Visit the Falkland Islands – The Best Time To Travel

To visit the Falkland Islands is a special experience, especially during the Austral spring. Travelers there will experience a sense of renewal. It is then that the islands wake up from the winter and the cycle of life begins anew. Here it is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The islands host over 100 species of birds, including five different types of penguins.

Birds

If you visit the Falkland Islands during September, expect to see black-browed Albatross as they return from the sea. Breeding pairs start their courtship rituals and form their bond prior to mating. Upland Geese, the Falklands’ most common birds, are busy tending to their young. A busy task as they typically care for eight to nine hatchlings. As for penguins, the King and Gentoo Penguins remain in the Falklands year-round.

The King Penguin has a long breeding cycle and birds and during spring throughout the summer. Travelers can see the many phases of life for these birds. Magellanic and Rockhopper penguins are returning to their colonies. Shorebirds are everywhere. Travelers will see the endemic Falklands Steamer Duck and the Striated Caracara. The Striated Caracaras nest on the edges of cliffs and begin breeding in October.

Albatross in The Falklands (Malvinas). Photography by Rodrigo Moraga.

Upland goose, wildlife in the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Photography by Rodrigo Moraga.

A farm in the Falklands.

Marine Mammals

While birds may dominate the wildlife scene on the islands, marine mammals are also quite visible during spring. Peal and Commerson dolphins are easy to spot along the coastal waters of the island. Male elephant seals arrive in early September while females return after that to deliver their pups.

Falklands Island Locals

Beyond the abundant wildlife, spring on the island is a busy time of year for the farmers who call the Falklands home. It is lambing season and they are busy tending to their flocks. Travelers who visit the Falkland Islands can enjoy watching the lambs on the hillsides playing and feeding off their mothers.

Visit the Falkland Islands

Antarctica21 has two itineraries that include visits to the Falklands – Falklands & South Georgia Sea Voyage and Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica Sea Voyage – both combine perfectly with a trip to Southern Patagonia. Every year, the beauty of Patagonia attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors who mostly travel in December, January, and February. One of the advantages of traveling to Patagonia during the Austral Spring is that you can beat the summer crowds. For nature lovers, birders and adventurers, two must-do destinations are the Falkland Islands and Patagonia. Certainly, spring is the perfect time of year to see these regions as they come alive with the sounds of wildlife.

Springtime landscape in The Falklands (Malvinas). Photography by Rodrigo Moraga.