Falklands in Focus

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Itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 London to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

   Fly by scheduled flight.

2. 2

   Day 2 Buenos Aires.

   Arrive and transfer to our centrally located hotel for an overnight stay. This afternoon is free to relax in the hotel or maybe join an orientation tour of the city including the Plaza de Mayo, the Cathedral and the Cabildo (Old City Hall) before we continue towards the most traditional neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, San Telmo which is characterised by its old colonial houses and the cobblestoned streets. Our guided tour will end in La Boca with the opportunity to look around the colourful zinc houses which used to be the refuge and home for the first immigrants and popular artists. The evening is free for independent exploration.

3. 3

   Day 3 Buenos Aires to Ushuaia.

   After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Ushuaia. On arrival we will transfer to the MS Island Sky and start our adventure this evening as we cruise down the Beagle Channel. Here the mountains, still partly unmapped, drop as sheer, densely wooded cliffs into the channel and penguins, dolphins and South American sea lions abound in the channel.

4. 4

   Day 4 At Sea.

   Enjoy a relaxing day on board. Watch out for wildlife, such as the albatrosses, prions and petrels that frequently follow the ships and join some lectures in the lounge as we prepare for our time in the Falkland Islands.

5. 5

   Day 5 New Island, Falkland Islands.

   New Island has a fascinating history with the abundance of wildlife and sheltered harbours having attracted sealing and whaling operations from 1774. Today it is known for its breathtaking landscapes, spectacular cliffs and white sand beaches. The island is home to forty bird species, including the world's largest population of slender-billed prions, black-browed albatross, striated caracara and southern rockhopper penguins and due to the variety and density of birdlife, New Island is also classified as an Important Bird Area and National Nature Reserve. The island is home to 73 native and six of the 14 national endemic plant species such as lady's slipper, clubmoss cudweed, vanilla daisy, coastal nassauvia, woolly ragwort and smooth ragwort. Landing this morning at Coffin Harbour we will have a chance to visit the Captain Barnard Museum before walking to see the resident black browed albatross and rockhopper penguins. Over lunch we reposition to North Harbour to access the colonies of Magellanic penguins, gentoo penguins and albatross. Those feeling active may decide to take a hike amongst the spectacular scenery.

6. 6

   Day 6 Steeple Jason & Carcass Island.

   At first light we will arrive off Steeple Jason, named after the HMS Jason which came to survey the islands in 1766. Steeple Jason is home to the world's largest blackbrowed albatross colony, with over 250,000 breeding pairs. The colony spans approximately 200 metres in width and extends an impressive five kilometres along the southwestern seaboard. The island also hosts southern rockhopper penguins and imperial cormorants. A morning ship cruise will observe this amazing site before we sail to Carcass Island arriving over lunch. First inhabited in 1872, Carcass Island boasts a diverse array of natural wonders, including sand bays, ponds, mountains, and cliffs. At our anchorage at Dyke Bay we may be greeted by playful Commerson's dolphins before we walk to the nearby Magellanic and gentoo penguin breeding grounds. We may also see Falkland skuas, South American terns and grass and cobbs wrens. For those who prefer hiking we can cross the island enjoying some of the inland flora and fauna including the blackish oystercatcher, the blackish chinned siskin and the Falklands thrush, and be captivated by the sight of yellow orchids, white grass, hairy daisies, balsam bog and the iconic diddle dee. Over dinner we will sail the short distance to Saunders Island where we anchor overnight.

7. 7

   Day 7 Saunders Island & Keppel Island.

