About Candlemas Island
Candlemas Island is an uninhabited volcanic island in the South Sandwich Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean, administered as part of the British Overseas Territory of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It contains active volcanic features and steep, wildlife-rich shores.
Visitors who land generally encounter a rough volcanic landscape with steaming fumaroles, lava flows and black volcanic beaches, plus dense seabird colonies that use cliff edges and small flat coves. Landings are infrequent and are typically brief because of strong seas and ice.
Discovered by Captain James Cook on Candlemas Day in 1775 and named for that date, the island has no permanent human settlement. Scientific visits and occasional expedition landings have recorded volcanic activity and wildlife surveys in modern times.
The island lies in the remote South Atlantic south of the Scotia Sea; it is several hundred kilometres southeast of South Georgia and is reached only by long sea voyages from southern hemisphere ports.
- Access: Part of the South Sandwich Islands and uninhabited; access is by expedition ship only and landings are often prevented by weather and sea ice.
- Name and discovery: Named by Captain James Cook after he sighted the island on Candlemas Day in 1775; the island is notable for recent volcanic activity and fumaroles.
What to See#
- Volcanic centers: A dual volcanic complex dominated by a southern stratovolcano and a northern, more fumarolically active center called Lucifer Hill, both showing recent volcanic and steam activity.
- Coastline and bird colonies: Rocky, ice-scoured coastline with limited sheltered landing sites where seabird colonies concentrate on accessible cliffs and beaches.
Nearby Attractions to Candlemas Island
Best Time to Visit Candlemas Island
Visits only during the brief austral summer and only as part of organized polar expeditions; sea conditions are often severe.
Weather & Climate near Candlemas Island
Candlemas Island's climate is classified as Ice Cap - Ice Cap climate with cold summers (peaking in February) and freezing winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from -6°C to 5°C. Abundant rainfall (1780 mm/year), wettest in January, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 3° - 5° | 0° | 179 mm | - | - | 5.7 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 4° - 5° | 5° | 161 mm | - | - | 6.6 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 3° - 4° | -1° | 154 mm | - | - | 7.0 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 0° - 2° | -4° | 148 mm | - | - | 6.7 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | -3° - 1° | -7° | 155 mm | - | - | 6.4 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | -5° - 0° | -9° | 141 mm | - | - | 6.5 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | -6° - 0° | -10° | 141 mm | - | - | 6.7 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | -5° - 0° | -10° | 138 mm | - | - | 7.1 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | -4° - 1° | -8° | 134 mm | - | - | 7.0 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | -2° - 3° | -5° | 125 mm | - | - | 7.1 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 0° - 4° | -3° | 141 mm | - | - | 6.5 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 2° - 4° | -2° | 163 mm | - | - | 5.9 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Candlemas Island
There are no regular transport links; the only practical way to reach Candlemas Island is aboard a dedicated polar or subantarctic expedition vessel out of Ushuaia (Argentina) or Stanley (Falkland Islands). Voyages can take many days and require permits; landings are conditional on weather and conservation rules.
Tips for Visiting Candlemas Island
- There are no visitor facilities; only properly equipped scientific expeditions or ships call here - do not plan a casual visit.
- If attempting to see Candlemas Island from the water, use a licensed Antarctic expedition operator who understands South Atlantic weather and permits.
- Respect wildlife and protected status - the island is ecologically sensitive with significant seabird colonies.