The Falkland Islands | 8 days, 7 nights | Trip Code ISL02
Trip Highlights
• Visit to the impressive King Penguin colony of Volunteer Point.
• Up to six penguins species including Rockhopper, Gentoo and Magellanic.
• Great light conditions and wildlife tameness, ideal and highly recommended to serious nature photographers.
• Visit to marine mammal colonies of Elephant Seal and Sea Lions.
• Great wildlife lodges located in remote islands.
• Scenic flights within the archipelago.
The Difference of Travelling with Fantastico Sur Expeditions:
• Great accommodation, superb dinning cuisine and memorable picnic lunches.
• Small group experience with a maximum group size of 7 participants.
• Spacious vehicles that ensure a window seat to each trip participant.
• You will receive a free, signed copy of one of our great natural history books for Patagonia & the Falklands.
• ...plus an useful pre-departure information package.
The Falkland Islands - Encounters with Penguins can be combined with the following optional extension in mainland Chile:
• Cruise to the Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego (5 and 4 days); journey to the fjords, glaciers and history of the southern tip of South America. Leaving from Punta Arenas, Chile or Ushuaia, Argentina.
• Torres del Paine Explorer (3, 4 and 5-day options); photo safari and natural history trip to Patagonia's premier mountain and wildlife destination.
The Falkland Islands | 8 days, 7 nights | Trip Code ISL02
Option A (penguin oriented, visiting Pebble Island)
Day 1 • Saturday | Flight to Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands | Port Stanley
Today we will fly from Santiago de Chile or Punta Arenas to Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falklands. Later we will be transferred to Port Stanley with overnight at the classic Malvina House Hotel. We will have time to see our first birds along the coast including tame Kelp and Upland Geese, Falkland Steamer Ducks and Southern Giant Petrels.
Overnight (O/N) Malvina House Hotel, Port Stanley. (L*,D)(G).
Day 2 • Sunday | Flight to Pebble Island
Early in the morning we take our first FIGAS flight towards the West Falkland and will land at Pebble Island, located in the northern part of this huge archipelago. This is a working sheep farm and a historic settlement at the times of the Falklands Wars, which occurred during the early 1980s. During the afternoon we will explore the moorlands of the interior and the northern coast of the island, where we will see Gentoo and Magellanic penguin colonies. We will have the opportunity to bird in the numerous freshwater lagoons which hold White-tufted and Silvery Grebes, Black-necked Swan, Silver Teal, Chiloe Wigeon, among several others. Variable Hawks and Striated Caracaras are abundant in the surroundings of our lodge.
O/N Pebble Island Lodge, Pebble Island. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 3 • Monday | Pebble Island
Today we will see several species of penguin including Rockhopper, Macaroni, Gentoo and Magellanic. With luck we can see a solitary individual of Erect-crested Penguin which visit the island every year. We will be delighted to approach nesting King Cormorants, with intense cobalt-blue eye-rings and bright orange caruncles. We assure you that your pictures will be fantastic! We will keep an eye in the sky looking for Turkey Vulture (the endemic race of the Falklands), Variable Hawk and hopefully a Peregrine Falcon, which often explore the coastal cliffs in search of Diving-petrels and other seabirds.
O/N Pebble Island Lodge, Pebble Island
Day 4 • Tuesday | Flight to Sea Lion Island (c. 45 minutes)
Sea Lion Island is a must and a true wildlife paradise. This is the place where we will see three penguin species, huge cormorant colonies and a large Elephant Seal rookery. This place is simply fantastic for nature photography. Sea Lion Lodge will be our base for two nights.
O/N Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 5 • Wednesday | Sea Lion Island | Visit to penguin and elephant seal colonies
To make sure that you are aware of the main areas to be visited, an introductory guided tour around the island in a comfortable vehicle is offered. Spectacular and dense tussac grass cover one fifth of the island and provide a perfect habitat and protection for much of the islands' varied fauna, including elephant seals and sea lions. The island holds the largest Elephant Seal population in the Falklands; about 500 seal pups are born each year, with a peak of 1,800 seals along the main beach. We will visit also the Rockhopper, Gentoo and Magellanic penguin colonies. Orcas normally patrol the shores in search of sealand sea lion pups.
