Gypsy Cove

The natural choice
Often visited on Antarctic cruises, the Falkland Islands are a group of over 740 islands clustered in the South Atlantic some 480 miles northeast  of Cape Horn. Teeming with wildlife, including penguins, albatross, sea lions and elephant seals, they offer unspoilt shores, spectacular scenery, a  rich history, and a warm welcome from the small population of less than 3,000 people.

With wildlife and birdwatching, history, walking, battlefield tours and a laid-back island charm all on the agenda, the Falklands remain popular with travellers looking for an off-the-beaten-track experience.  Passengers can experience all this and more on a wide variety of shore excursions and tours.

Most vessels visit the colourful capital, Stanley, which boasts many reminders of its British heritage, such as red phone boxes and seven distinctly English pubs, as well as a long and interesting history.  Some cruise operators offer a true taste of the Falklands by including the outlying islands of the Falklands archipelago, which often have very small populations and can otherwise only be accessed by helicopter.

When to cruise
The cruise season runs from October-April, during the Falkland Islands’ summer.  The Falklands are as close to the South Pole as London is to the North Pole. On average, the Falklands are cooler than London in the summer, but warmer in the winter. The Falkland Islands have more hours of sunshine and less rainfall than the UK.  Summer is a wonderful time, with long daylight hours similar to England’s southern coastal regions. The average summer temperature is around 15°C and the average winter temperature 5°C. Average annual rainfall is 573.6mm.

Getting there
The Falklands are included in the itineraries of more than 37 cruise companies.  A visit to the Islands is generally included as part of a larger cruise itinerary, which may incorporate such famous destinations as South Georgia, the Antarctic Peninsula and selected South American ports. For a full list of the operators visiting the Falklands, see the ‘Getting Here’ section on www.falklandislands.com.

FALKLAND ISLANDS FACTS

Status The Falkland Islands are an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom, financially independent in everything except defence.

Capital city Stanley is the capital city of the Falklands, located on East Falkland around picturesque Stanley Harbour.

Time difference GMT –5 hours (FI winter); GMT –3 hours (FI summer).

Official language English.

Currency The local currency is the Falkland Islands pound (£FK), which has the same value as the British pound (also acceptable as legal tender throughout the Falklands). Many shops, hotels and restaurants in Stanley will also accept US dollars and Euros in cash.

Geography & location The Falkland Islands are a compact group of more than 770 islands situated 400 miles off the southeastern tip of South America. The Islands have a total land area of 12,173 sq km (approx. the size of Connecticut or half the size of Wales). Despite several large mountain ranges the Islands are relatively flat, rising no more than 705m above sea level at their highest point. The two main islands are East Falkland and West Falkland, linked by air and ferry services. The Islands lay between latitude 51º and 53 ºS and longitude 57º and 62ºW.

Flora & fauna More than 220 species of bird have been identified in the Falklands, including 5 species of penguin and over 60% of the world’s black-browed albatross population. There are also 14 species of regularly occurring marine mammal, such as the southern elephant seal, southern sea lion, Commerson’s dolphin, Peale’s dolphin, and killer whale (orca). 350 species of plant have also been recorded in the Falklands, of which 13 are endemic and 173 are native.