Five facts about Antarctica’s Paradise Bay
Paradise Bay is one of Antarctica’s wonders – a frozen landscape that plays host to whales and penguins amidst its glaciated mountains.
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Some might be surprised to discover that Paradise Bay is not a white, sandy beach on a tropical island somewhere, but one of the world’s most beautiful frozen landscapes.
Where is Paradise Bay? It’s a harbor near Lemaire and Bryde Islands on the Antarctic Peninsula’s west coast and plays host to colossal whales and fluffy penguins – a must-see on any Antarctica trip.
Here are five facts about Paradise Bay.
It's paradise on ice.
Paradise Bay was named nearly a century ago and little has changed in terms of its beauty. Watch whales leaping out of crystal-clear waters and penguins diving off ice floes, all against a backdrop of icy cliffs in luminous shades of white and blue. It represents Antarctica in all its serene, otherworldly glory.
The name comes from whalers.
The name ‘Paradise Harbor’ was coined by whalers in the early 1920s, but the site is mostly referred to as Paradise Bay. The International Whaling Commission banned commercial whaling in 1986, although some countries oppose the ban. Here you still may catch a sleeping humpback lounging on the ice or a minke whale swimming alongside your boat.
It plays host to two scientific research bases.
Argentina’s Almirante Brown Antarctic Base has been in operation since 1951, although only open in summer since 1984. It sits atop a rocky perch, providing an expansive view of the bay. The other base is Chile’s González Videla Antarctic Base, which was active from 1951 to 1958, and briefly again in the 1980s. It currently has a penguin rookery and opens during the summer for museum tours.
It’s one of two mainland harbors used as a stop for cruises.
Apart from Neko Harbor, Paradise Bay is the only Antarctic harbor visited by cruise ships. With its glaciated mountains and charming Gentoo Penguins, it’s long been a popular stop, especially since it can only be reached by ship.
It’s part of the coldest and windiest place on earth.
Temperatures remain below freezing all year in Antarctica’s Paradise Bay. While the extreme cold explains the lack of shops and restaurants, it also preserves the region’s quiet beauty. A visit here feels as if you and your fellow travelers are the last people on Earth, giving you space to take in your pristine surroundings without the intrusion of modern civilization.
You can check out the ice floes up close.
Our lightweight expedition boats are perfect for exploring Antarctica without disturbing the surroundings, able to nimbly navigate the small channels that are inaccessible to bigger boats. Skim alongside towering icebergs and ice floes in every shade of blue, with seals and penguins going about their day.
Now that you’re up to speed with plenty of facts about Paradise Bay, take a look at some of our Antarctica cruises throughout the year, such as the Antarctic Circle Expedition on the MS Roald Amundsen. The perfect way to explore this ice-covered idyll for yourself.
