Yalour Islands

A small group of rocky islands in the Wilhelm Archipelago off the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, visited regularly by expedition cruise ships. The islands are notable as wildlife sites and for their proximity to the peninsula’s coastal scenery.

Gentoo penguin colonies and seabird rookeries are among the principal wildlife attractions, and the islands offer vantage points for views of nearby icebergs and the Antarctic mainland. Typical visits are brief shore landings from expedition vessels with short walks to nesting areas and photo viewpoints.

Charted and named during early 20th-century Antarctic exploration, the islands have since become routine stops for tourist expeditions operating in the region. Their primary use today is for managed wildlife viewing and small-boat landings.

Set in the Wilhelm Archipelago close to the Graham Land portion of the Antarctic Peninsula, the islands lie off the western coast of the peninsula within the common cruising routes used by Antarctic expedition vessels.

• Access: Landings by small boats or zodiacs from cruise vessels are the typical means of visiting, and visitors should expect simple, rocky landings and short, supervised walks.
• Wildlife and views: Known for breeding colonies of penguins and seabirds and for panoramic views of the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding ice-filled waters on clear days.