Antarctica in March: Late Season Icebergs, Whales and Last-Minute Deals
There is a particular magic to going to antarctica in march that the peak-season crowds rarely get to experience. By March, the Antarctic summer is winding down — daylight is shortening, the sea ice is beginning to reform at the margins, and the Peninsula has taken on an autumnal quality entirely its own. There are fewer ships on the water, more dramatic icebergs than at any other point in the season, continued excellent whale watching in the first half of the month, and — for flexible travellers — some of the best last-minute cruise deals available anywhere. It is the season’s quiet finale, and those who make it there often say it’s the most atmospheric time to visit.
March is the fifth and final month of the Antarctic cruise season, which runs November through March each year. By late March, most operators have completed their last southbound departures and ships are repositioning to the Arctic or returning to dry dock. For context on how March compares to other months, see our best time to visit Antarctica guide and our complete Antarctica weather by month breakdown.
Antarctica in March: Weather, Temperature, and Daylight
March temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula range from −2°C to +1°C (28°F to 34°F), and the shift from February’s 0 to +2°C is noticeable. Wind chill can push apparent temperatures to −8°C or below on exposed headlands, and the quality of the wind itself changes — more variable, sometimes more persistent, occasionally carrying the first hints of approaching winter. This does not mean March is particularly dangerous or unpleasant; it means it’s the month when the expedition team earns its pay by finding the sheltered bays and alternative landing sites that the weather requires. Good operators thrive in March conditions.
Daylight in March drops from approximately 14 hours at the start of the month to 10 hours or fewer by late March. After the continuous daylight of December and the extended golden hours of January–February, this feels like a meaningful shift. The actual sunrises and sunsets are now proper events — rich and prolonged, with extraordinary colour in the low-angle light that rakes across the ice and mountains at angles that mid-season light never reaches. Photographers who specifically target March for this light quality are well justified in doing so. See Antarctica daylight hours for the full seasonal breakdown.
Sea ice in March is beginning to reform from its seasonal minimum. The extent of new ice formation varies year to year — some years, March is barely different from February; in others, the ice front has moved significantly north by the middle of the month. The expedition team monitors ice charts daily and adapts routes accordingly. This variability is one of the reasons March cruisers need to be flexible — the experience is shaped more by conditions than in any other month. See what to pack for Antarctica for appropriate March gear.
Whale Watching in March
March delivers excellent whale watching, particularly in its first two weeks. By the time the calendar turns to March, the humpback whales that have been feeding in Antarctic waters since December have consumed extraordinary quantities of krill — an individual humpback may eat up to 1.5 tonnes of krill per day during peak Antarctic feeding. In early March, these animals are still present in force, and the feeding behaviour — bubble-netting, lunge-feeding, and the constant surfacing of vast animals in calm channels — continues with the same intensity as February. Daily multiple whale sightings remain realistic in early-to-mid March.
By late March, the whale numbers are beginning to thin as the animals start their northward migration toward tropical breeding grounds. This doesn’t mean whale sightings disappear — even late March departures report humpback sightings most days — but the density decreases and the character of the encounters shifts. Minke whales tend to stay in Antarctic waters slightly later than humpbacks. Orca pods are still active in March, particularly around areas where penguin and seal activity persists. For the full whale calendar and species guide, see best time to see whales in Antarctica and Antarctica wildlife.
Icebergs and Scenery in March
March is arguably the best month for icebergs. An entire summer of calving activity — from local glaciers calving directly into the sea, from the ice shelves of the Weddell and Ross Seas shedding kilometre-scale chunks — has populated the Southern Ocean with an extraordinary variety of bergs. The older bergs that have been afloat since October have been sculpted by summer warmth and wave action into arches, caverns, and pinnacles. Some have flipped, exposing blue and jade ice that was previously submerged. The newest bergs are still relatively fresh and geometric. The result is a visual landscape more varied and dramatic than any other month of the season.
The changing light in March transforms these icebergs in ways that summer light doesn’t. With the sun at a lower angle throughout the day, the blue and jade colours of old ice take on an intensity under late-afternoon and early-morning light that photographers specifically plan trips around. Zodiac cruising among iceberg fields in March, with the sun low and red on the horizon and the ice turning colour in real time, is one of the season’s most extraordinary experiences. The fact that fewer ships are doing it simultaneously means you’re often in these iceberg fields alone.
Elephant Seals and Other Wildlife in March
While penguin activity has wound down significantly by March — most colonies have dispersed, the adults at sea moulting and recovering from breeding — the seal situation is excellent. Elephant seals are particularly visible in March. The massive bulls that dominated beach territories in earlier months are now in post-breeding moult, hauled out in large groups on beaches, groaning and rolling and occasionally heaping themselves on top of each other in what appears to be a collective recovery from the season’s exertions. The smell is extraordinary and the spectacle is unforgettable — these are the largest seals in the world, and a beach covered in moulting males can include animals of 2,000 kilograms or more.