O/N Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 6 • Thursday | Sea Lion Island | Flight to Port Stanley (c. 40 minutes)
Besides the tussac, there are dazzling white sand beaches, cliffs, fresh water ponds and heath land, all with their own populations and all within walking distance. Pods of killer whales circle the Island in pursuit of the elephant seals and sea lions, which breed there. Many of the Island's plants are quite rare and a joy to see. Later during the day, we will fly to Port Stanley, the only town in the islands, with a population of approximately 2,000 people.
O/N Malvina House Hotel (3*), Port Stanley. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 7 • Friday | Full day trip to Volunteer Point | King Penguin rookery
Volunteer Point is an impressive peninsula to the north of East Falkland. This area supports a small but important breeding colony of King Penguins. Also to be found are small numbers of Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins. They are extremely confiding, and we will have excellent opportunities to observe and photograph adults and their odd-looking chicks.
O/N Malvina House Hotel (3*) , Port Stanley. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 8 • Saturday | Free morning at Port Stanley | Flight to Punta Arenas or Santiago, Chile
During the morning we will visit the Port Stanley museum and we will have some free time to make our independent explorations. In the afternoon we shall take our flight to Punta Arenas or Santiago where our trip will conclude. (B).
B=Breakfast | L=Lunch/Picnic-lunch | L*=In-flight meal | D=Dinner | G= Guide
The Falkland Islands | 8 days, 7 nights | Trip Code ISL02
Option B (wildlife photo, visiting Carcass Island)
Day 1 • Saturday | Flight to Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands | Port Stanley
Today we will fly from Punta Arenas to Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falklands. Later we will be transferred to Port Stanley with overnight at Malvina House. We will have time to see our first birds along the coast including tame Kelp and Upland Geese, Falkland Steamer Ducks and Southern Giant Petrels.
Overnight (O/N) Malvina House Hotel, Port Stanley. (L,D)(G).
Day 2 • Sunday | Flight to Carcass Island (c. 40 minutes) | Explore Carcass Island
Today we will fly to Carcass Island and enjoy the hospitality of one of the most comfortable lodges in the whole archipelago. This will our perfect base for the following two nigts, to explore the island by foot or land rover, looking for the famous "Johnny Rook" or Striated Caracara among several other avian specialties of the Falklands.
O/N Carcass Lodge, Carcass Island (B,L,D)(G).
Day 3 • Monday | Explore Carcass Island
The surroundings of Carcass Island are just phenomenal for wildlife encounters. We will be transferred in a land rover to the wildlife sites, crossing moorlands and tussock grasslands with superb views of the coast and surrounding islands. We will occupy the morning to photograph the Elephant Seals visiting the beaches and occasionally we see Orcas off the headlands. A variety of coastal birds including Magellanic and Blackish Oystercatchers, Crested Ducks, Kelp Goose and delicate Dolphin Gulls will be great subject for our photography. The lodge offers fantastic home-made cooking and simple and great facilities to relax after our photo and wildlife excursions.
If you are interested to photograph Albatross at their colonies we suggest you to consider the optional boat trip to West Point Island (weather permitting). The crossing can be productive for the birders as we have chances to see Thin-billed Prion, Grey-backed Storm-Petrel and up to two dolphin species, including Commerson's and Peale's. The main goal on this part of the trip is to approach a nesting colony of Black-browed Albatrosses, where we will learn the fascinating details of their ecology and breeding cycle.
O/N Carcass Lodge, Carcass Island. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 4 • Tuesday | Flight to Sea Island (c. 45 minutes)
Sea Lion Island is a must and a true wildlife paradise. This is the place where we will see three penguin species, huge cormorant colonies and a large Elephant Seal rookery. This place is simply fantastic for nature photography. Sea Lion Lodge will be our base for two nights.
O/N Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 5 • Wednesday | Sea Lion Island | Visit to penguin and elephant seal colonies
To make sure that you are aware of the main areas to be visited, an introductory guided tour around the island in a comfortable vehicle is offered. Spectacular and dense tussac grass cover one fifth of the island and provide a perfect habitat and protection for much of the islands' varied fauna, including elephant seals and sea lions. The island holds the largest Elephant Seal population in the Falklands; about 500 seal pups are born each year, with a peak of 1,800 seals along the main beach. We will visit also the Rockhopper, Gentoo and Magellanic penguin colonies.
