Paulet Island Volcanic Cone and Nordenskjöld Hut

Paulet Island is a compact volcanic plug rising out of the northern Weddell Sea, and it punches well above its weight for sheer spectacle. The slopes are carpeted with roughly 100,000 Adélie penguins — one of the largest colonies in the Antarctic Peninsula region. Near the shore sits a rough stone hut built by 20 survivors of Nordenskjöld’s Swedish Antarctic Expedition after their ship the Antarctic sank in 1903. They wintered there on penguin meat and seal blubber. The hut is a protected historic monument under the Antarctic Treaty.

Reached by expedition ship from Ushuaia or Punta Arenas — ice conditions permitting, which in the Weddell Sea is never a given. IAATO-permitted zodiac landings are the only way ashore. The volcanic terrain is loose and steep in places; wear solid boots. December through February is the landing window. No facilities, no comms, no margin for error this far into the Weddell.

A volcanic cone, 100k penguins, one survivor hut.