Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands are located in the Atlantic Ocean and are an overseas territory of Great Britain. The capital of the islands is Stanley.

The islands’ climate is temperate oceanic. The mean temperature is of about +18 °C in January and +3 °C in July. We recommend visiting the islands from October to November and from March to April.

The Falklands’ official language is English. Major religious beliefs are: Catholicity, Anglicanism and Lutheranism.

Country recreation on the islands is preferred by those tourists who would like to spend their vacation in peace and silence. The Falkland Islands attract travelers with its spectacular wildlife that can be enjoyed in nature’s lap. Vacationers’ favorites are penguins living on West Falkland. The visitors to the islands are extremely excited by the colonies of grey-headed albatrosses, swans, falcons, the rookeries of elephant seal and sea lions. Equally, the Falkland Islands are visited by those who set heart on checking out and taking pictures of dolphins, killer whales, or watching whale migrations.

An unforgettable fishing is another reason to visit the Falkland Islands for a holiday. Lots of mullet, trout and tuna dwell in the waters of the Murrell River flowing near Stanley. The fishing season on the islands lasts from September to April.

Stanley will be enjoyed by those travelers who are fascinated with the military history. The city museums and military cemetery make a home for historical monuments referring to the conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom. In Stanley sports events are held every year. The visitors to the Falkland Islands who come there for a holiday love to take part in horse racing, rodeo and sheepdog races.

In Port Louis tourists will learn about the French period of the archipelago’s history, and on Saunders Island they will listen to the story on how the Spaniards were expulsed and British authority was established in the Falkland Islands.

Get in

The only international carriers servicing the Falklands are LAN Airlines with weekly flights from Santiago via Punta Arenas and Rio Gallegos, and the UK Royal Air Force carrying commercial passengers direct from RAF Brize Norton in the United Kingdom to Mount Pleasant.

By boat

Throughout the summer, large cruise ships stop at Stanley’s port or sometimes at some of the outlying islands.

Visa

Falkland Islands tourist visa is not required for EU or US citizens for a stay up to 30 days.

Tourists from CIS countries need to have the visa; it can be obtained from a British embassy or consulate within three weeks.

Customs

No restrictions as to the import or export of any currency are prescribed by the Falkland Islands’ customs regulations.

Tourists coming to the Falklands may bring duty-free:

• Perfumery products
• Alcoholic and tobacco products
• Souvenirs (which total cost doesn’t exceed 32 pound sterling per any one traveler)

An import license is required from the Falkland Islands’ Policy Authority for bringing in weapons onto the Falkland.

A license issued by the Department of Agriculture is also required to bring in meat, poultry or dairy products onto the islands.

Cuisine

The Falkland Islands’ cuisine is similar to British one, but some Latin culinary traditions can be found in it. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs and vegetables basically feature in the food of the islanders.

Between meat dishes, particularly popular are Falklands lamb, grilled beef sausage, meat loaf and goose paste.

Fish lovers are recommended tasting snow crab’s meat, a delicious trout soup, salad with oysters and scallops or a delectable Atlantic cod fried with British potatoes.

Alcoholic drinks are not produced in the Falkland Islands. A wide range of imported wine, brandy and whiskey is offered at local shops and restaurants.

As British custom has it, the islander drink tea, herbal drinks and coffee.

When on holidays in the Falklands, those who have a sweet tooth will enjoy local pastry cooked following an old British recipe.

Money

The Falkland Islands’ national currency is the Falkland Pound (FKP) which is pegged to the pound sterling. Equally, British and US currency may be taken.

Credit cards are often accepted within Stanley; on the outlying islands credit cards will probably not be taken, so you’d better check with shop assistants in advance to be aware of the acceptable payment method.

Details of interest

Places of interest

The Falkland Islands’ major tourist attraction is undoubtedly its wildlife with picturesque landscapes and easily accessible colonies of some of the world’s rarest birds. The Islands’ fauna is what most tourists to the country come to see. The most popular are penguins, including the King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Macaroni, Royal, and Magellanic, which can be seen on various islands.

Certainly, the first place to visit is Stanley, the country’s capital and the major population center. Visitors always enjoy excursions to Christ Church Cathedral, one of the few stone buildings in the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust presenting a great deal of fascinating information on the region’s maritime and military history is a must-visit as well.

Also of note is the Battle Memorial on the grounds of Government House; it commemorates the sea battle that took place here in 1914 between Germany and Great Britain, one of the first naval conflicts of WWI.

The capital is also home to an excellent shopping: the Falklands are famous for their leather and woolen goods.

Souvenirs

When it comes to souvenirs of the Falkland Islands, the biggest hits are items made of wool: sheep wool is used in making traditional sweaters, socks and other wearing products.

Another rage in the Falklands, penguins appear everywhere as souvenirs: on phone covers, oven mitts, mugs, magnets and tea towels…