Because of infrequent international commercial flights—weekly at best—unless your time is almost unlimited, organizing your Falkland Islands itinerary before arrival is essential. Without your own plane or yacht, visits shorter than a week are nearly impossible, and two weeks would be desirable. Charter flight passengers from the United Kingdom, though, can take Ministry of Defence (MOD) charters that arrive every five or six days. (See the Getting to the Falkland Islands section on the Falkland Islands page for more information on MOD charters.)

Most visitors enjoy the Falkland Islands between October and March, when migratory seabirds and marine mammals return to the shoreline to breed. The concentrations of penguins, cormorants, albatrosses, elephant seals, and other species are greatest in December and January, when chicks and pups are present; these are also the longest days of summer, with more flexibility for wildlife-watching. That said, signature bird species such as the king penguin are present all year.

Given the Islands’ fickle climate, warm and waterproof clothing, such as woolen sweaters and windbreakers, is essential. Rubber boots (“wellies”) are useful for slogging over peaty ground, but it’s sometimes possible to borrow them.