Is it worth spending 140,000 for an Antarctica trip in December with eco-tours?

Antarctica is not as far away as everyone thinks; it’s just the information gap that makes people feel Antarctica is exclusive to the rich and internet celebrities. There are many affordable and cost-effective ships to choose from without waiting for last-minute deals, such as the Intrepid Ocean Endeavor I took.

The expedition team is very professional, and although the ship is a bit older (many new ships broke down in Antarctica this year, while the older ones proved more reliable), it has complete facilities, including several lounges, a gym, sauna, hot tub, and everything you need. The food is also excellent.

Other good value options include G Adventures and Oceanwide.

🫶 More about the trip, experiences, and money-saving tips can be found on the podcast [Juanjuan Sisters]
📝 Sharing my 5-week itinerary for the Antarctic Peninsula + in-depth tour of Chile and Argentina (traveled alone, total expenses 1.4 million RMB, with the Antarctic cruise ticket costing 600,000 RMB)
📍 Santiago (Apart from the beautiful sunset view from the top of San Cristóbal Hill and the unique Neruda House, Santiago is quite a boring capital, mainly used as a transit stop)
📍 Easter Island (3 days 2 nights)
📍 Puerto Natales (Gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, joined a 4-day W Trek tour)
📍 Crossed by bus to El Calafate, Argentina
📍 Joined a one-day tour to Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate (You could also go for a day hike in El Chaltén, but I had enough hiking in Torres del Paine, so I rested more here)
📍 Joined a tour to experience Patagonian farm life from El Calafate (Includes horse riding, milking cows, watching sheep shearing, the scenery is particularly beautiful, and a delicious roasted lamb lunch is included)
📍 Ushuaia, boarded the ship for a 10-day Antarctic Peninsula cruise
📍 4 days in Buenos Aires (There are many places worth visiting in Buenos Aires, especially the high-quality art galleries, truly living up to its reputation as the Paris of South America)
📍 A day trip to Iguazu Falls (Boat ride under the falls, walking trails to see the Devil’s Throat)

🙋‍♀️ Solo female travel experience: Stay in tourist areas, don’t wander around at night, and there’s nothing unsafe. South Americans are very friendly.
🙌 Knowing some Spanish greatly enhances the entire travel experience.
☹️ By December 2024, prices in Argentina had skyrocketed to a point where all tourists were complaining.

Apart from cheap taxis, everything else felt on par with London and New York, but the service did not match. In the past, outdoor enthusiasts flocked to Argentina, but now everyone feels Chile is more cost-effective and reliable!
⚠️ Whether going to South America or Antarctica, you need to have strong resilience and a good attitude, otherwise, you might feel like you’re paying to suffer, as everything is constantly changing.