Exploring the Ends of the Earth with Anita Speier: Antarctica, the white continent

Antarctica, better known as the white continent, is one of the most extraordinary destinations among today’s adventurous travelers. There are different ways to explore it, but expedition cruises are one of the most popular options for discovering Antarctica in a unique and authentic way.

That is why in this exclusive interview with Anita Speier, Antarctica Destination Specialist at the company CHIMU Adventures, she tells us why this pristine destination should be on everyone’s travel list.

If you are a traveler who loves adrenaline and adventure, keep reading!

Key takeaways

• Sustantibility is a defining feature of Antarctic expedition cruises: Albatros, Ocean Victory, Ocean Nova, and Seaventure.
• Anita Speier, the specialist destination of CHIMU visited Ecuador this year and shares her experience in this country with us.
• Anita Speier’s favorite part of ILLA Experience Hotel was the connection between the guide and the artisans.
• Latin Trails is a strategic partner of CHIMU Adventures because the two companies share a vision of sustainability, human quality, and contribution to communities.

Key Differentiators of Antarctica Expedition Cruises

CHIMU Adventures, an Australian B Corporation, certified company, ensures that each of its cruise expeditions upholds a strong commitment to responsible tourism, benefiting society, local communities, and the environment.

Ocean Albatros: comfort and safety

The Ocean Albatros is a expedition ship with a capacity for 169 passengers. It has the X-Bow hull design built for Antarctic voyaging. The purpose is to improve safety and comfort during transits of the Drake Passage. Due to the shape of the bow, the ship will have a lower chance of nonspecific movements, promoting safety and comfort for passengers during an Antarctic expedition.

Photo: CHIMU Adventures

Ocean Victory: Smooth Sailing Through Antarctic Waters

The Ocean Victory can host 189 passengers and was designed to provide exceptional stability, ensuring a comfortable and steady journey across the waves of Antarctica.

Photo: CHIMU Adventures

Ocean Nova: The Small but Mighty Explorer

The Ocean Nova accommodates 80 passengers. Being smaller gets you to parts of Antarctica where larger vessels can’t go due to regulations that limit exploration in particular waters for vessels that carry 100 or more passengers. This capacity allows for more flexible travel throughout the destination and promotes closer interaction among passengers, crew, and guides.

Photo: CHIMU Adventures

Seaventure: Elevating Your Cruise Experience

The Seaventure is an expedition ship in premium-class accommodation for 149 passengers. With its industry-leading experience, it is also one of the most energy-efficient expedition cruise vessels.

Photo: CHIMU Adventures

Traveler profile: The Conscious Adventurer

If you want to experience Antarctica in a new way and with mindfulness, this is most likely your appropriate travel style.

Purposeful Sustainable Explorer

Anita tells me that passengers on her cruises are the kind of people who care about sustainability and value authentic experiences that are immersive rather than the type of trip where they check “Itinerary” off as if it were a list, and rather than taking a photograph to post to a social media site. These passengers desire to have a responsible engagement with local communities, and the nature around them.

If you are looking for an experience beyond luxury, that aligns purposefully or intentionally to engage authentically with nature and yourself.

The perfect time to travel to Antarctica

The ideal timing for every individual trip to Antarctica differs to personal preferences. This pristine wilderness will leave you in awe no matter where you find yourself, but Anita offers her advice below on timing your trip based on personal experience for it to be an adventure like no other.

End of season: February to March:

The conclusion of the season, which occurs from February to March, is ideal for seeing whales or taking a more private trip. It might be some of the coldest times of the season but it is less desirable for travel and less ship traffic around this time for these reasons, it will give you a more private and unique itinerary. Plus, every season has its own special charm!

Early season: November for photographers:

Anita recommends November for all photography enthusiasts. The landscape will be covered in snow, and there will be even more icebergs in the water, allowing you to capture wonderful images.

Gentoo penguins: late December

If you love Gentoo penguins, the best time to visit is at the end of December and early January: “This is when the penguin chicks are born, and seeing them is a delight because they are so small and cute,” according to Anita.

Photo: Getty Images

Antarctica Adventures You Can’t Miss

Although Antarctica has many places to visit, according to Anita, the first recommendation is to travel on small cruise ships in order to enjoy the experience.

