Imagine your perfect destination cruise. Does it involve warm beaches, exotic islands and snorkeling with seals or turtles? Or perhaps an icy wonderland away from the hoards of tourists… a place where you can mingle with penguins and whale watch among icebergs? When planning the cruise of a lifetime, you should consider all the factors from climate to cost to accessibility. In this guide we compare two amazing yet extremely different dream destinations, Antarctica and The Galapagos Islands, to help you choose which is best for you.
Cruise Highlights
Antarctica Highlights: The phrase ‘Adventuring into the unknown’ encapsulates the feel of all Antarctic cruises. The direction the vessel takes, the wildlife and dramatic scenery unfold uniquely on every voyage. In this unspoilt and magical land, scarcely touched by humans, you never know what the next day will bring. Through binocular lenses whales pods socialize, penguins comically waddle, and elephant seals lounge. In addition to viewing spectacular wildlife, Antarctic cruises include onboard educational opportunities to learn about their marine ecosystems, climate change, and wildlife photography. A voyage to the South Pole will be life changing.
Read: 8 Tips for Traveling to Antarctica
Galapagos Highlights: If exploring nature through snorkeling and hiking are among your interests, the Galapagos Islands will sweep you off your feet. There’s no better place to be wowed by wildlife, volcanic landscapes, than these wild and remote coastlines out in the Pacific. With a large variety of species and landscapes spread across the enchanting archipelago, a cruise is the best way to experience it all. Meeting the only marine species of iguana on the planet and the world famous giant Galapagos tortoise will compete to be some of your favorite memories on this unforgettable trip.
Read: Choosing the Best Galapagos Itinerary
Climate & When To Go
When to Visit – Galapagos: The Galapagos Islands are composed of 18 main islands with a subtropical climate split mildly into two seasons: one warm and wet, the other cool and dry. Both seasons are beautiful yet offer disparate glimpses into the enchanted islands’ diverse ecosystems. December through May is considered to be the best time of the year to visit due to the ideal weather. With temperatures averaging in the high 70’s to high 80’s, occasional rain showers and water temperatures in the mid to high 70’s, the islands are something akin to paradise. June to November is characterized by misty, cool weather ranging from high 60’s to high 70’s with water temps in the low to mid 70’s. This cooler season is known for its marine life sightings with the Humboldt’s nutrient rich current drawing dolphins, whales, fish and birds to the islands.
When to Visit – Antarctica: If heat is not for you, Antarctica’s summer temperatures that range from 50-60 °F (10-16°C) might be a better fit. Antarctica is known to be the coldest, driest, and windiest place on Earth, however with the proper attire the South Pole’s summer chill is more than reasonable. December and January are the warmest and most popular months to visit. These peak months exhibit the phenomenon of the ‘midnight sun’, where the sun never dips below the horizon offering sunlight for 24 hours a day. Take note: it’s only possible to cruise these conditions from November to March when the Antarctic wakes from its dark winter sleep and the sea ice retreats. Do book in advance to secure an Antarctic cruise during this short window of ideal cruising conditions.
Cruise Activities:
Galapagos Cruise Activities: Year round the weather of the Galapagos Islands is ideal for hiking the archipelago’s volcanos or exploring the Santa Cruz Lava Tunnels. However, most of the islands’ highlights revolve around its famous residents. To get closer to the islands’ stunning array of wildlife, walk the beaches or cruise through scenic lagoons. Birders, bring your binoculars to spot stunners such as herons, pelicans and flamingos. Enjoy the world class snorkeling beaches where you can share the water with impressive sea lions, marine iguanas and sea turtles alike. Surfing and advanced scuba diving are also extremely popular ocean activities on the islands that bring you closer to the action. If you are interested in staying above the water, enjoy a dolphin and whale watching tour. These islands are an incredible rich show of our planet’s diversity and you’ll certainly leave with a greater appreciation for the Earth.
Antarctica Cruise Activities: The geography of Antarctica is like nowhere else on this planet. The icy continent’s hues range from the bright azure of glaciers to the blinding white of its bobbing icebergs. The enormity of the ice and the animals that glide the frigid waters boggle the mind. It should come as no surprise that admiring the frozen scenery, either through a photo lens or binoculars, with an accompanying chorus of ‘ooh’s and ahh’s’ will take up a significant portion of your time aboard. The abundant sunlight allows for long days of exploring Antarctica’s rock and ice formations while kayaking, snow shoeing, or cruising around on a Zodiac. Although swimming isn’t on the itinerary of most, a polar plunge into the sub zero waters is offered for the most intrepid. We offer add-on Sea Kayaking and Snowshoeing Packages for all our cruises.
Regardless of time allocation, visiting the Antarctic is irrefutably a once in a lifetime voyage.
Wildlife on the Cruise:
Galapagos Cruise Wildlife: The Galapagos Islands are known for their impressive biodiversity -an incredible 9,000 species are found on the islands. The islands boast the highest level of endemism (unique endemic species) anywhere on earth – animals such as the famous blue footed boobies and giant galapagos tortoise live only here. The wildlife is also famous for being curious and approachable, a result of there being no natural predators on the islands. Do not be surprised if you are approached by a Galapagos Sea Lion or the Galapagos penguin (the only penguin that lives North of the Equator).
