Antarctica draws a surprisingly diverse mix of people each year, from paying tourists on expedition cruises to government-funded scientists, military support crews, mechanics, cooks, artists, and educators. In the 2023-24 season alone, more than 122,000 tourists visited the continent, while research stations housed roughly 4,000 to 5,000 people across dozens of national programs during the busy summer months.
Tourists Make Up the Largest Group
The overwhelming majority of people who go to Antarctica are tourists. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) reported 122,072 total tourists in the 2023-24 season. Of those, about 78,848 actually set foot on the continent, while 43,224 stayed aboard large cruise ships and viewed Antarctica from the deck without landing.
Most tourist visits follow a similar pattern. Ships depart from Ushuaia, Argentina, cross the Drake Passage over roughly two days, and spend time along the Antarctic Peninsula, the most accessible part of the continent. A smaller number of voyages reach the Ross Sea or deeper continental areas. In 2023-24, only about 1,251 tourists visited those remote regions compared to tens of thousands on the peninsula.
The typical Antarctic tourist skews older and affluent. Expedition cruises generally start around $8,000 to $15,000 per person for basic cabins on larger vessels, and luxury options can run well past $30,000. Passengers tend to be retirees, adventure travelers checking off a bucket-list destination, or wildlife enthusiasts drawn by penguins, seals, and whales. A growing segment of younger travelers has emerged in recent years as more operators have entered the market, though the price still filters out casual vacationers.
Some tourists arrive by air-cruise combinations, flying to the peninsula and then boarding a vessel. About 6,130 visitors used this option in 2023-24. A handful of private yacht sailors also make the crossing each season, though that number is tiny: just 87 in the same period.
Scientists and Researchers
Antarctica is home to 34 national programs that operate research stations across the continent, coordinated through the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP). Countries including the United States, Russia, China, Chile, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Australia, and many others maintain permanent or seasonal bases.
The science conducted there spans glaciology, climate modeling, marine biology, astronomy, atmospheric chemistry, and geology. Antarctica’s ice cores contain air bubbles hundreds of thousands of years old, making the continent irreplaceable for climate research. Its dry, cold, high-altitude interior offers some of the best conditions on Earth for certain types of astronomical observation. The Southern Ocean surrounding it is one of the most biologically productive marine environments on the planet.
Researcher numbers fluctuate dramatically with the seasons. McMurdo Station, the largest facility on the continent and operated by the U.S., can house up to 1,100 people during peak summer weeks (roughly October through February). In the dark, isolated winter, that drops to around 200. Other major stations like Argentina’s Esperanza, Russia’s Vostok, and the U.K.’s Rothera follow a similar seasonal swing, though at smaller scales. Across all nations, the total summer population on the continent likely reaches 4,000 to 5,000, dropping to around 1,000 in winter.
Support Staff Who Keep Stations Running
Scientists are actually a minority at most Antarctic research stations. The bulk of the population consists of support personnel: the people who make the science possible. McMurdo Station functions like a small town, and it needs the workforce of one. Electricians, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, carpenters, cooks, IT specialists, firefighters, and medical staff all live and work on the ice during the season. Logistics coordinators manage the constant flow of cargo and fuel. Pilots and air traffic controllers operate skiways for the aircraft that connect inland stations.
On research vessels, support crews include marine technicians who deploy scientific equipment, electronics technicians who maintain oceanographic sensors and satellite communications, and network administrators who keep data systems running and handle twice-daily email sessions (bandwidth in Antarctica remains extremely limited). These roles require specialized skills and a willingness to work in one of the most isolated environments on Earth.
Many support positions are filled through contractors. In the U.S. program, a private company hires most of the tradespeople and logistics staff who deploy to McMurdo and the South Pole station. Contracts typically run for a summer season of four to six months, though some winter-over positions last a full year.
Military Personnel
Several countries use their armed forces to support Antarctic operations. The U.S. military, particularly the Air National Guard and Navy, provides airlift capability with large cargo planes that land on ice runways. Chile and Argentina both operate military bases on the peninsula, and their navies transport personnel and supplies. New Zealand’s military assists with logistics for the U.S. program through Christchurch, a major gateway to Antarctica. These personnel aren’t there for defense. The Antarctic Treaty prohibits military activity for anything other than peaceful purposes like scientific support and logistics.
Artists, Writers, and Educators
A small but notable group of visitors reaches Antarctica through cultural and educational programs. The U.S. National Science Foundation runs the Antarctic Artists and Writers Program (now part of a broader initiative called Polar STEAM), which sends painters, photographers, filmmakers, musicians, and writers to the continent. The goal is to translate the Antarctic experience into work that reaches the general public. Past participants have produced everything from orchestral compositions to documentary films.
Educators also travel south through formal programs that pair teachers with research teams. They work alongside scientists in the field and bring those experiences back to classrooms. Several other countries run similar programs, including New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K.
Journalists occasionally visit on press trips organized by national programs or by embedding with tour operators. Documentary crews film for networks and streaming platforms. These visits require the same permits and environmental compliance as any other activity on the continent.
Legal Requirements for All Visitors
No single country owns Antarctica, but the Antarctic Treaty System governs all human activity there. Every visitor, whether a tourist, scientist, or artist, must comply with the environmental laws of their home country as they apply to Antarctica. For U.S. citizens, the Antarctic Conservation Act makes it illegal to disturb native wildlife, enter specially protected areas, introduce non-native species, or discharge waste without a permit from the National Science Foundation.
Tour operators handle most of the permitting and compliance for their passengers. IAATO members follow strict guidelines on group sizes for landings (typically no more than 100 people ashore at once), wildlife approach distances, and biosecurity procedures like boot washing to prevent seed transfer between sites. Independent travelers, such as private yacht crews, must arrange their own permits and demonstrate compliance before departure.
The system is built around a simple principle: Antarctica belongs to no one, and everyone who goes there is responsible for leaving it unchanged.