Antarctica in February

FAQ
Photos
Voyages

5 Reasons to Visit Antarctica in February

The penguin chicks are now very active and curious, chasing both parents for food as soon as they return from fishing trips
It's peak whale spotting season as all migrating pods have now made it down to Antarctica's rich waters
February is the perfect month to reach the Polar Circle, now that the ice has receded to its maximum extent
The moulting stage begins for the adult penguins, while the chicks are fledging and learning to swim in the shallows
The focus of the Humpback whales now changes, becoming more inquisitive now they’ve sated their appetite

Swoop Says

We love February for the frenzy of wildlife activity - crecheing chicks, predating leopard seals & copious whales - before the onset of winter. It's also arguably the best time to try to reach the Polar Circle.

Transiting the Errera Channel
Kayaking off Cape Tuxen
Iceberg in Crystal Sound en route to the Polar Circle
Hungry Adelie penguin chick in February
Sculpted icebergs off Baily Head, South Shetlands
Gentoo penguin & rookery, Pleneau Island
Crabeater Seal
Spy hopping Orcas in February
Whalers Bay, Deception Island, South Shetlands

What our customers think

It was an incredible and awe-inspiring place. The place met my expectations and the encounters there exceeded my expectations.

Kushal UAE March 2018
The experience was fantastic, all and more than we had hoped for!! The highlight was the enormity of the scale of the peninsular and the pristine, untouched solitude of the environment. The landscape was overwhelming and all encompassing, with a grandeur that we had not expected.

Sue Australia February 2018
I wasn't sure which month to visit Antarctica, in the end I picked February and I know I made the right choice. It was late in their summer so we had better access for the many excursions on land and the overall weather was excellent. Between the whale sightings, penguin chicks still in their nests and the incredible landscape, February easily is the best time to go.

Jeff Arizona February 2017
We were lucky to have 11 excursions and all were wonderful. My favourite was my personal encounter with a Minke Whale, who spent 30 minutes among our zodiacs and came up close enough for me to see eye to eye! A baby penguin biting my boot was fun as well.

Deborah Merickel United States Of America February 2019
It was incredible and exceeded all of my expectations! The highlight was being able to experience wildlife up close, i.e. a humpback whale under our zodiac.

Kira Day United States Of America February 2017
The Antarctic is more magical south of the circle in February and March. Definitely worth it. Our ship [The Expedition] was the first to get through 'The Gullet', a narrow short cut with lots of sea ice, in seven years.

Sandra & Keith UK March 2018

Antarctica Cruises - February

Antarctica Cruises February 2020

The wildlife takes centre stage in February - think hungry penguin chicks, marauding leopard seals and humpback whales gorging on krill.

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Antarctica Cruises February 2021

With +21 hours of daylight a day and calm weather, February is a fascinating month to experience awe-inspiring camping and capture spectacular photography. You'll also get to …

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Antarctica Cruises February 2022

Pleasant temperatures and an abundance of wildlife activity make February a great month to travel to Antarctica. Sightings of whales and leopard seals are at their peak, and …

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Alex says

Witnessing a pod of orcas clinically hunting down a group of beleaguered fur seals, alongside kayaking with a slumbering 40 tonne humpback whale, are just two of my own personal highlights from Antarctica in February.

Alex Mudd Polar Specialist

Antarctic Travel in February: FAQs

What's the weather like in Antarctica in February?
Temperatures are still warm in February and the weather pretty stable, making travel pleasant.
Average temperatures:
- Antarctic Peninsula: 34 degrees F (1 degrees C)
- South Georgia: 45 degrees F (7 degrees C)
- The Falklands: 46 degrees F (8 degrees C)
Is February the best month for seeing wildlife in Antarctica?

February is Antarctica's most active wildlife month - in the rookeries, the penguin chicks are growing up fast making strong demands on their parents for food.
As they become larger and more resistant to the predations of greedy skuas, the urgency on the part of their parents to provide enough food will mean they are left on their own while both parents go out to sea to fish. This steady stream of dutiful parent penguins entering and exiting the water means leopard seals are often seen predating along the ice edge.
From late February, young penguin chicks start fledging and learning to swim in the shallows. February and March are also the best months for whale sightings in Antarctica, in particular humpback, minke and orca. The humpback whales tend to be very focused on feeding at this stage.
On South Georgia, the main bulk of the king penguins will start laying their eggs in February/March, which means that there is the maximum number of birds in the rookeries at this time.
Is it cheaper to visit Antarctica in February?

February, like late December and January, is technically classed as 'high season' which carries a premium over the lower shoulder season pricing in November and March. However in our opinion the better wildlife encounters and more stable weather during this period is well worth the extra investment.
Can I fly to Antarctica in February?

Flights to Antarctica only operate through to mid-February, after which the airfield at Frei Base on King Georgia Island (South Shetland Islands) closes due to the onset of winter and won't re-open until 1st December.
What additional activities are available?

With the arrival of high summer, the opening up of the ice allows kayakers to cover more ground, while +21 hours of daylight a day provides an interesting experience for overnight campers out on the ice.