is provided for information only. While we make every effort to give you correct information, it is provided on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, expressed or implied. The Government of Canada does not assume responsibility and will not be liable for any damages in connection to the information provided.

If you need consular assistance while abroad, we will make every effort to help you. However, there may be constraints that will limit the ability of the Government of Canada to provide services.

Learn more about consular services .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Environment Story Of The Day NPR hide caption

Environment

• LISTEN & FOLLOW

Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed.

Antarctica cruises are more popular than ever. Experts say they need more regulations

Cruises to Antarctica, already popular, have grown dramatically in recent years. Scientists and advocacy groups say tighter regulation is needed to minimize the impact on wildlife and the environment.

JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:

With the wind-down of COVID-19 restrictions, travel has surged, including to exotic places like Antarctica. More than 100,000 people are expected to visit the southernmost continent this season. That's 40% more than the highest number of visitors seen in past years. As NPR's Greg Allen reports, activists and scientists are concerned about the impact on Antarctica's wildlife and environment.

GREG ALLEN, BYLINE: One hundred thousand visitors to the nation's fifth-largest continent may not sound like much, but nearly all trips take tourists to one area, the Antarctic Peninsula.

UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Oh, my god. We're in Antarctica, and we're watching penguins. This is...

ALLEN: It's the most northerly part of the continent with coastal areas that are ice-free and teeming with wildlife. Claire Christian is with the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, a partnership of environmental groups.

CLAIRE CHRISTIAN: And the Antarctic Peninsula is actually - it's experiencing a lot of things all at once. There's an increase in tourism. There's an increase in interest in fishing for Antarctic krill. And the peninsula is one of the fastest-warming areas on the planet.

ALLEN: Only cruise ships with 500 or fewer passengers can land visitors on the continent. Even so, the demand for access to a few dozen sites on the Antarctic Peninsula requires elaborate scheduling, Christian says during the season, several tour groups visit the most popular sites with penguins each day, sometimes with negative effects.

CHRISTIAN: For example, some tourists went off the prescribed path at a visitation site, and they trampled it, and several years later, nothing had recovered. So there is some vegetation in Antarctica that did not recover, so we know that humans can have an impact there.

ALLEN: Christian's coalition, along with scientists and some governments, want the group of nations that oversees Antarctica to take a firmer hand in regulating tourism there. Yu-Fai Leung is a professor at North Carolina State University who studied the impact visitors have on penguins. He says some colonies seem resilient and aren't greatly disturbed by tourist groups, but his research shows, when penguins are nesting, chicks are vulnerable to predators and the elements, and visitors can be a dangerous distraction

YU-FAI LEUNG: If they are forced out of their nest for even for a few seconds, the babies are in big jeopardy because of the predator, but also because of the temperature.

ALLEN: On her trips to the region, Antarctic ecologist Ally Kristan says she's observed tour groups ignoring guidelines, disturbing wildlife and also taking safety risks.

ALLY KRISTAN: There were staff that were putting their hands in the water by actively hunting leopard seals and encouraging guests to do the same, which is a tremendous safety concern.

ALLEN: Leopard seals have been known to attack and sometimes puncture inflatable zodiac boats used by guides. Tours to the Antarctic aren't cheap, ranging from several thousand to as much as $100,000 for a seven-day trip to an emperor penguin colony near the South Pole. Emperor penguins are listed as an endangered species because of fears they could be wiped out with the decline of sea ice linked to climate change. Kristan is concerned about plans by one company to fly visitors by helicopter to a vulnerable emperor penguin colony.

KRISTAN: Even if you fly a helicopter above, you can still be causing negative physiological impacts to this species.

ALLEN: Currently, the most important group overseeing tourism in the Antarctic is the industry itself. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators has received mostly good marks for its guidelines aimed at protecting wildlife and the environment. The group's executive director, Gina Greer, expects the number of visitors to the continent will continue to grow, but she dislikes a phrase some use in the travel industry - last chance tourism.

GINA GREER: It shouldn't be for someone - that last chance kind of perspective - when they come home, our goal and our hope is that they come back changed, and they have a better appreciation for the world as well as for the impact that all of us make down there.

ALLEN: The 50 nations that are part of the Antarctic Treaty system have been discussing measures to manage the growth of tourism, possibly limiting activities, the opening of new sites for visitors, even the length of the season. More discussions are planned to the group's upcoming conference later this month in Finland. Greg Allen, NPR News.

Copyright © 2023 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

Update April 12, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Before You Go

Learn About Your Destination

While Abroad

Emergencies

Share this page:

Travel Advisory January 19, 2023

Antarctica - level 2: exercise increased caution.

Reissued with updates to health information.

• Exercise increased caution in Antarctica due to environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather  and limited emergency services.
• The U.S. government is unable to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in the Antarctic Region. The closest U.S Embassies/Consulate s are in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and South Africa.  U.S. government resources in the Antarctic Region are committed to the U.S. Antarctic Program, per longstanding U.S. policy . 

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Antarctica.