Antarctica Cruise Wildlife: Antarctica in comparison has much less biodiversity; only 250 species are able to tolerate the harsh climate and all are dependent on the sea for survival. The animals retain body heat to survive the most extreme environment on our planet by being impressively large and insulated with thick fur or blubber. The majority of Antarctica’s wildlife are migratory marine animals -this includes the biggest creature on the Earth, the blue whale. During the summer months, this pristine environment is the playground of other massive marine animals such as orcas, leopard seals, and humpback whales too. There are also many bird species in the South Pole, including the most famous of Antarctica’s inhabitants: the penguin. With 12 million penguins on the continent, every cruise makes the expedition to see these iconic creatures waddling around their icy coastal colonies.
Accessibility and Availability:
Getting to the Galapagos: In this category, The Galapagos Islands easily take the cake. You will most likely have to travel less to reach Ecuador, saving you time and money. With its prime location on the equator, it’s possible to visit The Galapagos Islands year round; making it easy to plan around your schedule. Due to the popularity of Galapagos cruises, you do need to book 3-9 months in advance to guarantee you get a cabin. As Ecuador is a small country with a lot to offer, consider adding a colorful city or a rainforest tour to your itinerary after you return to mainland Ecuador.
Read: Explore the Top 10 Things in Ecuador
Getting to Antarctica: From most places, Puntas Arenas, Chile or Ushuaia, Argentina a.k.a. The starting points for the vast majority of Antarctica cruises, are very far away. You need to make sure you have enough time to travel there and back as you may have to fly for over 24 hours to reach South America’s tip. Additionally, the window to go (during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer) and when the cruises are running lasts only a few months. This means that the season books up quickly, making it difficult to get reservations during the peak season. Even once you have a reservation and arrive at the ‘End of the World’ you might have to wait in the port city until the weather is conducive to cruises. Although, it may be tempting to attempt seeing other places in Patagonia, the region is very spread out. Unless you have several more weeks to add onto your trip you most likely will only have time for your Antarctica cruise. However, this remoteness and isolation is all part of Antarctica’s allure. Consider that the entire continent had 51,700 visitors compared to the tiny Galapagos island’s 241,800 in 2017. Along with its difficulty to reach, its recognition as an impermanent wonderland creates a mystical elusivity.
Cruise Cost : Galapagos vs Antarctica
Between the Galapagos and Antarctica cruise, the latter are generally more expensive, ranging from 6-16,000 USD per person for 6-10 days. The high price tag comes from the limited amount of ships able to navigate the rough, icy waters. Due to the lack of ports in Antarctica, the ships have to carry the supplies and fuel for the entire voyage, making there a limited amount of space for passengers. Although, Antarctic cruises average out to be around 10,000 USD, that’s not to say they aren’t worth it. The other large expense when considering an Antarctica cruise is the flight to the port city. Price can vary depending on your departure city, however flights to Ushuaia can be anywhere from 1-1,500 USD from North America and Africa. Flights from Europe are a little pricier coming in at 1-2,000 USD.
The Galapagos Cruises on the other hand go from 2-3,000 USD per person for 4-5 days. There are no direct flights to the Galapagos but included in all cruise packages is a short 2.5 hour flight (from Quito or Guayaquil) to either San Cristobal or Santa Cruz Island before you board your vessel. As Quito is the capital city and a major transportation hub into which major airlines fly, flights are plentiful and not particularly expensive. Flights can be found from 400-1,000 roundtrip from North America, 700-1400 from Europe and Africa.
Ultimately, traveling is one of the most rewarding, educational, and memorable ways to invest your time and escape your daily routine. We hope this article was helpful and would love to aid in planning your trip. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you have regarding cruises in Antarctica or The Galapagos! Please like, comment, and subscribe to our mailing list to let us know how we’re doing. Additionally, check out our best Antarctica and Galapagos packages below!
Suggested Antarctica Packages:
Antarctica Express Air Cruise 6 Days
Pass through the Beagle Channel skirting Cape Horn and through the Drake Passage before reaching the South Shetland Islands’ icy bays and ultimately, King George Island.
Polar Circle Air Cruise
Encircle the Antarctic Peninsula from the Shetland Islands to encounter icebergs, whales, seals, and penguins in vast frozen oceans.
Suggested Galapagos Packages:
Galapagos 7 Day Adventure
Join this tour to snorkel lava tunnels, hike a volcano, and meet sea turtles, sea lions, Galapagos penguins and tortoises up close.
Western Galapagos 5 Day Cruise
Visit three of the youngest and most geologically active Galapagos Islands, popular for marine iguana and giant tortoises encounters.
Click here for more information on choosing Antarctic cruises.
And be sure to check out our blog on the best tips for planning your Antarctic adventure.
