If I’m candid, when I was first invited to The Falkland Islands to work with the tourism board, I was a bit dubious. My initial reaction was to Google image search the islands to get an idea of whether there would be a diverse enough range of images to capture over two weeks and I must say having thankfully now visited, that pictures simply can’t do these islands justice.
There were adorable closeups of penguins and other birds, cliche images of British flags and red phone boxes, and the dark, depressing images of the 1982 conflict. But what I didn’t see from that image search was just how diverse the landscapes are, how incredible the powder white sand beaches could be, nor just how varied all the islands looked given the Falkland Islands span much further than I realised looking at a map – I’m happy to admit that any doubts I harboured were entirely misconceived..
Of course, the one thing photos can’t capture is how special just being on The Falklands Islands feels. With its lack of people, of internet, and what feels like a lack of time moving, it’s a genuinely different type of trip.
So with these Falkland Islands photos, I wanted to show you all sides of the archipelago I experienced. Perhaps they aren’t my forty favourite photos, as that could have been a little too penguin heavy and I want to highlight a range of different landscapes and places. This is the Falkland Islands through my eyes and the first in a serious of articles about travelling to this remote destination in the South American continent, just shy of the Antarctic continent.
A king penguin colony at Volunteer Point
The stars of the show: five types of Penguin
I’ll start with the stars, that will adorn any search of Falkland Islands photos – the penguins that call these islands home.
With five types of Penguin here; King, Gentoo, Magellanic, Rockhopper and Macaroni, they each have their own look and characters.
These loveable playful creatures are just as adorable and playful in real life as they are on cartoons and with time on your side in The Falkland Islands, you can settle in for hours at a time watching them from a distance and waiting for that perfect photo opportunity.
A gentoo penguin at sunset at The Neck, Saunders Island
King Penguins at sunrise on Saunders Island in-front of a rainbow
A Rockhopper penguin surrounded by hundreds more on Saunders Island
Two Rockhopper penguins calling out towards the sky
A Magellanic penguin pops out from its burrow on Weddell Island
Perhaps the most memorable hair style of all, the Macaroni penguin
A dolphin plays in the shore waves at Bertha’s Beach
An awe-inspiring supporting cast of wildlife
Of course, the penguins aren’t the only wildlife that call The Falkland Islands home and to be honest; it’s not really fair to say they aren’t all stars in their own right.
From killer whales thrashing around the waters of Sea Lion Island, more often in winter, to pods of playful dolphins dancing in the shallows, the waters here are a real treasure trove of activity.
Seals and sea lions bask in sunlight or crash around in waves, occasionally charging for a mid-morning snack of penguin.
Countless birdlife can be admired here, and even if you aren’t a bird spotter, the sight of an albatross gliding past, a black-neck swan swimming by, or a blue-eyed Cormorant giving you a sideways look will still be magical.
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