Antarctica Day: —Travelling to the white continent according to an influencer

“This is not a cruise ship; it’s an adventure.” That was what Jenny first heard when she decided to embark on a trip to the most inhospitable place on the planet for nine days: pure adrenaline. Only 0 .01% of people dare cross the world’s most dangerous waters to get to the seventh continent, and Jenny is one of them. The Drake passage, also known as Mar de Hoces, daunts with its waves of more than 10 metres and makes the voyage a true feat. The influencer confesses, “Crossing it is no joke. I felt as if I were in a rollercoaster for almost 20 hours non-stop.” But it was worth it because, for her, landing on Antarctica was a unique experience, a dream come true. 

Jenny was raised in California, but she currently lives in Las Vegas, where she works as a real estate agent. She only wants to save money to travel around the globe and record her adventures, like this one, on her Instagram account and website. Her heart took her to Buenos Aires, where she fell in love with culinary art, its streets, the architecture, and the vibes typical of the capital. Yet, she found her true love in the South Pole, during a trip that changed her life forever. 

An extension of 14,000 sq. km., 98% of the surface covered by ice, temperatures exceeding -82 °C… Antarctica is a frozen desert that thrills everyone. The Argentine Antarctica Day is celebrated every February 22nd in commemoration of the Meteorological Observatory opening in Isla Laurie. With more penguins, whales, giant squids than people, the landscape is made up of blue floe, and a lot of ice. The whole scenery conveys the energy that comes from glaciers and icebergs of thousand years old. Jenny tell us, “When you set foot on Antarctica for the first time and walk through specific trails designed not to bother penguins, you feel everything is unreal. It’s difficult to find words to describe it. It’s absolutely extraordinary.”

You will only hear the ice breaking off, the water running down, and the wind blowing strongly in the middle of an unknown ground, creating a surreal atmosphere. She says, “The best part for me was the time spent on those inflatable boats, where guides turned off the engines so that there was utter silence. It was an opportunity to switch off the phone, close my eyes, and take in the significance of what I was living.”

The boat that took her to the entrance gate to the seventh continent set off from Ushuaia, the world’s southern city. It was a comfortable and luxurious voyage, with excellent gastronomy. Travellers are advised on the importance of respecting nature and not interfering with the creatures living in the place. She concluded, “I’ve learned a lot about this continent during the whole trip: its wild life, the treaty, the first explorers, how to take care of nature and to behave among the animals.”

What would you tell people who long for visiting this destination? “Wear very warm clothes because temperatures are incredibly low. Let yourself be absorbed by the magic that characterizes this age-old ice mass. Bring motion sickness pills (remember, the Drake passage is not that nice on board). Coordinate with a big group of people to wrap up your experience, and meet people from other parts of the world.”