Your Antarctic Gateway
Falkland Islands
Five penguin species, black-browed albatross and taste of Britain sit on these isles found at 52 degrees south
HIGHLIGHTS
A scenic British pitstop on the voyage to Antarctica
Stanley is the Falklands’ small capital; it’s British enough to accept the pound as currency but couldn’t be much further away, at more than 12,000 km across the Atlantic. Home to one of the largest concentrations of seabird colonies in the Southern Ocean, the Falklands are home to no less than five penguin species and plenty of others, including albatross and caracaras. The Falkland Islands War left a visible presence across both islands when it ended in 1982, and now memorials and shipwrecks have become home to birds and memories to locals.
Rockhopper, Magellanic, gentoo, maraconi and king pengiuins call it home.
Leopard seals patrol the Falklands waters
Shipwrecks, memorials and remnants of a 1982 battle
Signature locations
Inspiring destinations you’ll visit on Falkland Islands cruises
Similar in size to Wales, the Falklands’ 700 isles offer an incredible array of picturesque landscapes, wildlife habitats, isolated beaches and a quaint town, all frequented by expedition cruises on their way to South Georgia Island or the Antarctic.
Volunteer Point
Home to the largest king penguin colony in the Falklands, Volunteer Point is accessed by 4WD across private farmland from Stanley. Magellanic and gentoo penguins also find refuge on the beach, allowing you to see three of the islands’ five penguin species at one site
Volunteer Point
Home to the largest king penguin colony in the Falklands, Volunteer Point is accessed by 4WD across private farmland from Stanley. Magellanic and gentoo penguins also find refuge on the beach, allowing you to see three of the islands’ five penguin species at one site
When to go
Each season on the Falklands reveals something different
Once spring has sprung on the frozen continent, Antarctic cruise ships once again sail to the remote archipelago of the Falkland Islands.
Rockhopper and gentoo penguins return to their homes and begin nest building for the summer months, while black-browed albatross have already settled into their cliff colonies. King penguins at Volunteer Point are year-round residents and are active on the beach. Fewer ships visit in these early-season months, with quieter landings across the islands.
Questions we hear most
FAQs about the Falkland Islands
Below are answers to some of the most common questions.
No. Australian passport holders can visit the Falkland Islands without a visa for stays of 30 days or less, which is longer than cruises will visit. Rest assured, the expedition team manages all required documentation for ship-based arrivals. Keep in mind this information is just for those arriving by cruise. If you’re doing a self-guided stay on the islands before or after, then entry requirements may differ for independent travellers arriving by air.
The Falklands sit at the meeting point of several ocean current systems that bring diverse fish and krill populations to the waters around the islands, which have created a perfect habitat for penguins and other species. Five penguin species have established stable breeding populations due to the abundant food sources in the ocean, the Falklands’ idyllic nesting terrain, and the absence of terrestrial predators.
Regular flights do operate from Santiago, Chile (with LATAM), where you can connect to Sydney and Melbourne directly. However, most expedition travellers will arrive by ship from South America and depart by the same means, with the Falklands as the first or last stop on a longer voyage. It tends not to be the starting point of most Antarctic cruise journeys.
Yes. Historians can find wreckages, memorials, and marked minefields across both the main Falkland Islands. The conflict museum in Stanley is well-presented and factual, while the Argentine and British cemeteries outside Stanley are both open to visitors.
The islands are currently British and use the pound as currency. After the 10-week Falkland Islands War ended in 1982, the British declared victory and still rule the island to this day. During the war, the Argentinians also invaded South Georgia Island, which, too, is currently run by the British.
Yes, tourists can visit the Falkland Islands, and it is a frequent port on longer Antarctic cruise itineraries, often stopped at on the way to or from South Georgia Island. The island is technically British, so it has similar customs regulations to the United Kingdom.
