Falkland Islands

Comprised of two principal islands - East & West Falkland - but counting 776 islands in total, this isolated Atlantic archipelago’s nearest neighbours are Patagonia, 300 miles (483 kilometres) to the east, and South Georgia.

From a landscape point of view there is nowhere else quite like The Falklands. Sparsely populated, unspoilt, raw and diverse are the words which most succinctly sum up the island's scenery. Perfect white sandy beaches, rolling golden hillsides, towering cliff faces, rocky promontories and unique ‘stone runs’ flowing down the mountains like rivers provides a small window into the startling geographical diversity of what you will find.

First claimed by the British in 1763, islanders to this day remain fiercely loyal to the Crown. The Falklands however hasn’t been free of controversy through its 500 year history with France, Spain and Argentina all having looked to exert authority at various times.

When discovered the islands were uninhabited, but the nineteenth century saw Stanley become one of the world’s busiest ports, while the introduction of Cheviot sheep was a game changer for the island's economy.

For many visitors, including veterans, the more recent 1982 conflict is the most historically significant and every islander has their own stories. While peace has returned to these sleepy islands, vestiges of that time are still plainly visible.

The Falklands can be reached either by flying or by ship. You have 3 choices:

1. Fly from Chile - There’s a weekly scheduled flight on Saturdays only beginning in Santiago and flying via Punta Arenas to The Falklands airport at Mount Pleasant. The flight between Punta Arenas and The Falklands takes approx. 1 hour 35 mins and is operated by LatAm. This is the most common way of getting to The Falklands.
2. Cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina - Between late October and the end of March, small expedition ships with capacity of 50 - 200 passengers depart from the Argentine port city of Ushuaia. It takes approx. 36 hours hours to sail from Ushuaia to Stanley. Typically 18 - 23 days in length these voyages also visit South Georgia and Antarctica, as well as The Falklands. Very popular, particularly with wildlife enthusiasts, these trips cherry pick the highlights of the Southern Ocean with regular shore visits.
3. Fly from the UK - There is also a regular direct flight to The Falklands operated by the RAC (UK military) from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, UK. This 18 hour flight goes via the Ascension Islands. Its expensive and you can’t book tickets more than a 2-3 months ahead, but it is the most direct routing from Europe.