How to Plan a Trip to the Falkland Islands Leave a comment

Whether you’re an adventurer, a photographer, or simply seeking peace, the Falklands promise an unforgettable experience. Each section of the website is crafted to enrich your understanding of the islands, offering both practical tips and engaging narratives. Welcome to the Falkland Islands Information Portal, your comprehensive guide to exploring the history, culture, and natural wonders of this unique archipelago. If you’re planning a visit, eager to learn about its rich past, or keeping up with the latest news, this website is designed to be your trusted resource. The population (3,662 inhabitants in 2021)2 is primarily native-born Falkland Islanders, the majority of British descent. Immigration from the United Kingdom, the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena, and Chile has reversed a population decline.

• The Falkland Islands are very remote and very little grows there in terms of fruit and vegetables.
• In any case, it’s recommended to book your Falkland trip at least a year in advance, as accommodation on the smaller islands is very limited.
• I suggest you spend at least 7 days in the Falkland Islands to get a good flavour of this incredible destination.
• They cost either £5 or £10, giving you enough data for about 45 minutes and 1 hour 30 online.

Modern times

• The Falkland Islands offer a rare combination of raw natural beauty, vibrant wildlife, and a sense of tranquility that is hard to find elsewhere.
• With two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and over 700 smaller islands, the archipelago is a haven for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike.
• The wool is sold in Great Britain and is the Falklands’ leading land-based export.
• Don’t just expect to rock up on the day and be granted one either (or even find anyone to talk to!) – this all needs to be arranged well in advance.
• Trust me, it will be a lot of work, considering not all lodges have direct booking pages and you’ll be emailing people back and forth like in the early 2000s.
• Sporting activities are popular on the islands and include bird-watching, fishing, and horseback riding.

Spending time on smaller islands is a quintessential Falklands experience – you’ll find penguin colonies, stunning landscapes and that peaceful feeling I mentioned at the start of the article. The weather between May and September is cold, wet and foggy, meaning getting around becomes difficult. Most locals also leave for a month or two, island lodges are closed and the place is generally miserable. The most convenient way to get to the Falkland Islands are the weekly LATAM flights from Santiago del Chile (SCL). These flights depart on Saturday morning from the domestic terminal, stop at Punta Arenas (PUQ) where passengers disembark and proceed through immigration, before getting back on the same plane and continuing to Mount Pleasant. Unless you are planning to visit the Falkland Islands as part of a cruise also heading to South Georgia and the Antarctic, flying is the only way to reach the islands.

#10 Cruising / Sailing to the Falklands

In common with other countries, before entering the Falkland Islands, all visitors are required to provide the Customs & Immigration team with details on where they will stay for the duration of their time here. There is also oil and gas outside the sea area that belongs to the UK. The Falkland Islands are very remote and very little grows there in terms of fruit and vegetables.

The chilly, damp climate inhibits the complete decomposition of plant matter and permits the accumulation of deep peat deposits. There are a range of ways to reach the Falkland Islands, although due to the ongoing pandemic, visitors should check with their travel operator as some of the usual routes are not currently in operation. The Falkland Islands Tourist Board has a range of accommodation options available on their website, from cosy cottages in the countryside, to lodges on the Outer Islands or five-star hotels in Stanley. I was a guest of the Falkland Islands Tourism Board during my week in the archipelago. I would like to thank Sasha for her help and support, and Japa from Blogilicious for having me!

They offer tailor-made itineraries and can also assist with rescheduling in case flights are delayed, but it will cost a little extra. There’s no set schedule for FIGAS flights, as it’s not an actual airline but rather operates as a “flying taxi service”. Flight times are published every afternoon on the FIGAS Facebook page, alongside itineraries and passenger lists. Lodge managers will be in touch to let you know your flight times, and will take care of your transfer between the airstrip and lodge. There are currently two ways to fly into Mount Pleasant (MPN), the military airport located approximately 1 hour from Stanley, the capital and largest city where more than likely you’ll spend your first night.