If you travel to Antarctica:

• Obtain comprehensive travel, medical, and medical evacuation insurance; see our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.
• Travel with a professional guide or organization such as those that are a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, or, if organizing a private expedition, be self-sufficient.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations.  Review the Traveler’s Checklist .
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Read the Department of State’s COVID-19 page before planning any international travel.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Contact the Department of State’s Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs for information at [email protected] .

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Required by transit countries

May be required by transit countries.

None for Antarctica. May be required by transit countries.

Embassies and Consulates

The United States does not maintain an embassy or consulate in Antarctica. If you are in need of U.S. consular services while in Antarctica, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country next on your itinerary or nearest to you for assistance. Links to the embassies and consulates most commonly called upon to provide services are below:

• U.S. Embassy Buenos Aires, Argentina
• U.S. Consulate General Melbourne, Australia
• U.S. Consulate General Perth, Australia
• U.S. Consulate General Sydney, Australia
• U.S. Embassy Santiago, Chile
• U.S. Consulate General Auckland, New Zealand          

24/7 Emergency Contact at the Department of State: From within the United States: 1-888-407-4747 From outside the United States: 1-202-501-4444

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

• Any expedition to the Antarctic Region could have an impact on the environment and its ecosystems.  To manage those risks and impacts, the Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty establish certain obligations on the Treaty Parties with regard to expeditions to the Antarctic Treaty area.
• The Treaty obliges each Party to give advance notification of all expeditions to and within Antarctica, on the part of its ships, aircraft, or nationals, and all expeditions to Antarctica organized in or proceeding from its territory.
• U.S. tourists who have booked passage to Antarctica on a commercial cruise regulated by an Antarctic Treaty Party, such as those that are a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators ( IAATO.org ), normally would be covered by the vessel operator’s and/or tour company’s advance notification. Always check with your tour operator about advance notification coverage.
• Any U.S. nationals organizing a private expedition to Antarctica in the United States, or proceeding to Antarctica from the United States,  should initiate the process by notifying the Department of State at least three months prior to the intended travel to the Antarctic Treaty area.  Contact the Department of State’s Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs for additional information at [email protected] .
• Visit the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators website for more information on visitor guidelines.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our websites.

Safety and Security

Environmental Hazards:

• The greatest threats to travelers to the Antarctic Region are environmental hazards posed by the severe elements and changeable weather.
• Among the more common threats are frostbite, dehydration, eye damage from reflected glare, overexposure to the sun, and maritime accidents.
• Additionally, emergency response capabilities including search and rescue are restricted due to limited availability, long distances, and environmental hazards.

See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

Once in a country, we can:

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Provide general information regarding the victim’s role during the local investigation and following its conclusion
• Provide a list of local attorneys
• Provide information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• Replace a stolen or lost passport

Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence are encouraged to contact the Embassy for assistance.

Tourism:  No formal tourism industry infrastructure is in place on any level. Tourists are considered to be participating in activities at their own risk. Emergency response and subsequent appropriate medical treatment is not available in Antarctica. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage .

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: Some Treaty Parties, including those that claim territory in Antarctica, may seek to apply their laws to persons in Antarctica. Furthermore, some laws remain applicable to certain persons in Antarctica and may subject them to prosecution in the U.S.  For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained in transit to/from Antarctica, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately.  See our webpage for further information.

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctica Treaty designates Antarctica as a natural reserve.  Additionally, the Antarctic Conservation Act , which protects native mammals, birds, plants, and their ecosystems, applies to all U.S. citizens and expeditions that originate from the United States.

• Several areas are afforded special protections as they have been designated as having ecological, scientific, historical, or other significance.
• It is forbidden to bring any non-native species into Antarctica. This includes live poultry, pet dogs and cats, and household plants or seeds.
• It is prohibited to take or harmfully interfere with Antarctica wildlife except in accordance with a permit issued by a national authority.

Antarctica has no public hospitals, pharmacies, or doctor’s offices.  Although cruise ships and land-based expeditions should have the capacity to treat minor ailments, medical emergencies often require evacuation to a country with modern medical facilities, which could require travel over a significant distance.  There is no guarantee that transportation would be available or that weather conditions would allow for transportation, even in an emergency.

• Search and rescue resources in Antarctica are extremely limited.   Cost of search and rescue efforts are borne by the person/s in need of the assistance.  Travelers should obtain comprehensive travel, medical, and medical evacuation insurance prior to departure; see our webpage for more information on overseas insurance coverage .
• There are no public utilities, such as phone or Internet service providers, in the Region.

We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas. Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas.  Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments.  Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Air Quality: Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for more information about Adventure Travel .

Travel and Transportation

There is no direct air service from the United States to Antarctica.  Flights to and over Antarctica are operated from a number of countries to include Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, and others.  If you are traveling to Antarctica, please check our country information page for the country from which you are departing to get more on aviation safety standards in that country.  Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Antarctica should also check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts .  Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website , and the NGA broadcast warnings .  Due to maritime incidents, tourists have suffered severe injuries and/or death in the Antarctic Region and when traveling between South America and the Antarctica and in the Antarctic area. 

For additional travel information

COVID-19 and the AAP: Information for expeditioners

Expeditioners will be required to adopt a robust COVID-19 self-protection approach prior to departure, to support and deliver the 2023–24 Australian Antarctic Program (AAP).

