Falkland Islands

Experience the prime bird lover’s paradise

Join a Falkland Islands cruise and enter a bird lover’s paradise

Few places provide such a winning combination of terrain and birdlife as the Falklands, and few trips offer so many opportunities for unforgettable adventure as a cruise to the Falklands – especially for those who love birds.

Over 60 distinct species of bird breed on the Falkland Islands, and in fact over 80% of the world’s black-browed albatrosses can be found there. As for penguins, you have the chance to spot multiple species during a cruise to the Falklands: gentoos, kings, macaronis, rockhoppers, and Magellanics call these islands home.

But bird life is not the only wildlife you could see on a Falklands trip. Seals and whales are also commonly spotted in or near these wildlife-rich waters, making even the sea legs or shore visits of a Falklands cruise memorable.

Specifically, fur seals, elephant seals, and sea lions may appear on a trip to the Falklands. As for the larger species you might encounter during a Falklands cruise, these range from sei whales to sperm whales, porpoises to dolphins, and maybe even orcas.

Join us on a cruise to the Falklands, a bird lover’s dream come true and the ideal place to unleash your inner explorer.

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Cruises to the Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Up to $10500 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

Meet at least six penguin species

HDS28-25 This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

m/v Hondius

m/v Hondius

Cruise date:

1 Feb - 20 Feb, 2025

Berths start from:

9450 USD

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Up to $9550 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

Meet at least six penguin species

HDS26-25 This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

m/v Hondius

m/v Hondius

Cruise date:

4 Jan - 22 Jan, 2025

Berths start from:

9450 USD

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica
Up to $8000 OFF

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctica

Meet at least six penguin species

PLA27-25 This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

m/v Plancius

m/v Plancius

Cruise date:

16 Jan - 3 Feb, 2025

Berths start from:

9450 USD

Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle

Meet at least six penguin species

HDS29-25 This Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and Antarctic Peninsula cruise is an animal-lover’s dream come true. The expedition explores one of the last untamed areas on Earth – a land of ruggedly beautiful landscapes and amazingly varied wildlife.

m/v Hondius

m/v Hondius

Cruise date:

20 Feb - 14 Mar, 2025

Berths start from:

16700 USD

Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica - Photographic Special

Meet at least six penguin species!

OTL21-25 A cruise to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia & the Antarctic Peninsula. Visit some of the most beautiful arrays of wildlife on Earth. This journey will introduce you to at least 6 species of penguin and a whole lot of Antarctic fur seals!

m/v Ortelius

m/v Ortelius

Cruise date:

22 Oct - 11 Nov, 2025

Berths start from:

14250 USD

Falklands cruise video

Latest blog and customer story

Falkland Islands blog

The Eight Albatrosses of Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic

Whether you’re bound for Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic, or some combination of both, this entry will give you all the important albatross info as well as where these birds can best be found.

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Falkland Islands story

Antarctica and My Old Friend, Ortelius: Passenger Story by Ann Lane

I was on the recent Antarctic trip on Ortelius, 16 Feb - 7 March. This has been my third expedition with Oceanwide, and I continue to be very impressed by the experiences.

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Latest highlight and wildlife

the Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands cruise photos

Falkland Islands cruise reviews

by Bernhard Kischnick

Meine 1. große Kreuzfahrt die die Erwartungen bei weiten übertroffen haben. Ein tolle Crew von bis die, uns eine solche Reise mit ihrem Einsatz und freundlicher Bedienung ermöglicht haben. Hauptärgernis was sich immer wieder durch die gesamte Reise zog, war das ich einer der wenigen auf dem Schiff gewesen bin der den vollen Preis und auch sonst keine Vergünstigungen bekommen habe.

