Getting in

• Cape Town, South Africa (ship departure port): There is no airport or scheduled passenger connection to the island. Apply to the Tristan Government for permission before attempting to book passage; visitors travel from Cape Town on the SA Agulhas II or the fishing vessels Edinburgh and Lance, typically taking 5–10 days each way, weather permitting. Indicative return fares are about US$500 on Agulhas and US$1,000 on a fishing vessel. This is not a transfer you can treat like a ferry: schedules are sparse, often planned more than a year ahead, and visitors can lose their place to medical, official or resident travel.
• Edinburgh of the Seven Seas harbour: Ships anchor offshore and landing depends on sea conditions and Harbourmaster clearance. Arrange the landing through the Visits Liaison process; do not assume that a cruise itinerary guarantees time ashore. Yacht visitors need advance clearance and pay a £15 landing fee; a shore-transfer RIB, if needed, is quoted at £75 per day.