Forasteras and Their Second Antarctic Adventure: “It Was Even Better Than the First Time”

Antarctica always finds new ways to surprise you, no matter how many times you visit it. For Camila Rikli and Tere Perez, this was their second adventure to the White Continent with Antarctica21. And despite the predisposition they had, this time was even better than the first one.

Together, they are the founders of Forasteras, a Travel Writing and Photography Agency that, through words and impactful images, aims to share stories that connect.

“To be honest, this was my second time traveling to Antarctica with Antarctica21, and I was a little nervous, because I wondered whether the experience would surprise me again. I thought, I've already seen all of this, what if I go back and it doesn't live up to my expectations? There was a certain apprehension that both Tere and I felt”, said Camila.

“We had been so amazed by our first experience that we were a little worried this time wouldn't be as spectacular as we remembered. But the truth is, it was even better. We were absolutely amazed and stunned,” she added.

A Special Moment: An Encounter with Humpback Whales

Antarctica offers special moments that leave a lasting mark. For Camila, that moment came when she encountered humpback whales while kayaking in the Southern Ocean: “That day will stay with me forever.”

“I have a very strong connection with whales. I don't know if you could call it spiritual or something else, but they are animals that really resonate with me. I admire them, I love them, and being in a kayak with whales just one meter away was incredible. You suddenly realize how small you are compared with the sheer immensity of these animals. And yet, despite their enormous size, they were incredibly calm. They knew we were there, but we never felt threatened”.

Camila also said that “even though a small movement from one of these whales could have tipped over our tiny kayaks, we always felt completely safe. They were simply there, breathing and occasionally surfacing, and everything happened with such calmness.”

A Place Difficult to Describe

For Camila, Antarctica is like another planet, and describing through words what she saw in this expedition is a huge responsibility.

“Tere and I tell our stories from two different perspectives: through visuals and through words. That helps us because I tend to write in a very sensory way. I probably don't even come close to describing what Antarctica really is, but I think I've managed, at least to some extent, to capture its essence by describing the sensations: the temperatures, smells, sounds, and so on, alongside Tere's visual work.”

But for her, writing about the White Continent is far beyond just describing it: it’s about raising awareness about it: “This is where the future of our planet is, and it holds the largest reserve of freshwater on Earth. It's a place that needs to be protected. So, we also want to bring Antarctica closer to people in that sense, to help them understand why it matters and why we need to take care of it.”

“Antarctica Changed My Life”

Camila feels a deep connection with Antarctica. On this second expedition aboard Magellan Explorer, she said she felt peace and comfort: “I always say, and this might sound a little cliché, that Antarctica changed my life. It changed my perspective. It made me feel vulnerable again. It allowed me to rediscover my capacity for wonder and reconnect with a place that genuinely made me happy.”

“You really feel incredibly small, but at the same time, you feel like you're part of it. I feel very connected to this place. I feel comfortable there. I feel deeply at peace.”

She also highlighted the work of the Expedition Team: “It's not only about the emotions you experience. It's also about how much you learn during every journey. The lectures are truly a luxury, and ideally, you leave the expedition feeling like an ambassador for Antarctica. The amount of knowledge the guides share with us is incredible, and hopefully we can then share that knowledge with the rest of the world.”

“Let Yourself Be Surprised”

Antarctica is not the typical destination where you go with an itinerary to follow day by day. Here, the rules are different. The weather conditions will dictate what you can and cannot do.

“Take advantage of that uncertainty. Embrace not knowing what to expect. Let yourself be surprised. Everyone's experience in Antarctica is different because the light changes every hour, the weather changes every hour, and there's no guarantee of what you're going to see. You have to go with an open mind and simply be grateful for whatever comes your way,” Camila says.

“It's a wonderful opportunity to experience surprise, because that's something we tend to lose in everyday life. We like to control everything and plan everything. In Antarctica, you have to do the opposite. Go with an open mind and allow yourself to be surprised.”

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