Esperanza Base is the only, and first town in Antarctica. It is also the southernmost town in the world. There used to be a bigger, more developed one with more facilities, called Villa las Estrellas, however it started closing down in 2018 due to it deteriorating and hasn't opened up since due to financial problems. However, it has started to re-open! (YAY) Esperanza Base became a civilian settlement in 1978, when Emilio Marcos Palma was born there on the 7th of january that year, and a school and other facilities were raised. The school was burned down in a 2007 fire so the school that is there now is from 2009. The town is owned by Argentina.

Unlike Villa las Estrellas, which had an airport and hotel, Esperanza Base isn't as open to tourism, but still is a little. You can only visit it via Antarctic cruises that has it as a stop. These cruises often take off from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas. You'll be transported from your cruise ship by a small Zodiac-Boat to the harbor. There is also a 20% chance that you won't be able to visit Esperanza base due to weather, so you might not even be able to visit even though you paid for the cruise.

Walk. The town is tiny, it's the only mode of transportation and there is nothing outside the town.

1.  Capilla de San Fransisco de Asís - The towns church and the most adorable one ever

2.  Esperanza Base Museum (Museo de la Base Esperanza) - The towns museum with exibits of the natural history and exploration of the area.

3.  Swedish hut (Choza de los Suecos) - A hut built by the men of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition (1901-1903), when their ship sunk.

4.  The schoolhouse (Escuela Provincial Nº 38 Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín) - The only school on the entire continent.

You can buy souvenirs and postcards at the museum and the post office. They are cash-only and there are no opportunities for exchange there, so you'll have to bring with you.

The village has a casino (no, seriously) which also serves as a restaurant and a community center.

Sleep aboard your cruise ship, as there are no hotels here.

Of course the town has no emergency services, but it has a hospital. 8 Babies have been born there.

The base has a satellite dish that recieves Argentinian tv. Since february 2018 there is 4G coverage on the base. They use satellite to get their internet, which makes it really slow. They also have a radio station, called LRA 36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel.

You should keep 5 meters distance from penguins and even more from seals. You are also forbidden from collecting rocks and touching historical items and littering.