Predeparture expeditioner risk mitigations

It is a requirement that all 2023–24 AAP participants (including expeditioners, ship/aircrew and external contractors), have had a COVID-19 booster or documented COVID-19 infection within 6 months (3 months preferred) of deployment, to be approved to travel south, unless medically exempt by the AAD Chief Medical Officer or AAD HOD/GM Ops. This requirement is an AAD Antarctic Service Medical requirement stipulated and assessed by the AAD Polar Medicine Unit.

International participants with differing primary and booster vaccine access and regimes will be reviewed by the Polar Medicine Unit on a case by case basis.

It is also recommended that you are up to date with an annual Influenza vaccine booster.

Please send official documentary evidence of your current COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations to [email protected].

Enhanced prevention measures

The incubation period of the current COVID-19 Omicron variant (the time it takes from exposure to symptoms) is currently 2–8 days, with an average of approximately 4 days. The period of infectiousness of the current Omicron variant is up to 8–10 days.

The AAD Polar Medicine Unit recommends that to ensure the best chance of your deployment with the AAP, that you protect yourselves by following enhanced COVID-19 safe behaviours prior to your departure.

We also recommend COVID-19 safe behaviours throughout your onboarding and predeparture training period to prevent impact on your own health, your colleagues’ health and your predeparture training requirements.

COVID-19 symptoms

Please perform a Daily Health Check prior to attending work. If you have any symptoms, you must stay home, advise your work supervisor and the Polar Medicine Unit Hotline on 03 6232 3293 , who can provide further guidance.

There are numerous other respiratory viruses circulating in our community, transmission of any of these viruses can impact other expeditioners and the Australian Antarctic Program in this critical operational period.

Mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing

In order to minimise the chance of transmission of COVID-19 into Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic, mandatory COVID-19 PCR testing will be performed 2 days prior to departure for all AAP participants. COVID-19 PCR testing will also be performed on day 2 and 5 post-departure on ships only.

For AAP Participants:

• You will be required to be in Tasmania at least 3 days prior to your departure south, to conduct at minimum, the day 2 prior to departure COVID-19 PCR testing.

The AAD Polar Medicine Unit (PMU) will coordinate COVID-19 PCR screening during the immediate pre-departure periods.

This will be undertaken without cost, usually with referral to Sonic Health Plus providers – you will be contacted to be advised of testing logistics

Management of COVID-19 positive cases

All COVID-19 positive cases are required follow current State and Territory Public Health Orders and reporting requirements. They must inform the Polar Medicine unit on +61 3 6232 3293 and also their supervisor, who, if required, will complete and submit the AAD COVID-19 Notification form.

All suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases must remain at home when unwell with infectious symptoms. Once asymptomatic, if required to return to work, they must wear a N95 mask, perform increased hand hygiene, and minimise their contact hours to prevent transmission to others, for the 10-day period after symptom onset or diagnosis (whichever is former).

Medical fitness review for approval to travel south

COVID-19 and other respiratory infections affect individuals to varying degrees with both acute complications and prolonged symptoms (i.e. Long COVID). As with any intercurrent illness or injury, COVID-19 suspected and positive cases will require PMU medical review and assessment to ensure that they remain Medically Fit for deployment for the 2023–24 AAP Season and approved for travel South.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact your AAD station or ship doctor via usual contacts or PMU Hotline +61 (0)3 6232 3293 or [email protected]

AAP COVID-19 vaccination requirement update – September 2023

In light of the recent September ATAGI recommendations, we want to clarify the impact of these guidelines on the AAP COVID-19 Plan for 2023–24 and its associated vaccination requirements.

The new ATAGI recommendations relate to a second COVID-19 booster in 2023.

Although we are guided by Public Health recommendations, the AAP COVID-19 policy is based on Occupational Health recommendations, operational requirements and risk mitigation strategies – as a consequence overall there is no change to the AAP COVID-19 Safety and Outbreak Management plan .

As the new ATAGI recommendations may cause potential challenges in accessing COVID-19 vaccinations due to eligibility or misinterpretation of the guidelines, the Polar Medicine Unit (PMU) will on request provide:

• Letter of Support for Vaccination Providers describing the AAP Vaccination Requirements
• COVID-19 vaccination clinic for AAP participants, if unable to obtain them elsewhere – we will provide further advice once these are available
• Review of individual cases who have already received a COVID-19 booster or contracted COVID-19 in 2023 but outside of the 6-month prior to deployment window.

Please email the Polar Medicine Unit – [email protected] if you have any questions, require a vaccination support letter or vaccination, are seeking a medical exemption or request to have your case reviewed.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Antarctica is still free of COVID-19. Can it stay that way?

