The Falklands Photo Safari

(8 days / 7 nights)

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.

Dr Kenney really enjoyed being with Enrique and had a very nice trip - he took 6000 images and 6 different penguins!

 

- K Johnson, USA
Falklands trip Jan 2007

To Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands
Flight to Sea Lion Island (c. 50 minutes)

Exceptional trip for nature photography and wildlife study; featuring visits to huge penguin and seabird colonies 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!

Today we will fly from Punta Arenas to Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falklands and after our arrival we will take a short flight with FIGAS (FI Government Air Service) to Sea Lion Island, the southernmost and one of the most spectacular islands of the whole archipelago. Three penguin species nest here: Rockhopper, Gentoo, and Magellanic. The coastal belts of tussock grass provide the ideal habitat for Blackish Cinclodes and the endemic Cobb's Wren.

Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island.

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Sea Lion Island
Visit to the elephant seal colony

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.

Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island.

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Sea Lion Island
Visit to penguin colonies

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.

Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island.

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Flight to Carcass Island
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.

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Boat trip to West Point Island
Visit to the Albatross rookery

This morning we will take a boat trip (weather permitting) to West Point Island. 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.

Saunders Island Cottage, Saunders Island.

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Carcass Island
Flight to Port Stanley (c. 40 minutes)

Later during the day, we will fly to Port Stanley, the only town in the islands, with a population of 2,000 people.

Malvina House Hotel (3*) , Port Stanley.

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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.

Malvina House Hotel (3*) , Port Stanley.

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Free morning at Port Stanley
Flight to Punta Arenas or Santiago

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.

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Extensions

The Falkland Islands Photo Safari can be combined with the following optional extension in mainland Chile:

. Cruise to the Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego (5 and 4 days from US$ 990 / £ 505 per person); 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 Photo Safari or TDP Explorer (4 days/3 nights from US$ 1,270 / £ 650 per person); adventure and natural history trip to Patagonia's premier mountain and wildlife destination. Leaving from Punta Arenas, Chile.

Dates & Prices

Meet/Depart:Santiago or Punta Arenas, Chile.
Group Size:Trips are guaranteed to depart with no minimum of participants.
Excursions in the islands has a maximum of 6-8 participants.

RATES:
US$ 2,699 / £ 1,375 per person in double occupancy.
The above price is per person in US$/£, based on double occupancy.
Single supplement (US$ 320 / £ 165) will be added if single accommodations are requested or forced.

The trip price includes: All accommodations and meals as stated in the itinerary, meetings, transfers, FIGAS domestic flights and tours.

The trip price excludes: Departure tax from the Falklands (£20), tipping, travel insurance, excess baggage charges (20kg in Chile / 25kg -in total- within the Falklands), hotels in Santiago or Punta Arenas, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.

Do you want us to arrange your flights from Santiago or Punta Arenas to the Falklands?
International flight tickets (Santiago / Punta Arenas, Chile - Mount Pleasant - Santiago / Punta Arenas, approximately US$ 930 or US$ 500, per person respectively / £ 475 or 255).
Duration of the flight: From Santiago (6-7 hours); from Punta Arenas (2 hours).



TOUR REGISTRATION: To register for this tour, complete the FANTASTICO SUR registration form and return it (by fax or email) with a deposit of US$ 700 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$ 300 / £ 155 is refundable. If cancellation is made between 120 and 90 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 90 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.