O/N Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 6 • Thursday | Sea Lion Island | Flight to Port Stanley (c. 40 minutes)
Besides the tussac, there are dazzling white sand beaches, cliffs, fresh water ponds and heath land, all with their own populations and all within walking distance. Pods of killer whales circle the Island in pursuit of the elephant seals and sea lions, which breed there. Many of the Island's plants are quite rare and a joy to see. Later during the day, we will fly to Port Stanley, the only town in the islands, with a population of approximately 2,000 people.
O/N Malvina House Hotel (3*), Port Stanley. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 7 • Friday | Full day trip to Volunteer Point | King Penguin rookery
Volunteer Point is an impressive peninsula to the north of East Falkland. This area supports a small but important breeding colony of King Penguins. Also to be found are small numbers of Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins. They are extremely confiding, and we will have excellent opportunities to observe and photograph adults and their odd-looking chicks.
O/N Malvina House Hotel (3*) , Port Stanley. (B,L,D)(G).
Day 8 • Saturday | Free morning at Port Stanley | Flight to Punta Arenas or Santiago, Chile
During the morning we will visit the Port Stanley museum and we will have some free time to make our independent explorations. In the afternoon we shall take our flight to Punta Arenas or Santiago where our trip will conclude. (B).
B=Breakfast | L=Lunch/Picnic-lunch | L*=In-flight meal | D=Dinner | G= Guide
The Falkland Islands | 8 days, 7 nights | Trip Code ISL02
The Falkland Islands | 8 days, 7 nights | Trip Code ISL02
2010 | 2011 Dates:
Available from September 2010 through April 2011.
Meet/Depart: Departures every Saturday from Santiago or Punta Arenas, Chile.
Saturday through Saturday, 8 days | 7 nights
|
| September |
2010
|
4
|
11 |
18
|
25 |
|
| October |
2010 |
2 |
9 |
16
|
23
|
30
|
| November |
2010 |
6 |
13 |
20 |
27 |
|
| December |
2010 |
4 |
11 |
18 |
25 |
|
| January |
2011 |
1 |
8 |
15 |
22 |
29
|
| February |
2011 |
5 |
12 |
19 |
26 |
|
| March |
2011 |
5 |
12 |
19 |
26 |
|
| April |
2011 |
2 |
9 |
16
|
23 |
30
|
Rates for custom departures:
| Option A (penguin oriented), 8 days | 7 nights |
Number of guests
|
1 |
2-3 |
4
|
Single Suppl.
|
| Low Season (Sep - Oct 2010 | Apr 2011) |
$2,611
|
$2,122
|
$2,030
|
$408
|
| Medium Season (Mar 2011) |
$2,846
|
$2,377
|
$2,285
|
$408
|
High Season (Nov - Dec 2010 | Jan - Feb 2011)
|
$3,050
|
$2,632
|
$2,540
|
$408
|
Option B (wildlife photo oriented), 8 days | 7 nights
|
Number of guests
|
1
|
2-3
|
4
|
Single Suppl.
|
Low Season (Sep 2010 | Mar-Apr 2011)
|
$2,989
|
$2,346
|
$2,264
|
$408
|
High Season (Oct - Dec 2010 | Jan - Feb 2011)
|
$3,254
|
$2,652
|
$2,560
|
$408
|
Optional boat trip to West Point Island
|
$490
|
$245
|
$$163
|
-
|
The above rates are per person in USD, based on double occupancy. Single supplement charge is indicated.
Do you want us to arrange your flights from Santiago or Punta Arenas to the Falklands?
International flight tickets (Santiago de Chile / Punta Arenas - Mount Pleasant, Falklands - Punta Arenas / Santiago de Chile, approximately USD 680-1,000).
Duration of the flight: From Santiago de Chile (c. 6-7 hours); from Punta Arenas (c. 2 hours).
What the trip includes/excludes
Single supplement will be added if requested.
The trip price includes: All accommodations and meals as stated in the itinerary, meet and greet, all transfers, all internal flights using FIGAS, and full day tour to Volunteer Point with drive/guides.
The trip price excludes: Departure tax from the Falklands (£22 - payable locally), tipping, travel insurance, excess baggage charges (20kg personal allowance, excess charged at £1 per kilo per flight thereafter), hotels in Santiago or Punta Arenas, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.
Tour Registration: To register for this tour, complete the Fantástico Sur Expeditions registration form and return it (by fax or email) with a deposit of US$ 400 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
Cancellation Policy: Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.