This undated handout photo provided by Antarctica New Zealand shows Sarah Williamson, chief executive of Antarctica New Zealand. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Antarctica New Zealand via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, field guides Sarah Crowsley, left, and Sam Hunt, right, pose for a photo after digging out the caboose, a container used for accommodation that can be moved by a tractor, at Adelaide island, in Antarctica on Friday, June 19, 2020. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, field guide Sasha Doyle, left, and meteorological observer Jack Farr, right, sit in an igloo in Trident area, Adelaide island, in Antarctica in October 2019. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, field guide Andy Hood is seen at the Brunt ice shelf in Antarctica in January 2020. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, a pyramid tent is seen in Trident area, Adelaide island, Antarctica in March 2020. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, the James Clark Ross research vessel departs at the start of the winter season in Antarctica in May 2020. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, carpenter Tom Lambert and Engineer Andy Stevenson-Jones climb ice at Hangar Cove, Rothera research station, in Antarctica on Friday, May 22, 2020. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, mechanic Tom Hammond climbs out of an ice crevasse at Adelaide island, Antarctica on Tuesday, March 24, 2020. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by British Antarctic Survey, Rothera research station, in Antarctica, is seen in April 2019. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Robert Taylor/British Antarctic Survey via AP)

In this handout photo provided by Antarctica New Zealand, Rory O’Connor, winter leader at Antarctica’s Scott Base is seen on the ice near McMurdo base in Antarctica on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020. Antarctica remains the only continent without COVID-19 and now in Sept. 2020, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them. (Antarctica New Zealand via AP)

• Copy Link copied

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At this very moment a vast world exists that’s free of the coronavirus, where people can mingle without masks and watch the pandemic unfold from thousands of miles away.

That world is Antarctica, the only continent without COVID-19. Now, as nearly 1,000 scientists and others who wintered over on the ice are seeing the sun for the first time in weeks or months, a global effort wants to make sure incoming colleagues don’t bring the virus with them.

From the U.K.'s Rothera Research Station off the Antarctic peninsula that curls toward the tip of South America, field guide Rob Taylor described what it’s like in “our safe little bubble.”

In pre-coronavirus days, long-term isolation, self-reliance and psychological strain were the norm for Antarctic teams while the rest of the world saw their life as fascinatingly extreme.

How times have changed.

“In general, the freedoms afforded to us are more extensive than those in the U.K. at the height of lockdown,” said Taylor, who arrived in October and has missed the pandemic entirely. “We can ski, socialize normally, run, use the gym, all within reason.”

Like teams across Antarctica, including at the South Pole, Taylor and his 26 colleagues must be proficient in all sorts of tasks in a remote, communal environment with little room for error. They take turns cooking, make weather observations and “do a lot of sewing,” he said.

Good internet connections mean they’ve watched closely as the pandemic circled the rest of the planet. Until this year, conversations with incoming colleagues focused on preparing the newcomers. Now the advice goes both ways.

“I’m sure there’s a lot they can tell us that will help us adapt to the new way of things,” Taylor said. “We haven’t had any practice at social distancing yet!”

At New Zealand’s Scott Base, rounds of mini-golf and a filmmaking competition with other Antarctic bases have been highlights of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter, which ended for the Scott team when they spotted the sun last Friday. It had been away since April.

“I think there’s a little bit of dissociation,” Rory O’Connor, a doctor and the team’s winter leader, said of watching the pandemic from afar. “You acknowledge it cerebrally, but I don’t think we have fully factored in the emotional turmoil it must be causing.”

His family in the U.K. still wouldn’t trade places with him. “They can’t understand why I came down here,” he joked. “Months of darkness. Stuck inside with a small group of people. Where’s the joy in that?”

O’Connor said they will be able to test for the virus once colleagues start arriving as soon as Monday, weeks late because a huge storm dumped 20-feet (6-meter) snowdrifts. Any virus case will spark a “red response level,” he said, with activities stripped down to providing heating, water, power and food.

While COVID-19 has rattled some diplomatic ties, the 30 countries that make up the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs teamed up early to keep the virus out. Officials cited unique teamwork among the United States, China, Russia and others.

As a frightened world was locking down in March, the Antarctic programs agreed the pandemic could become a major disaster. With the world’s strongest winds and coldest temperatures, the continent roughly the size of the United States and Mexico is already dangerous for workers at 40 year-round bases.

“A highly infectious novel virus with significant mortality and morbidity in the extreme and austere environment of Antarctica with limited sophistication of medical care and public health responses is High Risk with potential catastrophic consequences,” according to a COMNAP document seen by The Associated Press.

Since Antarctica can only be reached through a few air gateways or via ship, “the attempt to prevent the virus from reaching the continent should be undertaken IMMEDIATELY,” it said.

No more contact with tourists, COMNAP warned. “No cruise ships should be disembarking.” And for Antarctic teams located near each other, “mutual visits and social events between stations/facilities should be ceased.”

Antarctic workers have long been trained in hand-washing and “sneeze etiquette,” but COMNAP slipped in that reminder, adding, “Don’t touch your face.”

In those hurried weeks of final flights, the U.S. “thankfully” augmented medical and other supplies for winter and beyond, said Stephanie Short, head of logistics for the U.S. Antarctic program.

“We re-planned an entire research season in a matter of weeks, facing the highest level of uncertainty I’ve seen in my 25-year government career,” she said.

Antarctic bases soon slipped into months of isolation known as winter. Now, with the glimmer of spring, the next big test has begun.

Everyone is sending fewer people to the ice for the summer, COMNAP executive secretary Michelle Finnemore said.

