Falkland Islands

The Falklands comprise two main islands, East and West Falkland, as well as an additional 748 smaller, mostly unpopulated islands covering an area slightly less than Northern Ireland. The majority of the 2,500 population live in the capital Stanley on East Falkland, while a small but determined populace live on isolated sheep farms in ‘camp’ – the name given to the countryside and derived from the Spanish word campo. Stanley is the only real town in the archipelago and offers modern amenities amidst signs of a lively past. Backed by hills, the waterfront is littered with photogenic shipwrecks and distinctive, colourful buildings give the town character.

The foremost appeal to visitors of the Falkland Islands is the abundant wildlife, where the sheer numbers of penguins, seals and pelagic birds is quite staggering. Colonies of rock hopper, macaroni, magellanic and gentoo penguins can all be encountered along with impressive king penguins, elephant seals, sea lions and around 10,000 breeding pairs of black-browed albatross.

GETTING TO THE FALKLANDS

Flights to Mt Pleasant Airport on East Falkland operate from Punta Arenas in Chile, (flights from the UK arrive into Santiago). Internal flights by twin engine Islander aircraft are operated by FIGAS.

WEST FALKLAND & THE ISLANDS

The attractive scenery of Carcass Island, situated to the northwest of West Falkland is ideal for hill walking and magellanic and gentoo penguins nest in the soft peaty soil. The island is also home to the fascinating striated caracara, one of the world’s rarest birds of prey. Nearby West Point Island boasts great numbers of breeding black-browed albatross and rockhopper penguins can be seen at a rocky, tussock-covered outcrop known as the Devil’s Nose. Scenic Saunders Island is made up of two large peaks divided by a thin sandy isthmus called the Neck. One of the archipelago’s wildlife hotspots; Saunders has over 11,000 pairs of breeding black browed albatross, significant colonies of gentoo, magellanic and rockhopper penguins as well as elephant seals, cormorants, petrels and even a few king penguins. Pebble Island also boasts concentrations of gentoo and rockhopper penguins, plus a substantial sheep population. It was a frontline site during the Falklands conflict and reminders of such can be seen around the coastline.

EAST FALKLAND & THE ISLANDS

Sea Lion Island is the most southerly inhabited island in the Falklands group and is home to the largest colony of elephant seals, with up to 2,000 of these grumpy animals hauled up on the beaches at the height of the breeding season. Small groups of the rare southern sea lion also breed here and can be seen on the rocky coastal ledges as well as in the plentiful tussock grass. Rockhopper, gentoo and magellanic penguins can also be seen, whilst orca are often spotted offshore. The privately owned nature reserve of Volunteer Point, an impressive peninsula to the north of East Falkland can be reached overland by 4x4 vehicle. The white sand beach of the same name is two miles long, and bordered by high grassy banks leading down to rolling greens, provides the ideal habitat for three species of penguin to breed – most notably, over 1,200 king penguins. Gentoo and magellanic penguins also nest along the peninsula.

FLY DIRECT

You may like to consider flying direct to the Falklands from the UK, aboard an RAF aircraft. Departing from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, TriStar flights operate six or seven times a month and take 18 hrs stopping to refuel at the Ascension Islands. Please contact us to discuss your travel options.