Facts & Useful Information:
Airports & Air Travel :
The international airport is Mount Pleasant (MPN). This is also a military base and there are therefore some strict regulations including zero photography. It lays 35 miles/45 minutes drive from Stanley, and all transfers off the base/airport must be pre-arranged and will automatically be included in your tailor-made itinerary.
Stanley Airport is located just 10 minutes drive from the capital and is home to FIGAS (the Falkland Islands Government Air Service) who operate the inter-island/domestic flights with a fleet of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft. This is almost like a pre-booked taxi service. Each afternoon FIGAS will draw up the schedule for the following day taking into account all the bookings received for the next day and the limitations of the various grass airstrips. So travellers will not know their check-in time or routing until the afternoon prior to each flight. First flights generally have an 0800 hrs check-in and depart Stanley about 0830 hrs, but there may be five or six flights on a busy day with some not taking off until the afternoon. The flights including passengers names are read out on the local radio each evening! Air travel with these very skilled pilots is an integral part of Falklands travel, generally providing exceptional views of the Islands, and an opportunity to maybe see areas you do not have time to visit as you may land at other strips on the way to your destination.
As these planes land on grass airstrips of varying lengths, weight distribution of passengers, as well as baggage/cargo and fuel, is key. So all passengers also have to submit their personal weight when making a booking, and this will be verified at check-in. Please rest assured that the information is confidential to the check-in agent and the pilot, but is a necessary part of travelling to remote locations.
The luggage allowance on the FIGAS flights is 20 kgs per person which includes your hand luggage. There is only room for whatever you are prepared to carry on your lap or by your feet – such as a handbag or small camera bag; everything else will go in the cargo hold. Excess luggage is charged at £1.55 per kilo per flight sector with payment due on completion of the flying itinerary. It is also vital that you advise in advance if you expect to have excess luggage so that it can factored in to the flight schedule. If you are not a light traveller you can leave luggage at your hotel or ask your travel expert for assistance.
Capital :
Stanley, located on the east coast of East Falkland, about 35 miles from the international airport.
Climate :
The weather in the Islands can be compared to that of a UK spring, with temperatures varying between 8 – 20 degrees Celsius through the spring/summer season. A fairly constant feature is the wind, with 20 knots from westerly direction hardly noticed by long-term residents!
Visitors are advised to layer clothing as the weather can change for the better of worse very quickly and this will allow you to adapt as required. It is commonly said that the Falklands epitomise the saying of “all 4 seasons in one day”. A good wind/waterproof jacket with hood, and good walking boots, and perhaps some light waterproof trousers should feature if you plan to really make the most of your time wildlife and sight seeing.
We have exceptionally clear air and skies, with no pollution, and sometimes very thin ozone cover. In addition the wind can mask the strength of the sun, with sun/wind burn occurring easily. So a high factor (30, if not 50) sunscreen and UV lip balm are highly recommended. A pair of indoor shoes/slippers is also advisable.
Currency & Banking :
FLK Falkland Islands Pound which is equal in value and completely interchangeable within the Falklands with GBP/Sterling/UK Pound. Dollars are also widely accepted, as are most cards. There is only one bank in the Falkland Islands – Standard Chartered Bank based in Stanley, and they offer limited high street banking facilities but will do USD and Euro currency exchanges and give cash back on most cards. There is only one ATM/cashpoint machine in the Falkland Islands, which is located within the Stanley Services Fuel Station Shop.
Eating and Drinking :
What is there to eat in the Falklands? Plenty! Falkland Islanders are proud of their hearty home-cooked food and delicious sweets. Wherever you visit, you will not go hungry! We have an array of fresh produce including Falklands lamb, beef and superb fish plus locally grown vegetables. In Stanley you have several restaurants you can visit. Also be sure to try our local Falklands beer and internationally award winning gins. If you are visiting any of the outer islands and staying in catered lodges you will be fed with delicious dishes. All establishments can cater for special dietary requirements, please make sure to let your travel expert know so that we can pass on the information to the corresponding suppliers.
Embarkation Tax :
£30.00 as from 01 January 2024. Must be paid at the airport on departing the country. It can be paid in cash (FKP, GBP, EUR or USD) or via Visa or Mastercard. If you are departing via the MoD flight to the UK, this tax is already prepaid as part of the fare.
Economy:
We are economically self-sufficient with most of our income coming from our well managed deep sea fishery principally catching squid - if you eat calamari in southern Europe there is about a 50% chance it is a Falklands squid!. Although smaller in revenue agriculture and tourism (alongside our Government) are the principal employers in the Falklands.
Electricity :
240v, 50hz with a standard UK 3-pin plug.
Entry Requirements :
All visitors require a passport that is valid for the length of their stay and for at least six months after departure. In addition the requirements that need to be met by travellers in order to obtain a visitor permit on arrival are :
- Proof of onward travel arrangements (e.g. return flight ticket) or sufficient funds to purchase one.
- Proof of pre-booked accommodation.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the duration of the intended stay.
- Adequate medical insurance for the duration of the intended stay to cover aero-medical evacuation costs to a minimum value of USD 2,000,000 equivalent.
No vaccinations are required for entry to the Falkland Islands.
Flag :
The flag has a blue background and the Union flag in the top-left corner. There is a coat of arms featuring a ram (symbolic of the sheep-raising industry of the islands). The ship on the coat of arms commemorates this first sighting of the Islands by British navigator Captain John Davis aboard the ship ‘Desire’ on 14 August 1592, and the ship is also referenced in the motto of the Falkland Islands : ‘Desire the Right’.
