How Much Does It Cost To Go To South Georgia Island?

Prices valid through Spring 2023

Is South Georgia Island worth visiting?

Because of this remote location, South Georgia Island is not a common tourist destination, even for those already traveling to Antarctica. But we highly recommend going since it’s a relatively short detour in a region most travelers only have the opportunity to visit once.

How do you get to South Georgia Island?

Most people who visit South Georgia will depart on ship from either Ushuaia in Argentina, or from Stanley in the Falkland Islands, which has the closest airport to the island. No matter which destination you leave from, either trip requires a 2-3 day voyage across the southern Atlantic Ocean to reach the island.

Can I stay on South Georgia?

There are no hotels or places for tourists to stay overnight on South Georgia so visitors sleep on board the ship which brought them to the island and use this as a platform to get to different visitor sites.

Do people still live on South Georgia Island?

There are no permanent residents, and the terrain is inhospitable. Given South Georgia’s remote location and lack of infrastructure, no one lives there permanently. Typically, there are about thirty people living on the island at any one time, most of whom are conducting scientific research.

What is special about South Georgia?

Whilst Antarctica is generally much better for True Seals (Leopard Seals, Crab Eater Seals, Weddell Seals and Ross Seas are all endemic to Antarctica), South Georgia does have the biggest true Seal of them all – the Elephant Seal (although it can also be seen in Antarctica).

Who owns the South Georgia islands?

British overseas territory
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands became a British overseas territory in 1985. A commissioner, who is also the governor of the Falkland Islands, oversees the territory. In 1993 Britain extended the territory’s exclusive fishing zone from 12 to 200 nautical miles (22 to 370 km).

Can you go to Antarctica without permission?

Since no country owns Antarctica, no visa is required to travel there. If you are a citizen of a country that is a signatory of the Antarctic Treaty, you do need to get permission to travel to Antarctica. This is nearly always done through tour operators.

What is forbidden in Antarctica?

However, in Antarctica, taking anything is banned. This includes rocks, feathers, bones, eggs and any kind of biological material including traces of soil. Taking anything man-made is also completely banned, as some might actually be research equipment.

How cold is it in South Georgia?

Typical daily average maximum temperatures in South Georgia at sea level are around 0 degrees Celsius (32 ° Fahrenheit) in winter (which is in August) and 8 degrees Celsius (46.4 ° Fahrenheit) in summer (January). Winter minimum temperatures are typically about -5 °C (23 °F) and rarely dip below -10 °C (14 °F).

Do you need a passport to go to South Georgia?

Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands.

Do people live on South Georgia and South Sandwich island?

South Sandwich Islands have been uninhabited since 1982, but the islands and South Georgia have a combined average population of only 30 people.

What cities are in South Georgia?

GeorgiaCities

Why are the South Sandwich Islands uninhabitable?

When European explorers discovered the islands, they were uninhabited, and their hostile climate, mountainous terrain, and remoteness made subsequent settlement difficult.

How many penguins live on South Georgia Island?

South Georgia is home to an estimated 1 million pairs of these yellow head-dressed birds, the most abundant of all penguins on the island, although their numbers have fallen by half over the past 30 years.

How many penguins are in South Georgia?

There are around 450 000 pairs of king penguins, 1.1 million pairs of yellow-crested macaroni penguins and thousands of long-tailed Gentoo and black-banded chinstrap penguins which cover the islands’ hillsides, like at Hercules and Fortuna Bay.

Are there penguins on South Georgia Island?

Many people who head to the South Georgia Island have king penguin watching in mind, but they are not the only penguin species in this area. Macaroni penguins are also very prevalent here. In fact, the 3 million breeding pairs that live on South Georgia make up the largest macaroni penguin population in the world.

What is happening in the South Sandwich Islands?

The 2021 South Sandwich Islands earthquakes were a pair of powerful earthquakes, followed by many strong aftershocks which struck along the South Sandwich Trench in August 2021. The quakes measured 7.5 and 8.1 on the moment magnitude scale, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Is South Georgia Island in Antarctica?

Nestled in the remote Southern Ocean north of mainland Antarctica are South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The islands remain an official British territory and are most famous as polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s final resting place.

What nationality is South Georgia?

British overseas territory
South Georgia is a British overseas territory.

Is South Georgia Island a country?

Argentina claimed South Georgia in 1927 and claimed the South Sandwich Islands in 1938.