A coastal freighter travels around the two main islands to deliver supplies and collect the wool clip for transshipment to the United Kingdom. An international airport is located at the Mount Pleasant Military Complex. Falkland Islands, internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic Ocean. It lies about 300 miles (480 km) northeast of the southern tip of South America and a similar distance east of the Strait of Magellan. The capital and major town is Stanley, on East Falkland; there are also several scattered small settlements as well as a Royal Air Force base that is located at Mount Pleasant, some 35 miles (56 km) southwest of Stanley. In South America the islands are generally known as Islas Malvinas, because early French settlers had named them Malouines, or Malovines, in 1764, after their home port of Saint-Malo, France.
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 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 xspec price 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.
Getting Around the Falklands
This means to visit places without tours, especially on the main islands, if you want to go hiking, war memorial finding, penguin spotting or anything else, you’ll need a permit from the land owner. Ranges of hills run east-west across the northern parts of the two main islands, reaching 2,312 feet (705 metres) at Mount Usborne in East Falkland. The coastal topography features many drowned river valleys that form protected harbours.
The government began selling fishing licenses to foreigners in 1987, and the revenue generated from such sales became a major contributor to the economy. In 2002 a slaughter facility was built, and the following year sheep and lamb meat began being exported to the United Kingdom. In the early 1990s, seismic studies suggested the presence of offshore oil reserves, and licenses were granted to foreign companies for exploration. Tourism, especially ecotourism, grew rapidly beginning in the early 21st century to become another leading sector of the economy.
#2 How Long to Spend There?
The islands’ cool and windy climate offers few temperature extremes and only minor seasonal variability. Consistently high west winds average 19 miles (31 km) per hour, while the mean annual average temperature is about 42 °F (5 °C), with an average maximum of 49 °F (9 °C) and an average minimum of 37 °F (3 °C). The Falklands War was fought over their possession during Margaret Thatcher’s time as British Prime Minister. There are many islands in the group but the two biggest are East Falkland and West Falkland. I am normally a DIY kind of traveller, but I would recommend planning your Falkland trip with an agency – it’s really invaluable to have a ‘contact person’ once you’re on the islands, also considering Internet is quite limited. The two main travel agents in the islands are Falkland Islands Holidays and International Tours & Travel.
Education
This means most trips to the Falkland Islands will last a duration of 11 days in total – 2 days travel there, 7 days on island, plus 2 days travel back. The official currency is the Falkland pound, which is on par with the British pound. There is little unemployment in the Falklands, but a shortage of housing has discouraged immigration. The islands’ social welfare system is adequate, and primary education is free. There are a primary and a secondary school at Stanley and several smaller schools in rural areas.
Internet connectivity in the Falklands is limited, and quite expensive. Forget tourist SIM cards at the airport and free Wi-Fi in hotels – you can only get connectivity at limited ‘hotspots’ around the island. Despite their small size, the planes are very stable and pilots are incredibly skilled. It’s also fun to land on airstrips in the middle of fields – most islands have more than one, and pilots choose the most suitable one depending on wind direction to minimise turbulence.
- 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.
- As a heads up, car rental is only really useful if you’re staying on East Falkland, as you can’t take vehicles to the smaller islands – you have to fly there.
- In South America the islands are generally known as Islas Malvinas, because early French settlers had named them Malouines, or Malovines, in 1764, after their home port of Saint-Malo, France.
How Long to Spend in the Falkland Islands
Here’s a quick breakdown of costs – prices are quoted in GBP, the currency used on the islands. Sure is the only telecommunication operator in the islands, so to get online you’ll have to buy one of their data cards. They cost either £5 or £10, giving you enough data for about 45 minutes and 1 hour 30 online. You’ll don’t have to use all your data at once, so remember to log in and out each time you want to get online.
#7 Wifi & Data
The islands lie at the boundary of the subantarctic oceanic and tundra climate zones, and both major islands have mountain ranges reaching 2,300 ft (700 m). They are home to large bird populations, although many no longer breed on the main islands owing to predation by introduced species. Major economic activities include fishing, tourism, and sheep farming, with an emphasis on high-quality wool exports. Oil exploration, licensed by the Falkland Islands Government, remains controversial as a result of maritime disputes with Argentina. Stanley Harbour is the islands’ main port; it has a commercial wharf and receives cruise ships. The main settlements are linked by roads and a government-operated air service, which also provides interisland passenger service.
- The Malvina had an ample menu reminiscent of a British pub – think burgers, steaks, curries, stir-fries and some veggie options.
- 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.
- It’s quite an amazing system and you can learn all about my experience of it, as well as how to book and sort flights yourself in this article I wrote.
- This means most trips to the Falkland Islands will last a duration of 11 days in total – 2 days travel there, 7 days on island, plus 2 days travel back.
- Please note that on the way back to Santiago, you’re also required to collect your luggage from the carousel and check it back in during your stop in Punta Arenas.
The territory’s sovereignty status is part of an ongoing dispute between Argentina and the UK. These lodges are adjacent to sheep/cattle farms and owned/run by the same people – you’ll get a warm welcome, but don’t expect the owners/managers to have loads of time to show you around. You can check out lodges on the Falkland Islands Tourist Board website. Alternatively, you can plan your Falkland itinerary independently, email all the lodges and hotels you are planning to stay at, all the tours you wish to do, and book your internal flights directly with FIGAS.
Travelling to the Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands Information Portal is designed to provide you with all the tools you need to plan your visit or simply explore the islands from the comfort of your home. The population of the Falkland Islands is English-speaking and consists primarily of Falklanders of British descent. The pattern of living on the islands is sharply differentiated between Stanley and the small, isolated sheep-farming communities. The islands’ vegetation is low and dense in a landscape with no natural tree growth. White grass (Cortaderia pilosa) and diddle-dee (Empetrum rubrum) dominate the grasslands. Where livestock grazing has been controlled, coastal tussock grass (Parodiochloa flabellata) still covers offshore islands.
