Antarctica
Quick Facts: Port | Antarctica (International Territory) | No fixed cruise terminal — vessel-based transit | Ship-board only (no shore landing in Drake Passage itself) | N/A — open ocean crossing | UTC−3 (aligned with Ushuaia, Argentina departure port)
The Drake Passage is not a port you step off at — it’s the 800-kilometre stretch of wild Southern Ocean between Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands that every Antarctica-bound cruise ship must cross. It is the gateway, the rite of passage, and often the most unforgettable 2 days of your entire expedition. Your single most important planning tip: prepare your sea legs before you board, because even seasoned sailors respect the Drake.
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Port & Terminal Information
There is no cruise terminal in the Drake Passage itself. Your journey begins and ends at Muelle de Cruceros (Ushuaia Cruise Pier) in Ushuaia, Argentina — the southernmost city in the world and the operational gateway to Antarctica. You can locate departure infrastructure via Google Maps.
All Antarctica expedition cruises depart directly from the ship — there is no tender operation across the Drake. The passage itself takes approximately 36–48 hours each way depending on sea state and vessel speed. Once you reach the Antarctic Peninsula on the far side, Zodiac tender landings begin at designated sites like Deception Island or Half Moon Bay.
Ushuaia pier facilities include a small tourism kiosk, taxi rank, basic ATMs (Argentine pesos, though USD is widely accepted), and free Wi-Fi in the terminal building. The city center is a flat 10-minute walk from the pier.
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Getting to the City (Ushuaia)
Your Drake Passage cruise departs from Ushuaia, so pre-cruise logistics are all about getting there and spending time in the city before embarkation.
- On Foot — The pier to Ushuaia’s main street (San Martín) is approximately 800 metres, entirely flat along the waterfront. Walkable in 10 minutes with hand luggage.
- Taxi — Taxis queue at the pier gate. Fare to the town center or hotels is around ARS 2,000–3,500 (roughly USD 3–5 at parallel exchange rates). Confirm the price before getting in; meters are rare.
- Bus/Metro — No local bus runs directly from the cruise pier. Shared remises (private cars) can be arranged at the pier kiosk for ARS 2,500–4,000 to outlying hotels.
- Hop-On Hop-Off — No HOHO service operates in Ushuaia.
- Rental Car — Not practical for pre-cruise days in Ushuaia given the compact walkable city. Tierra del Fuego National Park excursions are better done via tour.
- Ship Shore Excursion — Pre-embarkation excursions sold by expedition operators (Hurtigruten, Ponant, Quark, Lindblad) are worth it specifically for Tierra del Fuego National Park and Beagle Channel navigation — logistics here are genuinely complex.
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Top Things to Do in Drake Passage, Antarctica
The Drake itself is an experience you live on deck and in the lecture hall — but on either side of it lies some of the most extraordinary wilderness on Earth. Here’s how to make the most of every hour.
Must-See
1. Crossing the Drake Passage (included in cruise fare) — The crossing is the attraction. Stand on the bow deck as albatrosses — wandering, black-browed, grey-headed — glide effortlessly inches above 6-metre swells. Your expedition team will run daily lectures on Antarctic geology, wildlife, and history during the 2-day crossing. Budget: 48 hours each way.
2. Zodiac Landings on the Antarctic Peninsula (included) — On the far side of the Drake, expedition ships deploy inflatable Zodiac boats for wet landings at sites like Neko Harbour, Cuverville Island, and Port Lockroy. This is Antarctica up close: penguin colonies at your feet, glaciers calving into silence. You can browse expedition add-ons on GetYourGuide for kayaking and camping upgrades. Allow full shore days.
3. Cape Horn Rounding (included in select itineraries) — Some crossings pass close enough to Cape Horn — the rock at the tip of South America — to see it from deck. Legendary among sailors for centuries; few humans ever see it this close. 30–60 minutes on deck.
Beaches & Nature
4. Tierra del Fuego National Park, Ushuaia (ARS 3,500 / ~USD 5 entry) — Board a narrow-gauge train (El Tren del Fin del Mundo, from USD 35) through lenga beech forest to the park’s glacial lakes and peat bogs before your cruise departs. Allow 4–5 hours. Find guided tours on GetYourGuide.