Antarctic fur seals are present on Peninsula beaches throughout March, and their behaviour has become more relaxed than the aggressive peak-breeding season of earlier months. Weddell seals remain on ice floes — placid, well-camouflaged, and reliably close to Zodiac traffic. Leopard seals are still active, particularly in areas where fledgling penguins remain near the water. Seabirds are present in good numbers: albatrosses and petrels following the ship across the Drake, skuas patrolling the shorelines, and snow petrels — the most beautiful of all Antarctic birds, pure white against dark rock or blue ice — visible in good numbers on March voyages.
Last-Minute Deals: The March Budget Opportunity
| Deal Type | Typical Saving | Timing | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoulder-season pricing | 10–20% vs January | Any March departure | All operators |
| Late-season promotions | 15–25% vs January | February for March | Selected operators |
| Last-minute deals | 30–40% vs list price | 2–6 weeks before departure | Operators with unsold berths |
| Guaranteed cabin upgrades | Not a discount, but added value | Last 4 weeks | Where premium cabins unsold |
March is when last-minute Antarctic deals are most significant. Operators who have unsold berths on March departures would rather fill them at 30–40% discount than sail partially empty. These deals require flexibility — you need a valid passport, travel insurance, and the ability to reach Ushuaia within 10–14 days. They’re not suitable for everyone, but for genuinely flexible travellers willing to move on short notice, March last-minute deals represent the best value in Antarctic travel. Expedition cruise aggregator sites and direct operator deal pages are the places to monitor. See last-minute Antarctica cruises, cheapest time to visit Antarctica, and Antarctica trip cost for the full pricing context.
The Atmosphere of a Late-Season Voyage
Something shifts on a March Antarctic voyage that is hard to articulate but that every experienced expedition traveller recognises. The season is ending. The wildlife has done what it came to do — bred, raised young, fed intensively, and is now beginning the long migration back to temperate or tropical waters. The landscape is transitioning. The light is changing daily in visible ways. And the small group of people on this ship, sharing this experience in this remote place at the end of a short and extraordinary season, develops a collective intensity of focus that peak-season travel doesn’t quite replicate. March Antarctic travellers are self-selected for curiosity and flexibility, and the expedition teams on end-of-season voyages often describe March as their favourite month precisely for this reason.
Practical Planning for a March Departure
The logistics of a March departure are similar to any other month: two nights in Ushuaia before embarkation, comprehensive travel insurance covering polar evacuation, the Drake Passage crossing each way. March can see slightly rougher Drake crossings than mid-season, though this is statistical rather than certain — some March Drakes are among the calmest of the year. See Drake Passage for full preparation advice and how to get to Antarctica for the complete logistics guide. For ship selection, see Antarctica expedition ships and operators.
March is also the last realistic month for fly-cruise options — some operators run King George Island fly-cruise departures in early-to-mid March, saving one Drake crossing. As March progresses, logistics become more weather-dependent at King George, and some operators pull these options by the third week of March. If fly-cruise is your preference and March is your target, book this option specifically. See flights to Antarctica for the full fly-cruise overview.
Is March Right for You?
March is the right choice if you value atmospheric solitude over peak-season wildlife density, if you want the best last-minute deals, if iceberg scenery is a primary interest, if budget is a constraint, or if you’re a photographer specifically targeting late-summer light. It is less right if penguin chick-watching is your priority (the colonies are largely dispersed) or if you want the maximum certainty of calm weather and the full activity menu (kayaking in particular becomes less consistently available in late March). Our adjacent month guides: Antarctica in February and Antarctica in November (the other shoulder month). See also Antarctica cruise season for the full season overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is March a good time to visit Antarctica?
Yes, with caveats. March offers excellent whale watching (especially early month), dramatic iceberg scenery, elephant seal activity, and the best last-minute cruise deals of the year. It requires flexibility and works best for travellers who prioritise atmosphere and scenery over penguin chick abundance.
What wildlife can I see in Antarctica in March?
Early March is excellent for whale watching (humpbacks, minkes, orca). Elephant seals are prominent on beaches in moult. Fur seals are present throughout. Weddell seals on ice floes. Penguin colonies are mostly dispersed, but individual penguins are still encountered. Seabirds are active throughout.
How cold is Antarctica in March?
Average temperatures on the Antarctic Peninsula in March range from −2°C to +1°C (28°F to 34°F), returning to early-season cold levels. Wind chill significantly reduces apparent temperatures. Layering is essential throughout the month.
Are there penguin chicks in March?
Most have fledged by March. The older chicks that hatched in December–January have developed their adult plumage and dispersed to sea. Some stragglers may be encountered at colonies, but March is not the month for chick-watching. The colonies are largely quiet.
Can I get a last-minute deal on an Antarctica cruise in March?
Yes — March is the best month for last-minute deals. Operators with unsold berths in March often discount them 30–40% in the 2–6 weeks before departure. This requires flexibility: you need to be ready to travel on 10–14 days’ notice with valid passport and travel insurance arranged.
How many hours of daylight are there in March in Antarctica?
Daylight drops from approximately 14 hours at the start of March to 10 hours or fewer by late March. The sunrises and sunsets, with the sun now genuinely dipping below the horizon, are among the most spectacular light events of the season.
