Think twice about traveling south — way, way south — this summer.
On July 28, the State Department reissued its routine travel advisory for Antarctica with a Level 2 designation, meaning travelers should “exercise increased caution.”
The advisory was put out due to “environmental hazards posed by extreme and unpredictable weather.”
It also noted that there are limited emergency services.
There are four levels for international travel advisories: Level 1 (“exercise normal precautions”), Level 2 (“exercise increased caution”), Level 3 (“reconsider travel”) and Level 4 (“do not travel”).
The Level 2 warning remains unchanged, although the reissue emphasizes the unpredictable weather events that have been occurring in the region.
The weather warnings likely refer to the extremely low temperatures seen earlier this year as well as the deterioration of the Thwaites Glacier, also referred to as Antarctica’s “doomsday” glacier.
Antarctica’s weather is unpredictable, and cruise operators prepare for the unexpected, but passengers should take precautions as well.
The State Department “highly recommends” that visitors buy travel insurance before traveling to Antarctica.
They also suggested traveling with a professional guide or organization, or, if going on a private expedition, travelers should be self-sufficient and have emergency medical evacuation insurance.
The State Department warned that there are no US government consular services available to American citizens in the Antarctic Region.
Most travelers will likely deal with Antarctica’s weather before even getting there while crossing the infamous Drake Passage. Passengers might go through a smooth “Drake Lake” or rough “Drake Shake” during the two-day journey.
Antarctica has become a popular tourist destination in recent years, with 80,455 people visiting the icy landmass in the 2024-2025 season, according to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.
The increase in interest is fairly recent. Fewer than 56,000 visited Antarctica in the 2019-2020 season.
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