Fun Facts and Tips

• The Falklands are a compact group of 740 islands with a total land area approximately the size of Connecticut. They are as close to the South Pole as London is to the North Pole.
• Their economy depends on fishing license fees, tourism and agriculture (over 160 sheep per person).
• The population of 2,932;  2502 of which live in Stanley. 54% were born on the Islands. Many North American high schools have more people.
• They are an independent overseas territory of the United Kingdom, financially independent of everything except defence services (provided by Britain). They even have their own currency.
• There is a British military force of 1300 troops on the islands, equipped with a variety of aircraft, surface-to-air missiles and other weaponry.
• The Islanders seem to be more British than the British and come across as a British country community of 50 years ago.
• In a Referendum in 2013, 99.8% of voters decided they wanted to remain a British overseas territory.
• The Falklands are accessed by flights by LAN from Santiago (Chile) via Punta Arenas once a week and by British Defense flights from England twice a week.
• The Falklands international airport (Mount Pleasant) is actually a military airport. Arrivals and Departures areas are designed for the military.
• Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) operates Britten Norman Islander aircraft to airstrips around the islands to locations of accommodation providers. Stanley Airport is 10 minutes from the town centre.
• Many places are only accessible by air or 4WD (usually landrover).
• The local term for everything outside Stanley is "camp" derived from "campo", the Spanish word meaning countryside.
• The wind is a fact of life. Be prepared for 4 seasons in a day, and layering of clothing.
• The Falklands are home to more than 220 species of identified birds. As well there are whales, dolphins, elephant seals, sea lions, delicate flora and rugged geographical formations.
• There are 5 species of penguin. The King, The Gentoo (the world's largest population at 30% of the total), The Rockhopper, The Macaroni and The Magellanic penguin.
• Volunteer Point is home to the largest King penguin colony in the Falkland Islands and is the most accessible in the world (which is by 4WD)(see photos above)

In total:

• There are over 500,000 breeding pairs of penguins.
• It is said that most of the pictures of penguins you will see were photographed in the Falklands.
• Approximately 65% of the world's black-browed albatrosses live in the Falklands. (see photos above)
• They are the only place to see the Falklands steamer duck and Cobbs wren. (see photos above)
  
  
• A visit to one of the few local pubs is a must and you are guaranteed to meet some characters.
• Many people have a "day job" and a government job (e.g. customs at the airport on Saturday).
• The weekly newspaper is called "The Penguin News"
• Suggested movies are "An Ungentlemanly Act" a 1992 BBC TV film about the first days of the invasion, "Shackleton" a 2002 British TV film and "March of the Penguins".

Falkland Islands Travel Information

At Goway we believe that a well-informed traveller is a safer traveller. With this in mind, we have compiled an easy-to-navigate travel information section dedicated to the Falkland Islands.

Learn about the history and culture of the Falkland Islands, the must-try food and drink, and what to pack in your suitcase. Read about Falkland Island's nature and wildlife, weather and geography, along with 'Country Quickfacts' compiled by our travel experts. Our globetrotting tips, as well as our visa and health information, will help ensure you're properly prepared for a safe and enjoyable trip. The only way you could possibly learn more is by embarking on your journey and discovering the Falkland Islands for yourself. Start exploring… book one of our Falkland Islands tours today!

Extend Your Trip

After your Falkland Islands tours, why not consider another of Goway's Latin America tours. These include a large selection of other exciting countries in Central and South America. We offer Chile vacation packages and Easter Island tours, Ecuador vacation packages which include Galapagos cruises, Peru vacation packages which include Machu Picchu tours and Brazil tours including Iguassu Falls tours among many others.

Latin America by Goway is an exclusive division that specializes in planning and organizing Falkland Islands tours, vacations and experiences. To design the best itinerary for you, we at Goway would like to know how specific your interests are;

• Meeting the people
• Hearing about the 1982 Conflict
• Encountering specific wildlife

We also offer Antarctica cruises that stopover in the Falklands.