Peninsula Region Permits

The Antarctic Peninsula receives over 95% of all Antarctic tourists. This concentration of visitors has led to specific management frameworks that go beyond standard Antarctic Treaty permits.

Site Guidelines & Visitor Caps

IAATO and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) have established Site Guidelines for Visitors at over 40 Peninsula landing sites. Each site specifies:

• Maximum visitors ashore at one time (typically 100)
• Designated landing zones and walking paths
• Sensitive areas to avoid (nesting colonies, moss beds, historical structures)
• Seasonal restrictions (some sites closed during breeding periods)

Key Peninsula Sites and Their Limits

Site	Max Visitors	Key Feature
Neko Harbour	100	Gentoo penguins, continental landing
Paradise Bay	100	Glacial panorama, Argentine base
Cuverville Island	100	Largest gentoo colony on Peninsula
Port Lockroy	60	Historic base, museum, post office
Deception Island	100 per site	Volcanic caldera, hot springs
Jougla Point	60	Whale bones, gentoo colony
Half Moon Island	100	Chinstrap penguins
Petermann Island	100	Southernmost gentoo colony

Landing Rotation System

To prevent overcrowding, IAATO operates a ship scheduling system. No more than one ship may land passengers at a site at the same time. Ships coordinate daily schedules via VHF radio and the IAATO vessel tracking system. This means:

• Your itinerary may change day-to-day based on other ships' positions
• Expedition leaders adjust plans in real-time to ensure each site receives only one ship
• Popular sites may be visited at unusual hours (early morning, late evening) to fit the rotation

Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs)

Several Peninsula locations are designated ASPAs with additional permit requirements:

• ASPA No. 126: Byers Peninsula, Livingston Island -- research only, no tourism
• ASPA No. 128: Western shore of Admiralty Bay -- restricted scientific zone
• ASPA No. 140: Parts of Deception Island -- volcanic monitoring zone
• ASPA No. 150: Ardley Island -- breeding bird sanctuary

Entry to any ASPA requires a specific ASPA permit from your national authority, granted only for approved scientific purposes. Tourist operators do not land in ASPAs.

Season-Specific Restrictions

• Early season (October-November): Some southern Peninsula sites remain inaccessible due to pack ice
• Breeding season (November-January): Additional buffer distances at penguin nesting sites
• Late season (February-March): Ice conditions may re-close sites; operators maintain flexibility