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Private and all-inclusive nature and photo week journey to the Falkland Islands. Available from September through April; 8 days from Santiago or Punta Arenas, Chile 
Exceptional nature photography and wildlife study trip; featuring visits to huge penguin colonies and other seabird including cormorants and albatrosses; elephant seal and sea lions rookeries; dolphin and possibly orca sightings; land-rover tours to remote wildlife spots in the outlying islands of the archipelago, short but scenic flights within the archipelago and the remarkable hospitality of the "kelpers", our hosts throughout the trip. This package offer you privacy and full flexibility to pursuit your local interests; if you are a nature photographer, a birder, a botanist, or simply a nature enthusiast or hiker, this journey of discovery is for you! On this journey we will discover the wildlife and natural history of an impressive and remote group of British islands, located in the South Atlantic Ocean, the Falklands. The archipelago comprises more than 700 small islands (most of them uninhabited) located about 350 miles northwest of Cape Horn, mainland South America. The Falklands are simply the most accessible place in the world to observe breeding colonies of sub-Antarctic wildlife such as tame Black-browed Albatrosses, Rockhopper and King Penguins and marine mammals such as Southern Elephant Seals and Orcas.
Option A (penguin oriented) - Trip Code FKI01 | Option B (wildlife photo) - Trip Code FKI02 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.
Option A (penguin oriented) - Trip Code FKI01 | Option B (wildlife photo) - Trip Code FKI02 
Click one of the following tabs for trip details 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 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).
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
Option A (penguin oriented) - Trip Code FKI01 | Option B (wildlife photo) - Trip Code FKI02 2009 | 2010 Dates: Available from September 2009 through April 2010. Meet/Depart: Departures every Saturday from Santiago or Punta Arenas, Chile. Saturday through Saturday, 8 days | 7 nights
| | September | 2009
| 5
| 12 | 19
| 26 |
| | October | 2009 | 3 | 10 | 17
| 24
| 31
| | November | 2009 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 28 | | | December | 2009 | 5 | 12 | 19 | 26 |
| | January | 2010 | 2 | 9 | 16 | 23 | 30
| | February | 2010 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 | | | March | 2010 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 27 |
| | April | 2010
| 3 | 10 | 17
| 24 | |
Rates for custom departures: | Option A (penguin oriented), 8 days | 7 nights (Trip Code FKI01) | Number of guests
| 1 | 2-3 | 4
| Single Suppl.
| | Low Season (Sep - Oct 2009 | Apr 2010) | 2,611
| 2,122
| 2,030
| 408
| | Medium Season (Mar 2010) | 2,846
| 2,377
| 2,285
| 408
| High Season (Nov - Dec 2009 | Jan - Feb 2010)
| 3,050
| 2,632
| 2,540
| 408
| | | Option B (wildlife photo oriented), 8 days | 7 nights (Trip Code FKI02)
| Number of guests
| 1
| 2-3
| 4
| Single Suppl.
| Low Season (Sep 2009 | Mar-Apr 2010)
| 2,989
| 2,346
| 2,264
| 408
| High Season (Oct - Dec 2009 | Jan - Feb 2010)
| 3,254
| 2,652
| 2,560
| 408
| Optional boat trip to West Point Island
| 490
| 245
| 163
| -
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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.
Option A (penguin oriented) - Trip Code FKI01 | Option B (wildlife photo) - Trip Code FKI02 Check out our set of images from recent trips to the Falkland Islands.
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