Why the Falklands for a Honeymoon
The Falklands suit couples who want a remote, wild trip with real comfort at the end of each day. The wildlife is close and calm. Penguins walk past your boots, elephant seals snore on the sand and albatrosses glide along the cliffs within a few meters. Because there are so few land-based visitors, many beaches and colonies feel private.
Evenings are cozy. Lodges serve home-cooked meals and often have peat or wood stoves, with long summer twilight outside. Stanley adds a small town with pubs, a cathedral with a whalebone arch and museums about the islands' history.
It is also very English. Signs, food and manners recall rural Britain, which surprises many Americans. The trade-offs are cost, weather and logistics. If you need warm water and palm trees, look elsewhere. If you want an adventure few couples share, this is a rare choice.
Best Time to Visit
The visitor season runs from about October to March, during the southern summer. November through February is best for most couples, with long days, the most active wildlife and the most lodges open.
October and November bring the start of breeding. Penguins are on eggs, elephant seals have pups and spring flowers appear. December and January are peak months for penguin chicks and the longest daylight. February and March bring growing chicks and quieter lodges as the season winds down.
Weather is changeable at any time. Summer temperatures are usually mild, around 8–20°C (46–68°F), but wind and showers can come and go in an hour. The sun is surprisingly strong.
From April to September, the islands are cold and dark. Most tourist lodges close and many penguins leave. Winter visits are only for very committed travelers.
Where to Go
Sea Lion Island, off the south coast of East Falkland, is the top pick for honeymooners. It has a comfortable lodge, gentoo and rockhopper penguins, sea lions, elephant seals and a chance of orcas offshore. See our Sea Lion Island guide for details.
Stanley is the capital and the arrival point for most visitors. Spend a day or two on its museum, Christ Church Cathedral and the penguin beach at Gypsy Cove nearby.
Volunteer Point, a long 4x4 drive from Stanley, has the islands' biggest colony of king penguins on a beautiful white beach.
On the outer islands, Saunders, Pebble, Bleaker and Carcass each offer lodges or self-catering cottages. Carcass is known for its gardens and tame birds. West Point and New Island have spectacular albatross and rockhopper colonies on high cliffs.
History buffs can visit 1982 battlefields and memorials around Stanley, Darwin and Goose Green.
Sample 10-Day Itinerary
Your dates will be set by the flight schedule from Chile, so plan around it. This route assumes a stay of about a week on the islands.
- Day 1: Fly to Santiago overnight from the US.
- Day 2: Fly south to Punta Arenas and on to Mount Pleasant. Transfer to Stanley.
- Day 3: Explore Stanley, then walk to Gypsy Cove for Magellanic penguins.
- Day 4: Take a full-day 4x4 trip to Volunteer Point for king penguins.
- Days 5–7: Fly by FIGAS to Sea Lion Island. Watch elephant seals and penguins and look for orcas.
- Days 8–9: Fly to Saunders or Carcass Island for albatross, rockhoppers and remote beaches.
- Day 10: Return to Stanley and fly back to Chile.
Some couples add Patagonia on the Chilean side. Torres del Paine is a natural partner from Punta Arenas.
Budget and Costs
The Falklands are expensive because everything arrives by sea or air. All figures here are approximate.
The LATAM flight from Chile is the biggest single cost and fares are often high. Seats are limited, so book early.
Outer-island lodges typically charge per person per night with all meals included. Expect prices similar to good lodges in Patagonia or a nice country inn in Britain. Self-catering cottages are cheaper but require bringing food from Stanley.
FIGAS internal flights add a few hundred dollars per person for a typical island-hopping route. Guided 4x4 trips, such as to Volunteer Point, are another significant cost.
In Stanley, pub meals and cafés are moderately priced by UK standards. There is a departure tax of about £40 per person on commercial flights.
Many couples book through a local agency that bundles lodges and FIGAS flights. It costs little extra and solves complex scheduling.
Getting There and Around
There are no flights from the US to the Falklands. The usual route is a flight to Santiago, then LATAM to Punta Arenas and on to Mount Pleasant. Some rotations call in southern Argentina. The service operates on a limited schedule, so check current days before booking anything else. The Santiago to Punta Arenas leg uses the domestic terminal.
The UK's South Atlantic airbridge from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire also carries civilians, with a refueling stop. It is a long flight and best suited to travelers already in Europe.
Mount Pleasant is a military airfield about 53 kilometers southwest of Stanley. Arrange your transfer in advance.
On the islands, FIGAS runs small aircraft between Stanley and the outer islands. Schedules are set each day based on demand and announced the evening before. Bags are limited to 20 kg each. There is no public bus, so tours use 4x4 vehicles on rough tracks.
Culture and Etiquette
Islanders are friendly, practical and proud. The 1982 war is within living memory. Most residents feel strongly about staying British. Avoid calling the islands the Malvinas and avoid debating sovereignty unless your hosts raise it.
Rural life follows the land. In Camp, as the countryside is called, farmers and lodge owners often juggle many jobs, so be on time for meals and pickups. Close every gate behind you.
Wildlife rules are strict. Stay at least 6 meters from seal and penguin colonies. Do not take bones, eggs or plants. Fines can be large and the rules are taken seriously. Wash boots between islands when asked to avoid spreading seeds.
Tipping is optional. Smoking is banned indoors and fire risk is high in dry spells, so be careful with matches outdoors. Pubs in Stanley are friendly places to meet locals. Expect a British sense of humor.
Quick tips
- Buy travel insurance with generous medical evacuation cover, since serious cases are flown off the islands.
- Pack windproof layers and sunscreen together: the sun is strong and the wind rarely stops.
- Book internal FIGAS flights early and keep bags under 20 kg each.
