Mentioning the Falkland Islands may elicit one of several reactions: where, why, war, whether they are British or Argentine, liking penguins – or perhaps a mixture of all of the above. But for most people, they’re not really a place you plan to visit or spend your vacation, and I’ll admit I used to fall into that category.
I spent two weeks exploring an archipelago of some 700 islands, of which I saw less than a handful, and now I can see their truly unique charms. Wild, rugged and undisturbed nature is the main attraction, but there are plenty of reasons to visit the Falkland Islands, and fortunately, it’s become easier and more affordable.
Previously, the only option from the UK was to take the rather long, annoying and expensive RAF route from a military base in Oxford. Now, with the right connection to São Paulo through LATAM, everything is much easier. The advertised “departure” prices show round-trip fares to London at £1005, Sydney at £1332 and Miami at £867 – still not the cheapest, but a significant drop in price from the previous options. Of course, for the really brave (and more money), you can still choose to visit the Falkland Islands as a stopover for cruises to South Georgia and Antarctica.
2. All the penguins
Undoubtedly the main reason many people visit the Falkland Islands is the lovely and distinctive penguins, of which there are five species throughout the islands. Even from the capital, Stanley, you can quickly make your way to a designated spot to watch these beautiful creatures waddle or dive into the crystal clear waters.
The whole of the Falkland Islands is essentially a vast nature reserve and seeing a colony of King Penguins in the wild is just one of those feelings that I will never be able to put into words. If you are looking for penguin sightings, this is undoubtedly one of the best islands in the world.
3. Countless other wildlife opportunities
The penguins are first class, of course, but there is a wealth of other wildlife here, which is a great reason to visit the Falkland Islands.
From sea lions and seals to killer whales, from countless species of birds to leaping dolphins, there is a breathtaking place to witness wildlife in the wild. The wildlife on offer may vary from season to season, but no matter when you visit, there will always be plenty of animals to observe.
