Falkland Islands
Penguin Paradise: Our Unforgettable Falkland Islands Adventure!
Before embarking on our journey to the Falkland Islands, a daunting review caught my eye, claiming it was the most expensive and least hospitable place on Earth. Undeterred, we set off to explore this remote destination for ourselves. Besides, our trip was about penguins, not humans.
Let's first rewind to our arrival at the Mount Pleasant airport, a tiny military outpost enforcing strict (no) photography rules. Picture this: a small room, a handful of desks, and an immigration officer so excited about our upcoming stay with the penguins that she practically gave us a penguin-themed welcome dance. A very good start.
My first observation is that the Falkland Islands are not a tourist hotspot. The locals aren't scrambling to cater to tourists' every need because tourists, they just don’t come. No taxis awaited us; instead, we found ourselves on a bus, the only mode of transportation to and from the airport, unless you’re being picked up by a friend or family.
Taking in the vast emptiness of the island, dotted with a few homes and thousands of sheep, confirmed our arrival in the actual middle of nowhere.
Our first stop was Stanley, a “city” with a population of apparently 2,400. Undeterred by the lack of things to do for 3 days before our penguin reservation, we explored the city on our own. There’s a bakery, a diner, and a nice waterfront and we did discover the world’s greatest playground. Inspired by military training, Dave and I also had a blast on it. We also learned all about the 1982 war with Argentina, a one-sided perspective I’m sure. The Falkland Islanders, while keeping to themselves, did show genuine friendliness, waving or honking at us as we passed.
Our adventure really began when our host Derek picked us up for the promised land of penguins. An off-road 3-hour drive through rocky hills, ocean floors, and rivers really set the stage for the grand spectacle awaiting us.
Arriving at Volunteer Point, we were greeted by a cozy farmhouse adorned with penguin-themed décor. Derek showed us to our rooms and then led us to the breathtaking sight of Magellanic, Gentoo, and King penguins scattered across the property. The experience was surreal – thousands of wild penguins, a pristine white sand beach, and a feeling of being so far away from all of the world’s problems.
For four days, we immersed ourselves in the penguin paradise. Wind, rain, and hail couldn't dampen our spirits as we spent hours, days, just watching them. Our hosts served us hearty meals, and we explored the colonies, played Uno, and even napped on a particularly cold and windy day.
The wildlife entertainment also included sea lions, with one couple engaging in a dramatic courtship display. Watching a male sea lion hunt penguins added an unexpected layer to our adventure and had our little family discussing the circle of life. Disconnected from the outside world, we relished the simplicity of life among 10,000 penguins, four sea lions, and many sheep (that really excited Avery for some reason.)
We asked Owen if he preferred Volunteer Point or if he’d rather go to Disney World. At home, he sleeps with 3 penguin stuffies every night (and picked up a 4th here) but still I was surprised, and pleased, that he picked Volunteer Point.
We all highly recommend this penguin experience in the Falkland Islands to fellow travellers seeking an escape from the ordinary. Just don’t exit through the gift shop. They don’t have one.
Note: This trip was part of 8 months of travel in Latin America that already had us in the south of Chile. We did not travel to the Falkland Islands from Canada, for just one week.