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Influencer stranded in Antarctica raises questions about how to travel there
Aug 13, 2025
After a teen pilot’s illegal Antarctic landing, how can you even travel to the icy continent? Here’s what to know.
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He made headlines last year as he geared up for a mission to become the youngest pilot to fly solo to all seven continents, all to raise money for childhood cancer research
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The teen Ethan Guo racked up more than a million Instagram followers as fans followed his journey
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But in June, he found himself stranded in Antarctica after illegally landing his plane there and giving authorities false flight plan information
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He was charged at the end of June, but Monday a judge dropped the charges
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Instead, Guo has 30 days to donate $30,000 to a children's cancer foundation to avoid trial
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Once he leaves the country, he'll be banned from reentering Chile's Antarctic territory for three years
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But can you even travel there? Yes, but it's not as simple as hopping on American Airlines' website and booking a ticket
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There are no commercial flights to Antarctica. The Antarctic Treaty signed in 1959 set the continent aside as a scientific preserve
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With the coldest windiest weather on Earth there are no traditional airports only a handful of ice or snow airstrips That plus strict environmental rules under the treaty means tourism is heavily regulated And most visitors arrive by cruise ship usually from Argentina crossing the
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notorious Drake Passage, where waves can reach up to 26 feet. The safest bet is to book with a cruise
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line that's a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, which
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lists approved companies on its website. Interest in the continent is certainly rising. Between 2015
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and 2023, the number of visitors to the Antarctic Peninsula skyrocketed from 36,000 to 104,000
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according to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. No visa is required, but you do need
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a passport and you must travel with a permitted tour operator. You should be good if you follow
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the Antarctic Treaty rules, don't touch the wildlife, and definitely don't damage plants
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And bring a jacket. Or three. Yeah, it's currently negative 58 degrees at one Antarctic station
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and negative 48 at the South Pole Station. Totally tropical. With Straight Aero News, I'm Kennedy Felton. Download our app or visit san.com for more
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