In the gateway city of Christchurch, New Zealand, Operation Deep Freeze is preparing to airlift some 120 people to the largest U.S. station, McMurdo. To limit contact between Antarctic workers and flight crew, the plane contains a separate toilet mounted on a pallet.

The Americans’ bubble began before leaving the U.S. in early August and continues until they reach the ice. They’ve been isolated in hotel rooms well beyond New Zealand’s 14-day quarantine. Bad weather has delayed their departure for weeks. It’s now planned for Monday.

“We’re trying to do a really good job keeping up their spirits,” said Anthony German, the U.S. Antarctic program’s chief liaison there.

The U.S. is sending a third of its usual summer staff. Research will be affected, though investment in robotics and instrumentation that can transmit data from the field will help greatly, said Alexandra Isern, head of Antarctic sciences for the U.S. program with the National Science Foundation.

The COVID-19 disruptions are causing some sadness, she said. “In some cases, we’re going to have to have contingents digging instruments out of the snow to make sure we can still find it.”

Like other countries, New Zealand will prioritize long-term data sets, some begun in the 1950s, which measure climate, ozone levels, seismic activity and more, said Sarah Williamson, chief executive of Antarctica New Zealand. It’s sending 100 people to the ice instead of 350, she said.

Some programs are deferring Antarctic operations to next year or even 2022, said Nish Devanunthan, South Africa’s director of Antarctic support.

“I think the biggest concern for every country is to be the one that is fingered for bringing the virus,” he said. “Everyone is safeguarding against that.”

Precautions extend to the gateway cities — Cape Town, Christchurch, Hobart in Australia, Punta Arenas in Chile and Ushuaia in Argentina. Each has quarantine and testing protocols for workers boarding planes or ships heading south.

Antarctica always has its challenges, Devanunthan said, but when it comes to COVID-19 and the international community as a whole, “I would say this is on the top of the list.”

A few weeks ago at McMurdo Station, workers carried out a drill to simulate what the rest of the world knows too well: mask-wearing and social distancing. “It will be difficult not to run up and hug friends” once they arrive, station manager Erin Heard said.

He and the others will start wearing masks two days before the newcomers fly in, he said, “to help us get muscle memory.” For the masks, the team plundered McMurdo’s craft room, stocked with fabric, and found designs online.

As colleagues arrive, Heard will leave Antarctica. He once might have planned to thaw out on a beach. Now he’s weighing the new normal.

“Do I ask a friend to pick me up? I don’t know if I’m comfortable doing that,” he said as he imagined stepping off the plane. “It will be super weird, to be honest, to be coming from what feels like another planet.”

Perry reported from Wellington, New Zealand.

Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

What the Future of Polar Travel Looks Like 

By Ashlea Halpern

This time last year, Antarctic tourism was at an all-time high. More than 56,000 people traveled to the southernmost continent during the 2018-2019 season—a 53 percent jump from 2014-2015 data, according to the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). With the numbers of visitors projected to reach 85,000 in the next few years, outfitters scrambled to keep up with demand while simultaneously managing the environmental impact.

And now? “You’re looking at how the companies are even going to survive,” says Denise Landau, former executive director of the IAATO and a vaunted member of the American Polar Society .

Tour operators and cruise lines in the Arctic are facing a similar crisis. “At least 50 percent of the 2020 Arctic trips have been canceled or postponed,” says Lynn Cross, co-founder of Polar Cruises . Many Polar Cruises guests have pushed their 2020 trip to 2021; others are waiting until a vaccine is developed before rebooking.

Occupancy numbers are far from cruise lines’ only concern: the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators ’ geographic range spans from the Russian Arctic National Park to Arctic Canada, including the islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland, says Malik Milfeldt, the AECO’s acting communications manager. “It is either not allowed currently or very complicated to travel to these places without being subject to quarantine rules that make tourism practically impossible,” says Milfeldt. While Iceland has announced plans to re-open to travelers by mid-June, the Canadian government closed the Canadian Arctic to cruise travel entirely for 2020. The status of other destinations remains fluid.

Nuuk, Greenland, at twilight

“While we were disappointed, we wholeheartedly supported these measures,” says Cedar Swan, CEO of Arctic cruise specialist Adventure Canada . “We visit many small communities that, due to their remoteness, are quite vulnerable. The health and safety of the places we visit is our top priority.”

Operators in Antarctica and the Arctic are looking to the IAATO and AECO for guidance, while integrating CDC guidelines into everyday travel experiences. How can travelers socially distance when whale watching in a Zodiac raft or visiting a penguin colony? Right now, there are more questions than answers.

Colin O’Brady , an endurance athlete known for his record-breaking Antarctic expeditions, has a hard time imagining any expedition travel in 2020, given the logistics of adhering to social distancing rules. “Even though the polar regions have very little population density, the most common ways to travel there require close proximity to other people—cruise ships, small cargo planes, helicopters, group cook tents,” he says.

To understand how polar tourism may change in the future, we interviewed more than a dozen tour operators, adventurers, and conservationists. These are their predictions for what lies ahead.

The desire to avoid crowds could (eventually) be a boon to polar operators

Everyone is going stir-crazy sheltering at home, but a wariness of congested cities may inspire some travelers to seek out ultra-remote experiences. Antarctica is currently Intrepid Travel ’s number one destination for new bookings, both globally and from North American travelers, according to Antarctic operations manager Will Abbott.

