Which is better?
Should you go to Antarctica or the Falkland Islands?
In this post, we will discuss the pros and cons of going to Antarctica or the Falkland Islands.
Getting There
To go to Antarctica or the Falkland Islands, you must first get to southern Chile or Argentina. If you are going to the Falkland Islands from Britain, you can leave from Brize Norton in the UK with a stop in the Ascension Islands.
The airfare for any of these options is expensive, and that is just the first step. So here are your options:
- If you are going by cruise ship to Antarctica, you have two departure points. Most ships leave from Ushuaia, Argentina, and a small number leave from Punta Arenas, Chile.
- If you are going to Antarctica by air, you must depart from Punta Arenas, Chile.
- To fly to the Falkland Islands, you can depart from RAF Brize Norton in the UK or from Punta Arenas in Chile. There are no other departure points in Europe.
We will now discuss each of these options separately.
Going to Antarctica by Cruise Ship
Things to Consider
It is Expensive.
The cost of getting to Antarctica by ship varies greatly, with an average of about $10,000. A luxury ship with a luxury cabin can cost as much as $50,000. The price will probably be somewhere in between. It depends on several factors, including the ship’s luxury, any additional stops, and the total number of days on the voyage. Some ships will stop in the Falkland Islands for one day, and in the South Georgia Islands, while other ships go directly to Antarctica. It is sometimes possible to get a budget cruise for about $5,000, but you will probably be in a room without windows, and facilities will be limited. Most people spend between $20.000 and $30,000 U.S. dollars on this trip. It depends on your desire to have a wonderful cruise or if you look at it as a method of transportation to get to Antarctica. For most people, the cruise is as important as what you will do when you get there. It will also depend on the quality of your room, which could be very basic with no window to a luxury suite with a hot tub. Luxury cruises might include a pre-departure hotel, a parka, alcoholic drinks, and transportation from the hotel to the ship. There are so many variables that the total price might be anywhere from $5,000 to $70,000.
What is included?
Some ships will offer extra activities such as snowshoeing, overnight camping, and kayaking. These activities are not included in the price of the cruise and might cost from $300 to $1,500.
Usually, rubber boots are included. Luxury ships will include a parka. On a budget ship, you might need to purchase extra clothing before departure. Things you might want that are not included are waterproof pants, warm gloves and a hat, and binoculars and camera equipment.
Solo travellers will pay extra unless willing to share a room with someone.
Ship to Shore
Upon arrival in Antarctica, you will be taken to shore by rubber dinghy for a few hours each day. These trips are typically two or three hours long and depart twice daily. Check how many days you will spend in Antarctica compared to the days travelling back and forth.
When to go.
Penguins are there all year round. You can see chicks from December to February.
Whale watching is best from December to March.
The warmest weather is from December to February.
The lowest prices are in October, November and March.
Cruise ships do not go to Antarctica during the winter, which is summer in the northern hemisphere.
What you will see there
You will see many penguins, but typically only one or two different species. One advantage of going to Antarctica is seeing the Emperor Penguin, which is the largest penguin species and is found only in Antarctica.
Other than penguins, you will see seals and, if you are lucky, a Leopard Seal. You will also see a few species of birds such as Caracara, Skuas and Sheathbills. In total, you might see thousands of penguins, but very few birds in the total number of species.
Going to Antarctica by Air
If you want to skip the travelling time back and forth to Antarctica, you can go by air. However, there are no hotels in Antarctica, and your accommodation will be on a ship that is parked there for the summer. Your time in Antarctica will be the same as if you went on a cruise, sleeping and eating on your ship and travelling to land twice daily for two or three hours each trip. The only difference is that you get there on a flight instead of a cruise ship.
These flights depart from Punta Arenas in Chile, Ushuaia in Argentina, and Cape Town in South Africa. When I was there in February 2025, the cost from Punta Arenas was $16,000 U.S. This is more than a basic cruise but much cheaper than a luxury cruise. Shorter trips lasting only one or two days cost about $7,000.
Your travel time will be about three hours instead of the 50 hours on a ship. Also, by ship, you must cross the Drake Passage, notorious for bad weather. If you go by ship for one week, that is 168 hours minus 100 hours of travelling time. So you must decide if the cruise is important to you, or if you just want to get to Antarctica.
Going to the Falkland Islands by Cruise Ship
It is possible to get a cruise to Antarctica that stops for a day in the Falkland Islands. This type of cruise is costly, and your limited time in the Falklands is not enough to have a good experience, although it will be time enough to visit a penguin colony and tour Stanley, the capital of the Falklands.
Going to the Falkland Islands by Air
Flights to the Falkland Islands are available only from Brize Norton in the UK or Punta Arenas in Chile. From Punta Arenas, the flight will cost about $500 return. There is only one flight per week on Saturdays, so you will need accommodations for at least one week or multiple weeks.
Besides your airfare, expect to pay about 2,500 British pounds for accommodation, meals and internal flights.
There is not much to see in Stanley’s capital. There is a nice little museum and the liberation monument from the war with Argentina. The main attraction in the Falklands is flying out to the smaller surrounding islands, which have abundant wildlife.
Read about our trip to Sea Lion Island. Click here.
You can arrange tours with International Tours and Travel in Stanley.
Should you go to Antarctica or the Falkland Islands?
Our choice was the Falkland Islands. Here are the pros and cons of each.
The Cost
A one-week trip to the Falkland Islands is much cheaper than going to Antarctica.
Accommodations
You can stay in a nice hotel instead of on a ship. This allows you to come and go as you please. You could go out for a walk along the coast before breakfast, again for the whole day, and again in the evening if you wish, instead of the few daily hours the cruise ship offers. For cruises, you will spend the vast majority of your time on the ship.
Wildlife
In Antarctica, you will see many penguins, but only one or two species. You will also see seals and a few species of birds.
In my one week in the Falklands, I saw 39 species of birds, including five different species of penguins. You will see massive Elephant Seals at close range. You might also see them in Antarctica, or perhaps not. If you do, it will probably be at a distance.
You might see whales on the ship to Antarctica. There is a good chance of seeing orcas around the small islands in the Falklands.
Culture
The Falkland Islands give you the opportunity to visit a new country, meet friendly people, and learn about their way of life. On the other hand, going to Antarctica gives you bragging rights, as you have visited a new and remote continent that most people will never see.
Summary
Other than the fact that you can say you have been to a new continent if you go to Antarctica, we feel that a trip to the Falkland Islands is a much better option for all the above reasons.