Travelers can enjoy the following experiences:

• Kayaking: suited for the voyager who wants an opportunity to see porpoising penguins, seals, and maybe even whales during the ocean experience.
• Skiing: for the traveler seeking out stunning views and ice of Antarctica.
• Camping: for the more adventurous traveler who want to experience Antarctica like never before.
• Polar Plunge: for the thrill seeker who wants to jump into the freezing cold water of the Antarctic. Anita has had this experience and recommends it.

Photo: Anita Speier

Sustainability in Antarctica

CHIMU Adventures is a certified company known for its openness and commitment to employees, the environment, and local communities.The most recognized actions are:

• Recycling in Ushuaia: The company’s manager is deeply committed to recycling, regularly taking employees to local plants to see the process firsthand and reinforce their dedication to the environment.
• IATTO Climate Change Committee: the company owner participates in this committee to help the Antarctic cruise industry transition to more environmentally friendly fuels.
• Make Difference Foundation: this foundation supports various organizations, with 100% of donations going directly to the causes, while CHIMU covers all operational costs.

Anita’s Memorable Journey to Ecuador

Earlier this year, we had the opportunity to welcome Anita to ILLA Experience Hotel.

ILLA Experience Hotel: a hotel for connecting with people

A few months ago, Anita had the chance to explore Ecuador and stay at one of the luxury hotels recommended by Voyagers Travel Company, featured in their curated portfolio.

ILLA Experience Hotel: More than a hotel

The ILLA Experience Hotel in Quito stands out not only for its attention to design and style, but also for offering immersive experiences that go beyond the typical stay. What Anita appreciated most was the consistent guidance from Gina, who welcomed her at the airport and shared insights about every detail throughout the tour.

As Anita recalls, “Gina’s personal touch was exceptional. We visited local artisans and took part in various activities, from cooking with a local woman and learning about traditional cuisine to making crafts. I absolutely loved it.”

Photo: Anita Speier

The favorite moment in Ecuador

The most exciting part of Anita’s trip to Ecuador was when she checked into the hotel with Gina. She shares her favorite photo with us of the guide and Gina upon their arrival, greeted with a welcome drink!

Photo: Anita Speier

Partnership with Latin Trails

Strategic partners are a fundamental part of CHIMU Adventures, as they prefer companies that share their vision of sustainability. That is why Latin Trails, sharing the same ideology and pursuit of conscious travel, has led them to be partners for several years.

“Latin Trails is a strategic partner that shares the same vision of sustainability, human quality, and contribution to communities as we do” said Anita.

Why work with a DMC like Latin Trails?

From Anita’s perspective as a Destination Specialist, she responded as follows:

“The truth is that the key for us is to be able to collaborate with partners like Latin Trails, because they are the ones who have knowledge of the place, who know what is happening, who have their feet on the ground, and who assist passengers 24/7” Anita said with confidence.

She also emphasized that the Latin Trails team gives her security and confidence because they have experience, know the destinations, and care for Ecuador because it is also their home.

Photo: Anita Speier

A Message for Travel Souls

Antarctica is one of those places that should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list. The landscapes, the stillness, and the adventures are truly unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world! You can imagine paddling a kayak next to a couple of whales, hiking across glaciers, taking fantastic pictures of icebergs, or diving in the cold ocean, it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! It does not start in Antarctica, however.

So, I ask, is Antarctica in your bucket list, and are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

FAQs

Who is Anita Speier?

Anita Speier works for CHIMU Adventures as a destination specialist for Antarctica. She has also had the opportunity to visit several destinations in South America and recently visited Ecuador.

What is the difference between small and large expedition cruises for exploring Antarctica?

The difference is that only a maximum of 100 passengers can disembark from a ship at the same time, unless local guidelines indicate a lower number. Therefore, on small ships such as the Ocean Nova, all guests can enjoy more time exploring Antarctica. Meanwhile, on larger ships with more than 500 passengers, not everyone can disembark, which limits the shore exploration experience.

What experiences should I try if it’s my first time in Antarctica?

If this is your first time in Antarctica, it might be good to treat yourself to a few of the unmissable experiences such as kayaking, ski, hiking or even polar plunge. Polar plunge is particularly recommended if you enjoy adrenaline.

What type of client typically chooses this type of cruise?

The type of traveller that chooses this cruise is sustainable conscious traveller. These are travellers that are looking to do more than simply provide a photo opportunity to their Instagram account; travellers that travel with a sense of responsibility

Where can I see real-time availability for Antarctica and other tours?

To check real-time availability for Antarctica, you can check our B2B Partner Area. And that’s it, there you have our real-time availability!