Tessum Weber of Weber Arctic , a family-run adventure outfitter that operates two wilderness lodges in Northern Canada, plus a skiing basecamp on Baffin Island, has also noticed a surge in interest. “COVID-19 has pushed people to explore wild regions that have yet to be shaped by humans,” Weber says. “The thirst for untamed places only seems to be growing.”

The challenge, of course, will be balancing a potential boomlet in tourism with protecting Mother Nature. “As demand increases, you’ll get more people with little experience in these regions negatively impacting the environment,” Weber says. “Our focus is and will remain on ensuring people leave with a new appreciation of these environments, and how to protect them for future generations.”

The gateway countries could change

Before the pandemic, Antarctica was accessible via Christchurch; Hobart, Tasmania; Punta Arenas, Chile; Ushuaia, Argentina; and Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. Some countries that serve as embarkation points are still on lockdown, closed to foreign visitors, or imposing two-week quarantines.

Ushuaia, Argentina, one of the access points for visiting Antarctica

Anna Borges

Jessica Puckett

Karthika Gupta

“There is an interconnectedness in Antarctica which, under normal circumstances, makes for a collaborative environment which enables science, tourism, heritage management, and environmental conservation to thrive,” says Camilla Nichol, chief executive of the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT), a nonprofit focused on conservation. But some of those relations have been strained as a result of the pandemic.

“One of the largest hurdles we face is global travel restrictions, and whether we can create a safe travel corridor that allows our guests to move to and from our expeditions,” says Intrepid’s Abbott. “Government travel restrictions around the world could cause significant disruption to the Antarctic 2020-2021 season if our clients are not able to safely leave their home countries.

Landau experienced this first-hand in March, when she was helping negotiate the return of cruisers barred from disembarkation points in Argentina and Chile. “For an Antarctic season to function well, there has to be a lot of cooperative, bilateral discussion between operators, politicians, cities, mayors, and the ports,” Landau says. “Argentina was one of the hardest countries to work with, whereas Uruguay and the Falkland Islands were amazing.” The latter two took a humanitarian view of the crisis, allowing ships to dock and passengers to immediately board charter flights back to their home countries. Argentina, meanwhile, sealed its borders —even to its own citizens.

While Uruguay and the Falklands may be easier to work with, they present other logistical challenges. Ships departing from Uruguay have to travel twice as far as those leaving Chile or Argentina; extra nights onboard would drive up operational costs. The Falkland Islands are closer to Antarctica than Uruguay, but its airport can only receive a limited number of flights.

Health and safety protocols for foreign arrivals are still being ironed out. Some sources we spoke with expect to see temperature screenings or COVID-19 tests at airports; others believe luxury outfitters may try to bypass commercial flight restrictions altogether by chartering private planes . Which means, of course, polar travel could get even more elite.

Antarctica has always been viewed as a “once-in-a-lifetime luxury,” says Michael Pullman, Head of Marketing for adventure travel company Wild Frontiers . After a year of being cooped up inside, “many people may feel that it is [finally] time to tick off that place they had always wanted to visit.” UKAHT’s Nichol wouldn’t be surprised to see an uptick in the independent superyacht market, either, as well as more interest in land-based experiences—“an exclusive market, but as remote as you can get.”

Safety of travelers is paramount, but so is protecting local communities

The downside to visiting some of the most isolated corners on earth is the absence of medical facilities. Testing and treatment resources are extremely limited above the Arctic Circle and below the Drake Passage, and evacuation is never a picnic. Spreading disease to at-risk communities is an even bigger threat. “Travelers will have to realize that it is not only about when they feel comfortable to travel, but also when other communities are comfortable allowing them to visit,” says Ange Wallace, a Virtuoso travel advisor and co-founder of Wallace Pierson Travel .

Whales swim by icebergs in Greenland

This issue weighs heavily on Nicolas Dubreuil , an expedition leader with PONANT . “Communities in the polar regions are very sensitive to certain viruses,” Dubreuil says. “We will have to resume visits with infinite caution and we may have to avoid contact with indigenous populations for some time.” On the flip side, Dubreuil says tourism is a vital source of income, and operators must find new solutions to support local communities without endangering their citizens.

One idea floated by AECO’s Milfeldt was buying locally made crafts in bulk and selling them onboard the ships. Another was to facilitate educational presentations or entertainment from a safe distance. Beach and nature landings could also become the predominant calling experience for the foreseeable future.

“I hope [COVID-19] affords local populations the opportunity to be more discerning and aware of the operators coming to the region, and to rebuild the visitation structure in a way that is an empowering experience for local hosts,” says Adventure Canada’s Swan. She also hopes it serves as a wake-up call for the tourism industry, inspiring its constituents to act with renewed purpose and reimagine their roles as stewards of the environment.

Speaking of, the temporary shutdown could be good for the environment

Like every destination enduring a lockdown, we’ve already seen the environmental benefits of lower emissions, fewer vessels plying the waters, and less feet on the ground. Nearly every operator we spoke with viewed COVID-19 as a reckoning—or, as Wild Frontiers’ Pullman put it, “a drastic temporary solution to problems of overtourism.”