#1 Best Time to Visit

Trust me, it will be a lot of work, considering not all lodges have direct booking pages and you’ll be emailing people back and forth like in the early 2000s. Executive authority is vested in the British crown, and the islands’ government is headed by a governor appointed by the crown. The governor presides over the Executive Council and must consult with it in the discharge of most of his or her duties but may, in certain circumstances, act against the advice of the council.

In particular, you’ll see a heavy police presence here, you’ll also have to queue for a long time, as baggage facilities are pretty limited. It operates as both a commercial and military airport, run by the UK Defence Force. The wifi thing is a bit of a nightmare in the Falklands, so I suggest you see it as digital detox trip and embrace that.

Best Time to Visit the Falkland Islands

During this time, temperatures are at their mildest – usually about 10-15°C during the day, dropping slightly at night. They generally include 3 meals a day, transfer from the landing strip, free tea and coffee daily, afternoon cake, as well as maps and info about the island. Across most of the more popular small islands, such as Pebble Island and Sea Lion Island, lodges are available and offer fantastic homely accommodation that is specifically designed for tourists. Standing for the Falkland Islands Government Air Service, this incredible network transports passengers and freight around the islands every day from dawn until dusk. There’s a lot of info to take in about these quite peculiar flight options, so I’ve written a huge post about flights to the Falklands you can check out for more info. This is because you’ll receive a stamp when you enter and exit the Falklands (at the airport immigration point), which shows the amount of time spent there.

If you can afford it, I would wholeheartedly recommend spending two weeks. This will allow you to spend at least two or three nights on smaller islands, plus some buffer time in case of cancellations. During summer, you’ll also find less wind and rain, as well as longer daylight hours making it great for wildlife-watching. I mean, remember the Falklands are an archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic, so the weather will be very changeable – I was lucky over the course of a week in late January to have only one rainy day. If you ask me what stayed with me after spending one week in the Falkland Islands, I’ll say peace. The kind of peace you can only experience in a place with very little Internet, allowing you to forget your devices for a few days, and truly live the here and now.

If there are any questions that you have about visiting the Falkland Islands which you cannot find on this page or elsewhere on the website, please contact the Communications and Media Office. The Falkland Islands are a place unlike any other, which is why we thought it might be helpful to provide a list of key facts to bear in mind when visiting our beautiful home. During my stay I tried two different places, the restaurant at Malvina House Hotel, and the one at The Waterfront. The Malvina had an ample menu reminiscent of a British pub – think burgers, steaks, curries, stir-fries and some veggie options. The Waterfront had fewer dishes but more creative, and in my opinion the quality was higher.

Under the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983, Falkland Islanders are British citizens. For information on the use of drones (SUAs) in the Falkland Islands please visit the Falkland Islands Civil Aviation Department web page to ensure that you find the most up to date version of guidance and forms. Not all nationals require visas to enter the Falkland Islands, but please check the Customs & Immigration page for more information. Visitors from the EU, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Argentina and Brazil do not require a visa for their Falkland trip, for stays up to 1 month.

#7 Wifi & Data

Tours are available on most of the smaller islands (especially Pebble and at Hill Cove), as well as on the main islands of East and West Falkland. With landing strips in most settlements across the xspec price Falklands (i.e. where people live), you can use this service to get almost anywhere. If you’re arriving by plane to the Falklands, you’ll land at the International Airport, which is located in Mount Pleasant. This is because, with limited accommodation on most of the outer islands, things are both expensive and get booked up early.

Key facts about the Falklands

Outside Stanley and on smaller islands, visitors stay in lodges on a full-board basis. These lodges typically have only 2/4 rooms, a common room with tea/coffee, books and a honesty bar, and a table where breakfast and dinner are served. To get between islands, you’ll fly on 8-seater Islander planes operated by FIGAS, the Falkland Islands Government Air Services. Their operational base is Stanley Airport, about 5 km from the town, not to be confused with Mount Pleasant, about 50 km away.