Antarctica Local Food Guide

TRAVEL ADVICE

Visa Requirements

No visas or passport are required for travel to Antarctica as no one owns the Antarctic..

Travel Health

As Antarctica has an extreme environment the cold is a serious health hazard. Visitors..

Local Currency

Antarctica is not a country and therefore has no single entity that is sovereign. It is..

Weather

The only time to visit Antarctica is during summer from November to March due to sea ice..

Local Customs

There are no permanent human residents in Antarctica although many scientists journey..

Languages

The native languages of the nations operating bases are used however English is commonly..

Transport Options

There are no airports in Antarctica capable of accepting ordinary commercial airliners...

Travel Tips

The best way to visit Antarctica is on a cruise ship where expert guides lead visitors..

Local Food

The food eaten on bases in Antarctica is mostly frozen, dried or tinned due to the..

Local Timezones

Antarctica Standard Time is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Antarctica does not operate..

Dutyfree Limits

There is no duty free shopping in Antarctica however nearly all cruise ships offer duty..

Local Food

The food eaten on bases in Antarctica is mostly frozen, dried or tinned due to the difficulty in the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. Generally food is fairly bland. Some stations grow fresh vegetables on a hydroponic system.

Food for the field (off base) is designed to be high energy for low bulk and weight as you will have to carry all your own food and your body will need more food to keep warm. The food generally is fairly high in fat. Residents at the bases eat food transported in from their native countries. Research stations generally melt their water from the surrounding snow or extract fresh water from the sea. Each station also runs its own bar facilities with a limited supply of alcoholic drinks. All wildlife in Antarctica is protected and therefore it is not permitted for anyone to hunt and eat the local fauna.