“The polar cruise industry has been in the crosshairs of critics for some time now, and I see this as an opportunity for ship companies to improve their commitment to sustainability,” says Jeff Bonaldi, CEO of adventure travel company The Explorer’s Passage . It may even lead to a rise in citizen science programming.

AECO’s Milfeldt agrees. “Those of us who live and breathe the Arctic as a unique polar part of the world—with its amazing ecosystem, wildlife, icebergs, glaciers, and sparsely distributed populations—have always known that it is vulnerable and that we need to take care of it,” he says. “COVID-19 only enhances our belief that you have to do your part to protect and preserve it by setting the highest possible operating standards, and educating your guests to leave only footprints behind.”

We're reporting on how COVID-19 impacts travel on a daily basis. Find all of our coronavirus coverage and travel resources here.

By signing up you agree to our User Agreement (including the class action waiver and arbitration provisions ), our Privacy Policy & Cookie Statement and to receive marketing and account-related emails from Traveller. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Update on COVID-19 Protocols for the Office of Polar Programs (OPP)

Throughout the pandemic, operational decision-making has been informed by medical expertise from across government, as well as from international partners and programs. Our goal has been and will remain to place the safety of our deployers as paramount and collaborate with other station operators, national governments, and state, local and tribal policies on COVID-19 mitigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

With COVID becoming endemic, how will OPP evolve to live with this new reality?

Is "zero covid on station" still OPP's governing posture? With other polar stations having gotten COVID-19, is OPP planning on changing its "no COVID at research stations" posture?

What investments are being considered to move to a new stance of containing, not preventing, COVID?

Will the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) still use the CDC's risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness as PQ (Physical Qualification) discriminators?

How will the CDC's reduction in quarantine period to 5 days influence quarantine periods used by OPP?

Has OPP looked at other locations to access Antarctica as an alternative to New Zealand?

What is the current outlook for quarantine in Alaska?

What is the current outlook for quarantine in Greenland?

What are the travel restrictions on other international projects?

Will OPP continue to require people traveling to research stations to be vaccinated?

Is it sufficient to have COVID-19 antibodies, whether vaccinated or not?

How will the treatment for COVID-19 impact COVID-19 mitigation measures in OPP?

What are the suggested elements of a protective plan for research projects going to the field in the Arctic?

What are good practices for preventing COVID-19, especially while traveling to the field?

OPP will continue to be focused on managing risk, and balancing risk with the need to continue operations to the fullest extent safely possible. In the near term, OPP anticipates continuing to require all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended vaccinations with continued quarantine and testing to prevent significant outbreaks of the disease that would jeopardize human health and operations at research stations. COVID-19 has presented evolving risks and challenges, and we will continue to monitor the situation, consult with medical professionals, and adjust our protocols accordingly.

OPP's goal is to manage the risks of COVID-19 rather than prevent all instances of infection. However, the risks of a COVID outbreak on a polar station or vessel are unique and could be severe. Additionally, the level of risk varies based on medical support capabilities and station population. Finally, even mild illness that is widespread across a station could have dire consequences for our ability to safely operate. Decisions are being made with all of those factors in mind.

All stations are equipped with the ability to isolate infected persons and transport patients to more advanced medical care as needed. As noted above, managing a major outbreak would significantly impact planned research and operations, therefore preventing major outbreaks at research stations remains OPP’s primary strategy.

The PQ criteria were adjusted prior to the FY22 austral summer season to focus on conditions that have statistically poorer outcomes from infection with COVID-19. OPP will continue to adjust the criteria based on acceptable risk. With limited ability to treat seriously ill patients, especially large numbers, at research stations, screening out high-risk participants from the program is important. Modifications to the PQ guidelines will be made no later than June of 2022 and will be updated as needed.

Quarantine periods in the U.S. and at gateway locations are influenced by several factors, including international border requirements and the unique risks of severe illness or a COVID-19 outbreak at a research station, which CDC guidelines do not contemplate. Adjustments to the quarantine periods in use in the Arctic are available online. Adjustments to the quarantine requirements for the FY 23 Antarctic austral summer season will be announced no later than August 2022.

The USAP has a very close and collaborative relationship with the New Zealand government and has worked out arrangements throughout the pandemic, even when their border was closed, to support the USAP. OPP is confident in New Zealand’s continued support to the program.

Alaska has no travel restrictions at this time. Only travelers going to Toolik Field Station will be required to quarantine. The University of Alaska- Fairbanks, in collaboration with OPP, reduced the quarantine duration to 7 days from 10 for the summer 2022 season. This and all protocols will be updated as needed to manage risk.

The government of Greenland is not requiring quarantine or testing upon arrival. To reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak at Summit Station, OPP will quarantine travelers in New York prior to flying to Greenland. Travelers to Summit Station or the Danish station EGRIP will quarantine in Kangerlussuaq. Travelers who arrive after quarantining in New York will quarantine in Kangerlussuaq for 7 days, with a PCR test on day 5. Commercial travelers arriving to Kangerlussuaq will quarantine for 9 days, with a PCR test on day 7. Projects going through Thule Air Base must follow the requirements of Thule Air Base. Projects going elsewhere in Greenland must follow Greenland and local COVID-19 restrictions.