by Duncan Wilson
A fantastic early season voyage on the Plancius with abundant wildlife and magnificent destinations. The entire crew and staff did a great job throughout, and the Expedition Leader, Ali, worked tirelessly to ensure we made the most of the opportunities to land or Zodiac cruise. As a keen birder, I found the Plancius to be an exceptional platform for seawatching, with abundant outside deck space throughout the vessel. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this trip.
by Martina Herz
Unsere Reise auf der Plancius war perfekt. Das gesamte Team des Schiffes hat alles getan, um uns die Tier und Pflanzenwelt, die Geschichte und Gegenwart der Region zu vermitteln und Tierbegegnungen "hautnah" zu ermöglichen. Begeisterte Empfehlung.
by Christine Segers
It was a fantastic trip!! The way how Oceanwide managed everything is extraordinary. The landings ashore were so well organised: plenty of SPACE and TIME !!!!!! Fantastic how we could do our own thing. It was my fifth trip with Oceanwide, and this one I enjoyed the most! Thanks a lot to the staff for their patience and help during the landings and a special thanks, to the expeditionleaders.
by Kirsten VAN DER HELDEN
It was the most fantastic experiance ever. No words. Made me so happy (even decided to go with the ortelius immediatly after)
by Gressier Jocelyne
This expedition has been exceptional! Even when the weather was not good, we had activities : the staf was efficient and very friendly. It was an exceptionnal experience in another world.

FAQ's about Falkland Islands cruises

The climate in the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) is typically cool, but there is not a lot of annual precipitation, and snow does not typically stick to the ground. Smaller amounts of rain fall on a regular basis.

No matter what time of year you travel to the Falkland Islands, you will not experience a temperature lower than -5 to 24°C (23 to 75°F). Cloud cover is common, and this minimizes the effect of long summer days.

Although summertime can be as warm as 24°C (75°F), the average high temperature in January and February is 9°C (48°F). The average high during the winter months is 2°C (36°F).

Anyone who takes a voyage to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) can expect to see a large and diverse group of birds. In fact, this is one of the area’s primary sources of biodiversity. There are 16 endemic bird species, and a total of 63 species use the Falkland Islands for breeding purposes.

Some wildlife highlights include southern rockhopper penguin, South American terns, and the black-browed albatrosses. Travelers might also spot South American fur seals and southern elephant seals.

Stanley is the capital of Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). This town is located on East Falkland Island, and it is the region’s largest settlement. Stanley provides the main shopping hub for the Falkland Islands. In 1843 work first began on turning Stanley into a settlement, and it was named the capital just two years later.

As of 2012, the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) had a population of 2,932. More than 2,100 of these people live in Stanley, which leaves the rest of the islands sparsely populated. Residents of the islands are referred to as Falklanders, and they typically use the name “town” when referring to Stanley. The majority of the island’s residents are native-born and descend from British ancestors.

The Falklands (or Islas Malvinas) exercised its right to self-determination in 2013 and voted to retain their status as an overseas territory of the UK. The island has its own government and is financially independent.

Many visitors to the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) include a stop around West Falklands during their travels. Several islands in the area hosts a great variety of breeding birds and rookeries of rockhopper penguins, black-browed albatrosses, and imperial shags.

Most of the islands are hilly and mountainous, which makes them an interesting place to explore during an expedition cruise. Additionally, the Falklands’ biodiversity makes the islands an ideal choice for bird and wildlife lovers around the world.

About Falkland Islands cruises

The weather you may experience on a cruise to the Falklands

The overall climate of the Falkland Islands is comparable to that of the British Isles, except with more sunshine overall – good news for your future Falklands cruise. An average spring day (October through November) will have temperatures around 10°C (50°F).

Still, the Falklands are windy, so remember to pack layers to better enjoy your stunningly scenic cruise to the Falkland Islands.

Some facts to remember during your Falkland Islands cruise

  • The Falkland Islands boast a robust population of almost 3000 people.
  • Most of the people living on the islands are of British descent and are known as “Kelpers”.
  • Sheep vastly outnumber human beings on the island, with a population of around 500,000 (around 166 sheep per person).
  • There’s only one true town on the Falklands – Stanley, with a population of a little over 2,100 people.
  • There are no native trees on the islands, so any trees you see on your Falklands cruise have been imported.
  • 80% of the Earth’s black-browed albatrosses make their breeding grounds on the Falkland Islands.
  • There are five species of penguin you might see on a cruise to the Falklands.

Cruise the Falklands and enjoy a stunning sub-Antarctic archipelago

Join us on a Falkland Islands cruise and explore some of the 778 islands and islets that make up this bird-rich archipelago!

Your cruise to the Falklands offers exciting activities, including shoreline walks, photo workshops, and even scuba diving (for those with the necessary experience).

But best of all, a Falkland Islands cruise is a bonanza for bird watchers: over 220 avian species call these islands home! During your Falkland Islands cruise you might also encounter porpoises, dolphins, sea lions, and whales.

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