Eight Days in the Falklands

For visitors to southernmost Patagonia, the Falkland Islands [1] make an intriguing detour, but an inflexible one. There is only one weekly flight, on Saturday, from the Chilean city of Punta Arenas [2] to the Islands’ Mount Pleasant International Airport. Likewise, travel within the Islands requires, for the most part, using air taxis whose itineraries depend on demand rather than fixed schedules. For a visit this short, and with limited accommodations, advance arrangements are almost essential; depending on availability, other sites could be substituted for those mentioned.

Day 1

Arrive at Mount Pleasant International Airport and make an immediate FIGAS flight connection to Pebble Island, West Falkland [3]. Overnight at Pebble Island Lodge, with a visit to 1982 combat sites and nearby seabird and marine mammal colonies. Alternatively, take a flight to Saunders Island [4], with self-catering accommodations; visit 18th-century ruins of the earliest British settlement and the bird-rich shoreline.

Day 2

Enjoy a full-day exploration of Pebble Island wildlife sites, with gentoo and rockhopper penguins, the occasional king penguin, and sea lions. Alternatively, on Saunders, take a long but rewarding hike to diverse penguin and black-browed albatross colonies at “The Neck,” or to similar wildlife at “The Rookery.”

Days 3–4

Catch the FIGAS flight to Carcass Island, West Falkland [5], with elephant seal colonies and many birds, including an abundance of the rare striated caracara, a remarkably tame predator. Stay at the Carcass Island ranch.

Day 5

Take a FIGAS flight to Sea Lion Island, East Falkland [6], home to three penguin species, large elephant seal and sea lion colonies, giant petrels, uncommon small birds, and the Falklands’ largest remaining stands of native tussock grass, more than two meters high. Stay at Sea Lion Lodge.

Alternatively, visit Bleaker Island [7], which has most of the same wildlife as Sea Lion, with considerably less expensive but still comfortable accommodations.

Day 6

Do morning sightseeing on Sea Lion or Bleaker, with an afternoon FIGAS flight to Stanley [8]. Find hotel or B&B accommodations in town.

Day 7

Take a full-day overland excursion to Volunteer Point [9] to visit the king penguin colony, also with gentoos and Magellanics, returning to Stanley in the afternoon. Do a Friday-night pub crawl, if desired.

Day 8

Your morning is free for sightseeing in Stanley, with an early-afternoon departure for Punta Arenas [2].