Places to stay
Places to stay in the Falkland Islands.
Falkland accommodation ranges from boutique Stanley hotels to rustic lodges and farm-stays on outlying islands. Many visitors mix base camps (e.g. in Stanley or a coastal lodge) with day trips. Below are highlights of principal destinations:
Stanley (Capital)
Stanley is the only city in the Falklands, a small yet vibrant community with colorful buildings along a sheltered bay. Despite having around 3,500 residents, it offers city amenities like shops, pubs, and museums. Notable sights include Christ Church Cathedral, the Historic Dockyard Museum, and war memorials along Victory Green.
- Christ Church Cathedral (world’s southernmost Anglican cathedral)
- Famous blue-whale jawbone arch
- Historic Dockyard Museum (whaling and island heritage)
- War memorials on Victory Green
- The only domestic airport (for FIGAS flights)
- Various hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs available for accommodation
Sea Lion Island
Sea Lion Island is a low-lying island with sandy bays and tussac grass plains. It’s known as the best place in the Falklands to see southern elephant seals and orcas. The island is a nature reserve, home to various penguin species and rare birds like Cobb’s wren. It also features a WWII memorial on Point.
- Best place to see southern elephant seals
- Orcas (killer whales) hunt seals nearby
- Designated nature reserve and IBA (Important Bird Area)
- Home to Magellanic, Gentoo, and Rockhopper penguins
- Rare birds like Cobb’s wren
- Sea Lion Lodge offers full-board stays with wildlife views and historic WWII memorial
Darwin & Goose Green
Darwin and Goose Green are remote settlements on the southern peninsula of East Falkland. Darwin, founded in 1859, has an old stone corral and church ruins. Goose Green was the site of a significant 1982 battle, with an Argentine cemetery and Colonel H. Jones memorial nearby.
- Darwin (est. 1859) features old stone corral and church ruins
- Goose Green is the site of a 1982 battle, with an Argentine cemetery and memorial
- Darwin is a starting point for wilderness hikes (e.g., Mt. Usborne)
- Penguin colonies are nearby at New Haven
- Wildlife includes steamer ducks, oystercatchers, geese, and bottlenose dolphins
- Accommodations are rustic farmhouses (e.g., Darwin House) on working sheep farms
Volunteer Point
Volunteer Point is a windswept farm peninsula on East Falkland. It is home to the largest accessible King Penguin colony in the islands, with around 1,300 adult King penguins breeding here each year, alongside Gentoo and Magellanic penguins. Over 40 other bird species nest nearby. The area offers stunning photo opportunities with its long, pale sandy beach and high grass berms.
- Largest accessible King Penguin colony in the Falklands (1,300 adults)
- Gentoo and Magellanic penguins also breed here
- Over 40 bird species nest nearby (terns, oystercatchers, rock cormorants)
- Spectacular photo opportunities with tropical-looking surf and sand on sunny days
- No hotel, but an on-site Warden's cabin can host up to 4 guests
- Most visitors come on a 4×4 day-trip from Stanley
Carcass & West Point Islands
Carcass Island, off West Falkland, is known for its pristine ecology. The island has been rat and cat-free for generations, allowing bird life to thrive. Visitors can see endemic Cobb’s wrens, Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, and a large colony of Striated Caracaras. King Cormorants, Night Herons, and a small elephant seal haul-out are also found here.
- Carcass Island is rat- and cat-free, promoting thriving birdlife
- See Cobb’s wrens, Magellanic and Gentoo penguins
- Large colony of Striated Caracaras
- Home to King Cormorants, Night Herons, and elephant seals
- Stay at Carcass Cottage with ensuite rooms
- Boat trip to West Point offers dolphin sightings and dramatic cliffs
Pebble Island
Pebble Island, the third-largest island, features diverse terrain, including sandy bays, wetlands, and mountains. It hosts at least 42 breeding bird species, including ~1,000 pairs of Imperial (King) Shags and large colonies of Gentoo, Magellanic, and Rockhopper penguins. Tours explore both ends of the island.
- 42+ breeding bird species, including King Shags and penguins
- West End has large Rockhopper colonies and wildlife
- See Southern Giant Petrels, peregrine falcons, and caracaras
- Visit 1982 conflict wreckage and memorials
- East End has Elephant Beach and many penguins
- Stay at Pebble Island Lodge, a former farm manor
Saunders Island
Saunders Island, off NW West Falkland, is famous for its birdlife and history. It was the site of the first British settlement (Port Egmont, 1765), with ruins still present. The island’s northern peaks are separated by “The Neck,” a sandy isthmus home to large Gentoo and Magellanic penguin colonies and some King penguins.
- Historic Port Egmont settlement ruins (1765)
- "The Neck" hosts Gentoo, Magellanic, and King penguins
- Huge black-browed albatross rookeries on high cliffs
- Family-run sheep farm (30,000 acres)
- Two basic cottages for wildlife photographers (Rookery and The Neck)
- Watch penguins, albatrosses, sea lions, and occasionally whales from The Neck cabin
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Get in Touch
Phone
00500 52946
Address
Stanley, Falkland Islands.