Refunds are made according to the following schedule:
If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 200 is refundable.
If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.
If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.
This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.
The Falkland Islands | 8 days, 7 nights | Trip Code ISL02
Check out our set of images from recent trips to the Falkland Islands.
The Falkland Islands | 8 days, 7 nights | Trip Code ISL02
Checklist for the Birds and Mammals of the Falkland Islands (possible species to be seen during this trip)
Compiled by Claudio F. Vidal, Fantástico Sur Expeditions (2010)
B I R D S
Penguins | Spheniscidae
King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus
Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua papua
Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome
Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus
Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus
Grebes | Podicipedidae
White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland
Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis
Albatrosses | Diomedeidae
Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans
Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora epomophora
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris
Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma
Shearwaters & Petrels | Procellariidae
Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli
Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides
Cape / Pintado Petrel Daption capense
Blue Petrel Halobaena caerulea
Thin-billed Prion Pachyptila belcheri
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus
Storm-Petrels | Hydrobatidae
Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus
Grey-backed Storm-Petrel Garrodia nereis
Diving-Petrels | Pelecanoididae
Common Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides urinatrix
Magellanic Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides magellani
Cormorants | Phalacrocoracidae
Rock Shag Phalacrocorax magellanicus
Imperial / King Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps albiventer
Herons, Egrets & Bitterns | Ardeidae
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Ducks, Geese & Swans | Anatidae
Black-necked Swan Cygnus melanocorypha
Coscoroba Swan Coscoroba coscoroba
Feral Domestic Goose Anser anser
Upland Goose Chloephaga picta
Kelp Goose Chloephaga hybrida
Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala
Ruddy-headed Goose Chloephaga rubidiceps
Flying Steamer Duck Tachyeres patachonicus
Falkland Steamer Duck Tachyeres brachypterus
Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix
Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris
Crested Duck Anas specularioides
Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica
Silver Teal Anas versicolor
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera
Red Shoveler Anas platalea
New World Vultures | Cathartidae
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura jota
Hawks, Eagles & Kites | Accipitridae
Variable Hawk Buteo polyosoma
Falcons & Caracaras | Falconidae
Striated Caracara Phalcoboenus australis
Southern Crested Caracara Caracara plancus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Rails, Gallinules & Coots | Rallidae
White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera
Oystercatchers Haematopodidae
Magellanic Oystercatcher Haematopus leucopodus
Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater
Plovers & Lapwings Charadriidae
Two-banded Plover Charadrius falklandicus
Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus
Sandpipers & Allies | Scolopacidae
South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Sanderling Calidris alba
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Sheathbills | Chionidae
Snowy Sheathbill Chionis alba
Skuas & Jaegers | Stercoraridae
Chilean Skua Catharacta chilensis
Falkland Skua Catharacta antarctica
Gulls | Laridae
Dolphin Gull Larus scoresbii
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
Brown-hooded Gull Larus maculipennis
South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Antarctic Tern Sterna vittata
Barn Owls | Tytonidae
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Typical Owls | Strigidae
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Ovenbirds | Furnariidae
Blackish Cinclodes / Tussacbird Cinclodes antarcticus antarcticus
Tyrant Flycatchers | Tyrannidae
Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola macloviana
Swallows | Hirundinidae
Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Wagtails & Pipits | Motacillidae
Correndera / Falkland Pipit Anthus correndera grayi
Wrens | Troglodytidae
Falkland Grass Wren Cistothorus platensis falklandicus
Cobb's Wren Troglodytes cobbi
Thrushes & Allies | Turdidae
Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii falcklandii
Old World Sparrows | Passeridae
House Sparrow ( I ) Passer domesticus
Buntings, Sparrows & Allies | Emberizidae
Black-throated / Canary-winged Finch Melanodera melanodera melandera
Troupials & Allies | Icteridae
Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca
Siskins | Fringillidae
Black-chinned Siskin Carduelis barbata
M A M M A L S
Dolphins | Delphinidae
Killer Whale / Orca Orcinus orca
Peale's Dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis
Commerson's Dolphin Cephalorhynchus commersonii
Eared Seals | Otariidae
Southern Sea Lion Otaria flavescens
South American Fur Seal Arctocephalus australis
True Seals | Phocidae
Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina
