Antarctic Peninsula
The most accessible part of the continent, the beautiful Antarctic Peninsula extends a welcoming arm north toward South America’s Tierra del Fuego as if beckoning visitors. And intrepid travelers do come, for the Antarctic Peninsula, the warmest part of the continent (facetiously called the ‘Banana Belt’) is Antarctica’s major breeding ground for seabirds, seals and penguins.
With its dramatic landscapes of steep snow-covered peaks, often plunging straight into the sea, and with narrow iceberg-studded channels weaving between countless islands and the mountainous mainland, the Peninsula also offers some of Antarctica’s most stunning scenery.
In recent decades, tourist landings have concentrated on sites along the western coast of the central Peninsula; relatively few ships of any sort visit the Weddell Sea, on the Peninsula’s eastern side. It has, indeed, earned its reputation as an ice-choked ship-eater. Shackleton’s Endurance is only the most famous example of the half-dozen vessels crushed there.
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Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Antarctic Peninsula.
- Sights
Gorge
Lemaire ChannelThis steep-sided channel – just 1600m (5250ft) wide – runs for 11km (7 miles) between the mountains of Booth Island and the Peninsula. So photogenic that…
Base
Palmer StationPalmer was built in 1968 on the island’s southwest coast to honor American sealer Nathaniel B Palmer, who in 1820 was one of the first to see Antarctica…
Base
Esperanza StationArgentina built this base in 1951, though a naval post was established here in 1930. Esperanza was significantly expanded in 1978 and women and children…
Base
Rothera Research StationThe UK’s Rothera, built in 1975, occupies a small peninsula on Adelaide’s southeast coast. A 900m gravel airstrip and hangar were added in 1990–91, making…
Base
Academician Vernadsky StationThis Ukrainian base, which accommodates 24 people, is located on Galindez Island. Transferred from the UK in 1996 for £1 (look for the actual coin…
Historic Building
Bransfield HouseBritain beautifully restored the original station building, Bransfield House, the main building of Base A, in 1996. Displays on the station’s history hang…
Historic Site
Nordenskjöld HutThe Swedish South Polar Expedition’s prefabricated black-walled hut, the Antarctic Peninsula’s oldest remaining building, is a protected historic site…
Historic Site
East BaseEast Base was built during aviator Richard Byrd’s third Antarctic expedition, the US Antarctic Service Expedition of 1939–41. It was also used in 1947–48…
Rookery
Goudier IslandGoudier Island is home to 800 pairs of gentoos. Monitoring of their breeding success since 1995 has found no discernible impact from tourists, who tramp…
Rookery
Torgersen IslandThe Adélie rookery just offshore is often visited in conjunction with Palmer Station. Since 1974, however, the Adélie population here has dropped by 60%…
Historic Building
Wordie HouseBuilt in 1947 as the first part of what would later become Faraday Base, this protected historic site, restored in the late 1990s by the British Antarctic…
Base
Ruperto Elichiribehety StationOn the hill about 500m from Esperanza is Trinity House, a hut remaining from Base D, built by the UK in 1944–45 and closed in 1963. It was transferred to…
Historic Site
Base EThe UK’s Base E, established in 1945–46 and used until 1975, consists of two wooden huts and some steel-mesh dog pens. The larger, two-story hut served as…
Rookery
Emperor PenguinsOn the fast ice about 400m from the low ice cliffs on Snow Hill Island’s south coast is Antarctica’s northernmost (and most accessible) emperor penguin…
Base
Teniente Luis Carvajal VillaroelBritain established Base T at the southwest tip of Adelaide Island in 1961, but closed it in 1977 when the skiway deteriorated, and moved operations to…
Laboratory
Dirck Gerritsz LaboratoryThe Netherlands has a research laboratory near Rothera Station on Adelaide Island.