Puerto Williams is a small Chilean city on Navarino Island, south of the Beagle Channel, and it calls itself the world's southernmost city, though nearby Ushuaia also claims that title. Surrounded by dramatic, snow-dusted mountains and the Dientes de Navarino, it was originally home to the Yaghan people. Founded as a naval base in 1953, it now serves Antarctic travel and offers a quiet, village-like alternative to bustling Ushuaia.

South Georgia's snow-capped mountains, giant glaciers and abundant wildlife make it a great natural island. In this remote UK territory, animals rule: elephant seals clash, birds call, and vast king penguin colonies crowd the shore, joined by macaroni penguins and wandering albatrosses. Once a whaling center, it now preserves old stations. Linked to Shackleton's 1916 survival, it holds a museum and his memorial.

South Georgia's snow-capped mountains, giant glaciers and abundant wildlife make it a great natural island. In this remote UK territory, animals rule: elephant seals clash, birds call, and vast king penguin colonies crowd the shore, joined by macaroni penguins and wandering albatrosses. Once a whaling center, it now preserves old stations. Linked to Shackleton's 1916 survival, it holds a museum and his memorial.

South Georgia's snow-capped mountains, giant glaciers and abundant wildlife make it a great natural island. In this remote UK territory, animals rule: elephant seals clash, birds call, and vast king penguin colonies crowd the shore, joined by macaroni penguins and wandering albatrosses. Once a whaling center, it now preserves old stations. Linked to Shackleton's 1916 survival, it holds a museum and his memorial.

Elephant Island is one of Antarctica's best-known sites, famed for its stark beauty and Shackleton's 1916 survival story. Named for the elephant seals seen there by early explorers, it was the refuge where Shackleton and 28 men spent four and a half months at Point Wild. See the Endurance Glacier, the Shackleton monument, and gentoo penguins-an iconic stop on any Antarctic cruise.

The South Shetland Islands lie off the Antarctic Peninsula, separated by the Bransfield Strait and governed by the Antarctic Treaty. They host many research bases, along with elephant seals and large penguin colonies. King George Island has most stations. Highlights include Mount Foster, Deception Island's caldera and warm Pendulum Cove, and Elephant Island, famed for Shackleton's 1916 survival.

Punta Arenas, Chile's "City at the End of the World," is a windy, remote but surprisingly cosmopolitan gateway to Antarctica. Built around Plaza de Armas, it offers views from Cerro de la Cruz, customs-free shopping, and history tied to Scott and Shackleton. It's also a base for Antarctic research, with nearby highlights including Torres del Paine, Alberto de Agostini, and penguin-filled Magdalena Island.