© Alisa Ramos by Alisa Ramos
- The Drake Passage is the sea passage that ships take to Antarctica. It went viral because of how rude it is.
- Travel agent Alyssa Ramos has crossed back and forth three times and keeps coming back.
- " It's wild," he says. But then you get to Antarctica and you remember why it was worth it.
This essay is based on an interview with influential traveler Alyssa Ramos who navigated the Drake Passage. Edited for length and clarity.
I have traveled back and forth through what is known as the world's most dangerous sea crossing three times. That's why I keep coming back.
I am a travel agent.
It's my job. It's been 10 years since being a full-time influencer wasn't so rare. I earn my living through partnerships and sponsorships.
As a travel agent, I've always had those must-see destinations that were my dreams. One of them is Antarctica.
The cheapest and most ecological way to get to Antarctica is by boat .
That journey to Antarctica will take you through the Drake Passage, known for having some of the roughest seas in the world. The Drake Passage is a body of water between the southern tip of South America and the lonely continent of Antarctica.
Three seas meet at the Drake Passage. The Atlantic, Pacific and South Seas meet there, and if there is no land, dealing with water can be treacherous.
I've crossed the pass six times on three Antarctic expeditions and you never know if you'll find Drake Lake (nickname when the pass is quiet) or Drake Shack (nickname when the pass is quiet). it's hard).
As a travel influencer, I share my travels online.
My video on what it's like to walk down the aisle has been viewed over 4 million times. In the video you can see the reality of the passage: how it sways you when you try to walk, how the waves reach a height of 40 meters and how the boat goes up and down.
My best advice to anyone hiking the Drake Passage is to bring Dramamine, which is an anti-nausea medicine. It saves my life. I still vomit from time to time, but with the medication I can hold off the vomiting for the two days it takes to pass.
People say you can never walk because you get dizzy
But honestly, sitting in the backseat of a car makes me dizzy and I can deal with it. Just accept that you will vomit and be prepared with anti-nausea medication.
Every ship I was on had a doctor if someone couldn't stop vomiting.
It's crazy to go through Drake.
It's like being in an elevator going down. Your stomach drops to your legs and it feels like gravity is hitting you. You rock from side to side, unable to control what is happening. From the movement, a chair slid across the room and I hit my leg in my sleep.
Every time I walk down the hall, there's a moment when I wash myself after throwing up and look in the mirror: Why did I do this to myself?
But then you get to Antarctica and you remember why it was worth it.
You can walk on the seventh continent. You can see penguins and whales. You will see wildlife that you cannot see anywhere else in the world. This is one of my favorite places in the world.
#drakepassage is going viral on TikTok with over 189 million views and you can see why. It's not just a crazy ride, it takes you to an amazing destination.
