Falklands Quest

Arrive at Mount Pleasant Airport in the early afternoon and join a shared minibus or coach transfer to Malvina House Hotel.

For the rest of today and Day 2, enjoy exploring Darwin and the surrounding area. View the Bodie Creek Bridge and then learn about the area's long history of sheep farming. Begin your life wildlife watching by looking for night herons, ruddy-headed geese, and blackish oystercatchers.

After breakfast, transfer to Pebble Island, where you'll spend the next two days. 

Pebble Island is one of the larger outlying islands of the archipelago, and the landscape varies greatly from large ponds and moorland to long sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. The deep ponds on the east of the island, many of which are within walking distance of the lodge, are home to Chiloe wigeon, Grebes, Black-necked swans and a multitude of other wildfowl and wading birds. The half and full day guided tours in 4x4 vehicle offer ample opportunity to see the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery further afield from the settlement, as well as to hunt for the semiprecious stones that give the island its name. Pebble Island also has interest for historians, with some 1982 conflict debris and several memorials.

In the evenings, relax in the comfortable lodge, previously the farm manager's house, which offers views across the island to Elephant Beach.

Morning transfer to Saunders Island, and then overland to The Rookery.

This 30,000-acre island is still an active sheep farm and is important historically for being the site of the first British settlement in 1765. However, the attraction to the wildlife enthusiast is undoubtedly the Black-browed albatross colony, which stretches along the north coast to the narrow sandy isthmus known as The Neck. This is unquestionably one of the Falklands’ best wildlife sites with King and Rock shags, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic, King, and—if you’re lucky—a few Macaroni penguins to be seen as well as the albatross.

Morning transfer to Carcass Island.

Spend two days on a scenic outer island with hedges and trees that attract small birds like Cobb’s wren, Black-chinned siskins, and Falklands thrush. The sandy beaches, hills, and cliffs are great spots to observe sea and shore birds on Carcass Island. You can explore at your own pace, with no fixed excursions.

Stay at the Manager’s House, where you can interact with Falkland Islanders and enjoy organic vegetables, meat, and dairy. The settlement gardens, featuring Monterey cypress trees, cabbage palms, flax, and colorful flowers, add to the island's charm. 

An optional excursion to neighboring West Point Island where Black-browed albatross and Rockhoppers nest together can be booked for an additional charge.

Please note that this trip is operated when weather and sea conditions are safe to do so.  A minimum of four passengers is needed for the trip to run otherwise a surcharge is levied.

Your hosts will advise when you should head to the jetty to join the Seaquest (a motorized catamaran) which will transport you from Carcass Island to West Point. Upon arrival at West Point, walk to where the Albatross and Rockhopper colonies are located. The route is well marked out.

 

Morning transfer to wildlife-rich Sea Lion Island.

Sea Lion Island is the most southerly inhabited island and one of the smallest in the Falklands archipelago, but it is still a prime destination due to the sheer abundance of wildlife found in such a small area.

Upon arrival, a 4x4 tour and drop-off/pick-up trip is arranged. You visit Long Pond and are dropped off at the Rockhopper colony for pick-up later. Your host arranges a convenient time for this and informs you of the relevant timings.

Forty-seven breeding bird species live on Sea Lion Island, including the endangered Striated caracara, Antarctic skuas, Southern giant petrels, and various passerines. Southern sea lions are in the waters around East Loafers, and elephant seals rest on the beach at Elephant Corner, visible from the lodge bar. You might also spot a killer whale offshore.

You spend two nights on the island at Sea Lion Lodge.

Morning transfer to Stanley on East Falkland. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. 

Today, you have two options to choose from to explore Stanley.

Option One
A full-day guided battlefield will take you around some of the Stanley Mountains such as Tumbledown, Two Sisters, Mt. Harriet, Sappers Hill – some of the places that became household names during the 74 day conflict in 1982 between Argentina and England over the sovereignty of the Falklands. Experienced guides will really bring these events to life.

Option Two
A full-day guided excursion in 4x4 vehicle to Volunteer Point will be a highlight of this trip. With the white sandy beach and turquoise waters this destination has a Caribbeanesque feel to it, but the King and Gentoo penguins will bring you back to the Falklands. There is a host of other wildlife to be seen along the beach and on the lagoons, as well as spectacular scenery as you traverse the north of East Falkland.

Spend another free day to explore Stanley.

This afternoon, transfer to Mount Pleasant Airport by a shared minibus or coach. Your route will take you past many of the 1982 battlefields, and, more historically, relics from the gaucho era of the 1800s. Return to Chile and continue home or on to further South American adventures.