What is the sea ice like in Antarctica in March?
Sea ice reaches its annual minimum in early March and begins reforming through the month. Most Peninsula landing sites remain accessible in early-to-mid March. By late March, some southern sites may be affected. Routes are adapted daily based on ice charts.
Is it worth going to Antarctica in March?
Absolutely, particularly for whale watching, iceberg scenery, late-season deals, and atmospheric travel. The experience in March is distinct from peak season — quieter, more variable, and with a character that many travellers find more compelling than the crowds of January.
Final Thoughts
Antarctica in march is the season’s finale — and like any great final act, it has its own particular power. The dramatic icebergs, the last of the humpbacks, the moulting elephant seals, the extraordinary light quality, and the sense of a short and remarkable season reaching its close: these are experiences that peak-season travel can’t offer. For flexible travellers with a realistic view of what late season delivers, March is exceptional.
For full planning support, visit our best time to visit Antarctica hub and our Antarctica travel tips guide. The Antarctica cruise deals page is the best starting point for finding March value.
The Drake Passage in March: End-of-Season Character
The Drake Passage crossing in March has its own distinct character. The Southern Ocean in late summer is beginning its seasonal shift — the circumpolar westerlies that were somewhat moderated by the summer atmosphere start to reassert themselves, and March Drakes can include sustained swells of 4–7 metres alongside days of complete calm. Statistics suggest March is marginally rougher than December or January, but the variation year-to-year overwhelms any monthly average. Some of the calmest and most beautiful Drake crossings experienced by veteran Antarctic travellers have been in March; some of the roughest too.
What distinguishes the March Drake experience is the wildlife. The crossing in late summer sees albatrosses and petrels in extraordinary concentrations — the wandering albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, and the enormous royal albatrosses banking in the ship’s wake for hours at a time. These birds use the updraft off the swell with an efficiency that makes flight look effortless, and they follow the ship across the entire 800-kilometre crossing. The Drake crossing in March also means you’ll be crossing in more conventional light — proper sunrises and sunsets, actual night, a sky full of stars that the summer’s 24-hour daylight prevented — and the return leg of a March voyage can feel like the most dramatic crossing of your life. See Drake Passage and Antarctica facts for more.
South Georgia in March
If your itinerary includes South Georgia, March is a genuinely excellent month for that island. The King penguin colonies at St Andrews Bay and Salisbury Plain still contain large numbers of birds — the large brown chicks (oakum boys) that overwintered on the island are now approaching fledging, and the colonies have a different energy from the peak-breeding chaos of November–December. The beaches are less crowded with aggressive fur seals than in peak season, making landings easier. The King penguin adults are moulting and dispersing, and the juveniles beginning to fledge create scenes that rival anything in the season.
Grytviken — the restored whaling station and museum on South Georgia — is moving and fascinating in any month. Ernest Shackleton’s grave is there, and raising a toast to the Boss with a dram of whisky at the gravestone is an Antarctic tradition. The South Georgia Museum, housed in a restored whaling-era building, gives the full context of the island’s extraordinary history of exploration and industry. South Georgia in March also has the advantage of being past the most aggressive fur seal season — landings are somewhat easier than in November when the beaches are dominated by territorial males. See Antarctica cruise itineraries for the extended South Georgia options and best Antarctica cruises for operator recommendations.
Photography in March: The Case for Late-Season Light
I’ve been on six Antarctic voyages across different months, and the photographs I’ve taken in late February and March consistently outperform those from January in terms of light quality. This isn’t a universal experience, and peak January has its own photographic advantages — the abundance of chicks, the peak whale density, the extreme long daylight. But March’s lower sun angle, extended golden hours, and the dramatic icebergs created by a full season of calving create conditions that serious photographers return to specifically. The light in March can be extraordinary: an orange sunrise at 8am turning the icebergs from grey to gold to pink in the space of 20 minutes, or a salmon-coloured evening sky at 7pm with a humpback tail raised against it. These images are possible in any month, but March’s lower sun angle makes them more consistent and more intense.
For camera gear in March, cold management is even more important than in January. Cold-weather battery protocols — keeping spares in inner pockets, turning off image preview to save battery, using lower ISO settings where possible — matter more as temperatures drop. Weather-sealed camera bodies are worth their weight in gold when snow showers arrive unexpectedly during a shore landing. Our things to do in Antarctica guide covers photography programmes and onboard guides in detail.
What to Expect Each Week of March
March is not a monolithic month — the experience changes meaningfully by the week. In the first week of March, conditions are most similar to late February: whale watching is excellent, temperatures are mild by Antarctic standards, and most landing sites remain accessible. The icebergs from the full season’s calving are at their most spectacular. By the second week, temperatures begin to drop noticeably, daylight is shortening, and some southern landing sites may become restricted by early ice reformation. Whale sightings remain frequent but begin to thin slightly. By the third week, conditions are unmistakably late-season: shorter days, occasionally rough weather, fewer ships, and a landscape that has taken on its distinctly autumnal quality. The last departures of the season, typically in the third or fourth week, have the quietest, most atmospheric experience — and the best last-minute deals.
