Antarctica

Environmental hazards

• Travelers to Antarctica face serious risks from harsh weather and severe environmental conditions.
• Common threats include frostbite, dehydration, eye damage from reflected glare, sun overexposure, and boat accidents.
• Emergency response, like search and rescue, is limited. Coordination is complex, weather can be treacherous, and there are few resources. Long distances and environmental hazards make it difficult too.
• In an emergency in Antarctica, getting help can be very hard and expensive.

Antarctic Treaty Rules

Any trip to Antarctica carries safety risks. It can affect the environment and its ecosystems. The Antarctic Treaty and the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty set rules to manage risks and impacts. 

• The Treaty requires each Party (including the United States) to provide advance notification to the other Treaty Parties of all trips to the Antarctic Treaty area by its people or vessels.
• The Treaty area covers everywhere south of 60 degrees south latitude, including waters and islands around Antarctica. Treaty Parties also must give notice of any expeditions that were organized in their territory or that began in their territory. 
• In the United States, expedition organizers provide the information to the State Department. We then submit the advance notification information to a database available to all Treaty Parties. 
• U.S. tourists who book a cruise to Antarctica with a reputable company can usually expect their expedition organizers to handle the expedition’s advance notification.
• However, it is a good idea to check with your expedition organizer. Ask if they have completed their advance notification requirements. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators requires its members to do so. 

The Antarctic Conservation Act implements U.S. Treaty obligations under the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol and Annexes. It applies to all U.S. citizens and prohibits several activities, including:

• Introducing any prohibited product onto land, ice shelves, or into water in Antarctica.
• Disposing of any prohibited waste in Antarctica.
• Damaging, removing, or destroying a historic site or monument.
• Engaging in any taking or harmful interference of native mammals, birds, plants, or invertebrates in Antarctica without authorization.

Violations of the Act may be punishable by civil and criminal penalties, as well as possible imprisonment.

Criminal penalties

Local law applies to U.S. citizens traveling through transit countries. Some laws may apply onboard planes and vessels.

• Treaty Parties that claim land in Antarctica may want to enforce their laws there. You may also face prosecution in the United States for crimes committed in Antarctica.
• U.S. citizens must follow local laws. If you break local laws, even by mistake, you could be deported, arrested, or imprisoned.
• You may be prosecuted in the United States for crimes committed abroad regardless of the local law. Review the information provided by the U.S. Department of Justice about crimes against minors abroad.

Arrest notification

If you are arrested or detained while traveling to or from Antarctica, ask officials to notify a U.S. embassy or consulate immediately.

Environmental conservation

The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctica Treaty designates Antarctica as a natural reserve. It provides several environmental protections.

• The U.S. Antarctic Conservation Act protects native mammals, birds, plants, and their ecosystems. It applies to all U.S. citizens and any expeditions that start from the United States.
• Several areas have special protections because they are important for ecological, scientific, historical, or other reasons.
• It is illegal to bring any non-native species into Antarctica. This includes poultry, domestic animals, and household plants or seeds.
• It is illegal to take, interfere with, or harm Antarctica’s wildlife unless you have a permit from a national authority.

For more information, visit the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators website.

Health resources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Antarctica Traveler Information
• CDC’s What To Do When Sick Abroad
• World Health Organization
• Medicine and Health
• Travel Insurance

Medical payments and insurance

Make sure you know if your health insurance plan covers any medical expenses abroad. Most U.S. plans do not.

• The U.S. government does not pay medical bills.
• U.S. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover expenses or bills abroad.
• Most hospitals and doctors abroad do not accept U.S. health insurance.
• Make sure you know if your health insurance plan provides coverage abroad or reimbursement of payments. The CDC provides more information on types of insurance.
• We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Healthcare facilities

• Antarctica has no hospitals, pharmacies, or doctor’s offices.
• Cruise ships and land-based expeditions are limited in the health issues they can treat.
• Serious medical emergencies often need evacuation to a country with better facilities. This would mean traveling a long way.
• Transportation may not always be available. Weather can prevent travel, even during emergencies.
• Search and rescue resources in Antarctica are extremely limited, and costs may need to be covered by the person in need of help.
• We recommend U.S. travelers get comprehensive travel, medical, and medical evacuation insurance prior to departure.
• There are no public utilities, such as phone or internet service providers, in the region.

Flights to Antarctica

There is no direct air service from the United States to Antarctica.

• Flights to Antarctica operate from several countries, though most are reserved for government personnel and scientists. Commercial flights are only available during the summer’s southern hemisphere. 

Aviation safety oversight

• If you are going to Antarctica, please check the destination information for the country from which you are departing. This will give you more information on aviation safety standards in that country.
• Further information may be found on the  FAA’s safety assessment page.

Extreme weather conditions

Antarctica experiences some of the most extreme weather conditions on Earth. This includes extreme cold, dryness, and strong winds.  

• Temperatures can go as low as -76 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Antarctica is the windiest continent.
• Blizzards, whiteouts, and extreme cold can lead to frostbite and snow blindness.
• Antarctica experiences earthquakes and icequakes. 

Extended stays in Antarctica

There are no permanent residents in Antarctica. However, travelers might spend a long time when going to and from Antarctica.

The United States does not maintain an embassy or consulate in Antarctica. If you need U.S. consular help, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in the nearest country you visit.

The United States does not maintain an embassy or consulate in Antarctica. If you need U.S. consular services while in Antarctica, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate in the nearest country you visit for help.

The embassies and consulates that most frequently provide services include:

Where phone service is available, you can call the State Department’s 24/7 emergency help line, though assistance options may be limited in Antarctica:

• Dial 1-888-407-4747 from within the United States.
• Dial 1-202-501-4444 from outside the United States.