Government/Status :
The Falkland Islands are a United Kingdom Overseas Territory. In March 2013, 99.8% of the electorate voted in a referendum to remain an Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. We are self-governing, except in two areas (foreign affairs and defence), electing 8 members to the Legislative Assembly every 4 years, who are empowered to pass legislation for the peace, order and good government of the Falkland Islands, subject to the approval of His Majesty the King, acting through his Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The UK Government is represented by a Governor who resides in Stanley.
Health & Medicine :
No special requirements or vaccinations are required for entry to the Falkland Islands. However, remember to check the requirements for any countries you transit or travel through on the way to the Falklands.
Our healthcare facilities are based at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) in Stanley where medical staff are qualified to UK standards and include a full surgical team and intensive care unit. Camp settlements and farms are equipped with medicine chests to take care of minor injuries.
Visitors who are not UK residents are required to pay for any medical services received in the Islands and travel insurance (inclusive of medical evacuation) is needed to visit and to stay in the Islands (see Entry Requirements).
Over-the-counter medicines can be easily purchased in local supermarkets, but if you take prescribed medicine it is highly recommended that you bring sufficient supplies for your stay. We recommend you carry them in your hand luggage in the unlikely event that your luggage goes missing on route to the Falkland Islands.
Internet/Telephone :
The international dialling code for the Falkland Islands is +500. There is only one telecommunications provider in the Falkland Islands; SURE South Atlantic Ltd. If you have a contract phone you may be able to use the local mobile (cellphone) network with your own SIM card. The SURE website www.sure.co.fk has an up-to-date list of roaming partners. Ensure in advance that roaming is activated. A pay-as-you-go service is also available and may be a cheaper option if you are visiting for more than a day. You will need a SIM-free (unlocked) phone. Mobile coverage is good in Stanley and many other locations but is not entirely island-wide. Stanley has a small number of public phone boxes which can be used with pre-paid cards available from some shopping outlets. Internet is provided by satellite link and is relatively slow and also very expensive.
Wi-fi hotspots exist at many locations around the Islands including virtually all tourist accommodations. A wi-fi card is needed; these can usually be purchased at the place where a hot-spot is situated. Wi-fi does not exist everywhere. Getting away from wi-fi may be an attraction but if access is really important to you, check the Sure website for the latest information on availability.
Itinerary Changes :
We do not want to make any changes to your itinerary but sometimes they may have to be altered at short notice due to circumstances beyond our control, this can be due to extreme weather conditions or other problems may occur during your visit. If anything needs to change we will discuss the alternatives on offer prior to making any changes to your itinerary and explain the reasons.
Whatever the situation we will be at hand all throughout your trip to assist you with any requirements you may have. Please allow for some flexibility for arriving and departing the Islands with connecting flights as delays may occur. We also appreciate flexibility if changes need to be made to your itinerary due to weather conditions or other factors.
Language :
English. Many nationalities are represented in the Islands, therefore a range of languages can be found, albeit spoken by just a small number of individuals. In an emergency situation, efforts will be made to find a suitable translator.
Local Time :
The Falkland Islands do not change their clocks through the year, and remain throughout at GMT-03:00.
Population :
3662 (2021 Census). Almost 70% of the population identifies as Falkland Islanders, British, or a combination of both. There was an incredible 86 different nationalities counted in this census, with people from 68 different countries having chosen to make the Falkland Islands their home; almost half of those not born in the Islands are from the UK, followed by St. Helena (19%), the Philippines (9%) and Chile (9%) and Zimbabwe (3%).
Tipping :
Tipping is not necessarily expected in the Falklands. However, if you wish to reward good service then please feel free to tip at your discretion. Some restaurants will add on a standard gratuity to the bill for larger groups.
Payment Terms :
Once your itinerary is approved a 10% deposit is required to confirm the booking. An e-invoice or payment link will be sent to your email address which you can pay online or bank transfer to our UK account. This deposit is non-refundable as it covers all expenses incurred in organising your tailor-made holiday.
Full payment must be made 90 days prior to departure. Another e-invoice/link will be sent to your email for the 90% remaining.
Itineraries booked with less than 90 days prior to departure need to be paid in full.
If You Want To Change or Cancel Your Holiday:
Any cancellation or amendment request must be sent to us in writing by the lead passenger and will not take effect until received by us. You may cancel your booking at any stage prior to the 90 days before departure. Due to administration costs being incurred by ourselves on handling any booking, we will retain the full 10% of the original deposit invoice upon cancellation to cover such charges.
Cancellation charges within the 90 days before departure:
90 – 60 days before departure 50% of total itinerary cost
59 – 31 days before departure 75% of total itinerary cost
30 days or less before departure 100% of total itinerary cost
Changes or Cancellations by the Supplier:
We will inform you of any changes or cancellations as soon as reasonably possible. If the supplier offers alternative arrangements or a refund, you will need to let us know your choice within the time frame we stipulate. If you fail to do so the supplier is entitled to assume you wish to receive a full refund.
Websites Links :
Falkland Islands Government https://www.falklands.gov.fk
Falkland Islands Tourist Board https://www.falklandislands.com
Falkland Islands Museum https://falklands-museum.com
Falklands Conservation https://falklandsconservation.com
Falkland Islands Customs and Immigration Department https://www.falklands.gov.fk/customs
The Waterfront Boutique Hotel https://www.waterfronthotel.co.fk
The Malvina House Hotel https://www.malvinahousehotel.com
Falklands Outdoors https://falklandsoutdoors.com