Stay on the outer islands
Sea Lion, Saunders and Carcass islands hold the richest colonies. Small lodges there put several species within a short walk.
Falkland Islands
Sea Lion & Saunders Islands, South Atlantic
Few places pack in as many penguins as the Falklands: five species — king, gentoo, Magellanic, southern rockhopper and the occasional macaroni — share the white-sand beaches, tussac slopes and cliff tops of these windswept South Atlantic islands.
Five species
An archipelago of colonies
Scattered across the archipelago, the outer islands each hold their own mix of colonies. Gentoos crowd the dune-backed beaches, Magellanics burrow into the soft ground, and southern rockhoppers scramble up sheer rock to nest in noisy groups on the cliff tops, often alongside black-browed albatross.
The small island lodges put you within walking distance of several colonies at once, with little of the crowding you find at managed mainland sites. On a single morning you can watch kings on the beach, rockhoppers on the cliffs and gentoos streaming to and from the surf.
5 speciesshare the islands
Oct–Marthe breeding season
Dec–Febpeak activity and chicks
Island lodgesthe usual way to stay and watch
Plan your visit
Watching well at Falkland Islands
The Falklands reward a few unhurried days on the outer islands, moving by small aircraft between colonies.
Fly between islands
The internal air service links the settlements with short hops in small aircraft — the practical way to reach the best sites.
Come in summer
October to March is the breeding season; December to February brings the most activity, with chicks in the colonies.
Watch the rockhoppers
The cliff-top rockhopper colonies — often shared with albatross — are a highlight. Keep back from the edge and let the birds use their worn routes up the rock.
Keep exploring
More places to see penguins
Falkland Islands is one of many wild shores where penguins come ashore. Follow them around the globe.
Where to see penguins