   Named after British Admiral Sir Charles Saunders, the island was the base for the first British settlement in the Falklands in 1765. We will awake at our anchorage off ‘The Neck' which is a wildlife haven, teeming with colonies of gentoo, Magellanic, and king penguins. It also boasts a diverse array of shorebirds, including Magellanic and blackish oystercatchers, kelp geese, and Falkland steamer ducks. An active walk will visit the albatross and rockhopper colonies along the north coast which also provide elevated views of both sides of the neck and the stunning white sand beaches. We will sail in the late morning by Rookery Bay which is home to blackbrowed albatross, which nest along the northern slopes for several kilometres. Along the rocky coastline, imperial cormorants and southern rockhopper penguins can also be spotted. In the early afternoon we arrive at Keppel Island, home to the first long term settlement in the archipelago established by the South American Missionary Society in 1855. For the following 40 years a group of British missionaries ran an agricultural settlement here, building storehouses, workshops and cow sheds. Today we can visit the distinctive ruins and remains of the settlements still visible on the island. The island also boasts a diverse range of wildlife including an albatross colony and accessible colonies of gentoo and Magellanic penguins. Small birdlife is commonly observed around the ponds and the quieter areas of the settlement which include Falkland grass wrens, white-tufted Rolland's grebes, and black-necked swans.

8. 8

   Day 8 Falkland Sound & Port Howard.

   This morning we will sail into the Falkland Sound which divides the two main islands and will land at Port Howard, location of the oldest and largest sheep farm in the Falkland Islands with 45,000 sheep. We will have the opportunity to speak to the owners, learn about farming on the islands and see a working farm in action with sheep shearing wool classing and baling. There is also a small museum providing insight to the 1982 conflict when 1000 Argentine troops occupied the settlement. This afternoon we sail past San Carlos Bay which was a major landing site for British troops during the Falklands War and the location for a five day battle in May 1982. Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands will be our base for the next two days and during our time here we will organise a number of tours. A walking tour of Stanley will include Christchurch Cathedral, the southernmost Anglican cathedral in the world and the Historic Dockyard Museum where we can learn about the maritime history of the islands. See some of the pioneers' homes in Drury Street as well as Government House. Wildlife enthusiasts can join a 4x4 off road expedition enjoying the rugged landscape as we drive to Volunteer Point, home to a colony of over 1000 king penguins or alternatively join the expedition team on walks around Gypsy Cove where we find a colony of Magellanic penguins. For those wishing to stretch their legs there will be an opportunity to hike in the mountains surrounding Stanley which offer some fantastic views across Stanley and Port William whilst a battlefields tour will visit some of the major sites from the 1982 conflict. There will also be some free time to explore at your own pace and visit the local shops.

9. 11

   Day 11 Southern Falklands.

   As we sail along the south coast of the Falklands archipelago our Expedition Leader and Captain will look for a suitable landing site based on weather and sea conditions. We may land at Bleaker Island, home to gentoo penguin colonies, as well as shoreline birds such as kelp geese and blackish oystercatchers. Meanwhile a five kilometre roundtrip hike will take us to the rockhopper penguin and imperial cormorant colonies located near the island's settlement before returning via the ‘Big Pond'. Alternatively Bull Point boasts a diverse array of beach types, supporting a rich tapestry of wildlife. Magellanic penguins nest in burrows along the entire coastline, while white-rumped sandpipers, two-banded plovers, rufous-chested dotterels, and both Magellanic and blackish oystercatchers can be spotted. Ruddy-headed and upland geese graze in the coastal areas, while smaller bird species like white-bridled finches, endemic tussac birds, long-tailed meadowlarks, and austral thrushes also make their home here. During the summer months, Commerson's dolphins frequently frolic in the surf, while orcas and baleen whales can be spotted along the coast. The rocky beaches and tussac grass provide an ideal habitat for southern sea lions, and occasionally, southern elephant seals may make appearances.

10. 12

    Day 12 At Sea.

    During our final day at sea, our lecture programme will continue in the lounge whilst our naturalists continue to spot wildlife as we return to Ushuaia.

11. 13

    Day 13 Ushuaia to Buenos Aires.

    Disembark after breakfast and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay and the remainder of the day is free to relax or for independent exploration.

12. 14

    Day 14 Buenos Aires to London.

    After breakfast in the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

13. 15

    Day 15 London.

    Arrive today.

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