5. Beagle Channel Navigation (from USD 45) — Half-day catamaran tours from Ushuaia’s pier take you past sea lion colonies, penguin rookeries on Martillo Island, and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. Essential context before crossing the Drake. Book via Viator.
6. Penguin Colonies — Half Moon Island or Aitcho Islands (included in cruise) — Chinstrap and gentoo penguins nest within arm’s reach of your landing site on the South Shetland Islands, the first landfall after the Drake crossing. One of the most viscerally extraordinary wildlife encounters on the planet. 2–3 hours ashore.
7. Whale Watching in the Gerlache Strait (included) — Humpback and minke whales feed in the krill-rich waters immediately south of the Drake. Your expedition ship slows; hydrophones are lowered; you listen to them communicate. No extra cost; entirely dependent on wildlife. 1–3 hours.
Day Trips
8. Ushuaia City & Museo del Fin del Mundo (ARS 1,500 / ~USD 2) — The city’s end-of-the-world museum covers Fuegian indigenous history, early Antarctic exploration, and the convict settlement. Perfect rainy pre-cruise morning. 1.5 hours.
9. Cerro Martial Glacier Hike (free to hike, chairlift from USD 12) — A 45-minute uphill walk above Ushuaia to a retreating glacier with sweeping Beagle Channel views. Go early on your pre-cruise day to beat afternoon clouds. 3 hours round trip.
Family Picks
10. Glacier Martial Chairlift (from USD 12) — Families with younger kids can take the ski-season chairlift partway up and enjoy the views without the full hike. Quick and easy from town. 1.5 hours.
11. Antarctic Expedition Lectures On-Board (included) — Top expedition companies (Quark, Hurtigruten, G Adventures) employ marine biologists, ornithologists, and glaciologists who run engaging, hands-on programming throughout the Drake crossing. Kids are genuinely captivated. Both crossing days.
Off the Beaten Track
12. Drake Passage Storm Deck Vigil (free) — At 3am in a Drake storm, go to the bow observation lounge with a thermos of tea and watch 8-metre swells roll under you in the dark. Terrifying, humbling, unforgettable. Duration: as long as your nerve holds.
13. Deception Island Caldera Swim (included at select shore stops) — A volcanically heated black-sand beach on the South Shetland Islands where expedition passengers plunge into near-freezing Antarctic water — briefly warmed by geothermal vents. Bragging rights: permanent. 30 minutes.
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What to Eat & Drink
In Ushuaia pre-cruise, the food leans heavily on Patagonian lamb, king crab (centolla), and craft beer from local breweries. Restaurants cluster on San Martín Street and the waterfront, and portions are generous.
- Centolla king crab — The local specialty; order it simply grilled or in a bisque. Waterfront restaurants; ARS 4,000–8,000 (~USD 6–12)
- Cordero al asado (Patagonian lamb) — Slow-roasted over open fire. Any parrilla in town; ARS 5,000–9,000 (~USD 7–13)
- Beagle Cervecería — Ushuaia’s best craft brewery on San Martín; pints from ARS 1,500 (~USD 2)
- On-board expedition dining — Included in your cruise fare; Antarctic-crossing menus on premium lines (Ponant, Silversea) are genuinely excellent
- Lomito sandwich — Argentine steak sandwich from street kiosks near the pier; ARS 2,000 (~USD 3). Filling pre-boarding fuel.
- Mate — Accept it when offered by locals; refusing is mildly rude. Bring your own yerba mate set as a souvenir.
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Shopping
Ushuaia’s San Martín Street has a solid strip of souvenir shops selling Antarctic-themed gear, Patagonian wool items, and locally made leather goods. The best buys are artisan wool ponchos and scarves (ARS 8,000–20,000), penguin and albatross prints by local artists at the artisan market near the pier, and Patagonian craft spirits including calafate berry liqueur. Skip the mass-produced Drake Passage commemorative mugs — they’re made in China and available cheaper online.
Budget extra luggage space post-cruise. You will want to bring back something from the expedition ship’s onboard shop — a quality waterproof dry bag or expedition fleece with an Antarctica patch is a genuinely useful memento that lasts
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
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