Researchers must comply with the travel restrictions for any country, community or village where they intend to travel. Researchers are responsible for understanding those requirements and complying. This should be part of a protective plan the project signs with their organization.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is one of the best tools available to prevent contracting and spreading the disease and prevent serious illness in those who experience breakthrough infections. In addition, vaccine requirements are driven by entry restrictions to foreign countries. OPP has no plans to remove the vaccine requirement for participants.

Current evidence supports vaccination in addition to natural immunity as better protection than natural immunity alone. OPP will continue to require proof of vaccinations to protect the large population of people in both programs and the volume of personnel transfers the program manages.

As reliable treatments for COVID-19 become available, OPP will determine how best to include those treatments as an additional measure of managing risk from COVID-19. The best approach to avoid risk to human health, research, and operations that an outbreak would cause, even if patients are treatable, remains to prevent the illness from getting to OPP-supported stations.

Suggested elements of a Protective Plan and Verification of Informed Consent:

• Mitigation strategies (e.g., vaccination status, mask wearing, physical distancing, single rooms, testing prior to deployment)
• Travel strategies (e.g., strict social distancing, testing prior to deployment, wearing masks on planes, quarantine/restricted movement upon arrival)
• On-site strategies (e.g., mask wearing, distancing, restriction of movement, meal processes)
• Processes for interacting with members of local communities and others at the research station
• Contingency travel plans for weather, cancelled flights, etc.
• Safe return travel protocols
• Other situations the project needs to plan for (e.g., how to manage new team members joining the group, how to interact with pilots/other support personnel)
• What to do if one or more people contract COVID-19 or have close contact with someone who has COVID-19
• Description of the review and approval of the protective plan
• Confirmation of informed consent among all members of the field team, including students and members from different institutions/organizations
• Statement of acceptance of risk
• Signature of an organizational representative with authority over COVID-19 mitigation plans

The following are good practices to avoid contracting or spreading COVID-19 for people traveling to field locations

Prior to departure from home

• 10-14 days of strict social distancing prior to travel – prepare for field deployment, but avoid large gatherings
• Wear a mask when interacting with people outside your household
• Test for COVID-19 before travel

During travel

• Wear a KN95 or N95 mask and eye covering
• Remain physically distanced from other people as much as possible
• Keep mask up except when taking bites or sips and try to eat and drink at different times than those around you.

For work in the Arctic, upon arrival at last city/town before fieldwork

• Test for COVID-19
• Consider quarantine or restriction of movement for 5-7 days with additional testing prior to fieldwork, particularly if working in a community
• Wear masks and physically distance when interacting with people outside your group

Vacations, planes, and high-speed trains are off limits if you're in too much debt in China

• China is punishing citizens who can't repay their debts by cutting off access to social services.
• So-called deadbeat debtors are blacklisted, facing travel restrictions and government jobs.
• The blacklist is similar to the country's "social credit" system that punishes undesirable behavior.

China wants its citizens to repay their debts — and it is willing to punish those who don't.

That means that delinquent debtors are restricted from accessing some services in the country, like high-speed trains and air travel. Some, according to a Wall Street Journal report , are forbidden from government jobs and denied pricier insurance policies, vacations, and even nice hotels.

Outstanding debtors are placed on a government delinquency blacklist . Informally, these people are referred to as "laolai" — roughly translated, "deadbeat debtors." And the number of names on the list is about 8.3 million, according to the Journal — a jump of nearly 50% since 2019 .

It's not just formal restrictions they face; some phone companies in China have gone as far as assigning special ringtones to debtors to warn other people that they are talking to someone on the brink of insolvency.

However, procedures for personal insolvency in China are few and far between. Unlike most other countries, China doesn't allow most people to write off their debts with bankruptcy, per the Journal.

Instead, the Chinese government can take steps like seizing a debtor's income as restitution, leaving them with a small allowance so they can cover living expenses.

That isn't always enough, though, as one man found when he petitioned to raise his monthly income allowance to help pay for a newborn child. Rather than approving the increase to 12,000 yuan, or approximately $1,600, the Journal reported that the court cut his allowance by nearly 40%. 

In China, a country that traditionally values saving, some consider borrowing money to be taboo . That's backed by a 2021 study, which noted that in Chinese society, "many still view bankruptcy as a vehicle for feckless shirkers to escape their debts."

That's left many debtors feeling trapped by the system, which can make it increasingly difficult for them to pay off seemingly insurmountable liabilities.

China's debtor blacklist is technically separate from its " social credit system ," but both have similar functions — namely, tracking individual behavior and rewarding or punishing people for it.

The system, which is not yet fully implemented, has penalized citizens for everything from social media posts to jaywalking . The worst offenders may face trouble getting loans and travel restrictions — similar to the experience of blacklisted debtors.

The Chinese economy has slumped after exiting the pandemic . Researchers have warned of a "debt-deflation spiral" that could make the situation for Chinese households even worse.

Watch: Thousands of demonstrators erupt in rare protests against COVID-19 restrictions across China

• Main content