Penguins of the Falkland Islands: A Wildlife Wonderland – with video

The remote Falkland Islands are a pristine wilderness with some of the most beautiful white sand beaches I have ever seen. It is a nature lover’s paradise.

The islands are one of the world’s best places to see penguins in their natural habitat. About a million penguins call the Falkland Islands their home during the summer migration. Five out of 17 species of penguins can be found here: King, Gentoo, Rockhopper, Magellanic, and Macaroni.

The Falklands are also perfect for spotting other wildlife and sea birds. There are 15 types of whales found in the waters, and it’s one of the few areas in the world where the endangered Sei whales can be spotted near shore.

Stunning white sand beach and turquoise waters at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Where are the Falkland Islands?

The Falkland Islands is a British Territory located in the Atlantic Ocean, 644 km off the east coast of South America and 1368 km from the Antarctic Circle. There are 778 islands, with the East and West Falkland Islands being the largest. Access to most of the islands is challenging. Discovered by a British navigator in August 1592, its population is just under 3,500, with most of the people living in the capital of Stanley. Many can trace their family through nine generations of Island living.

When I visited, I was on one of the 40 cruise ships stopping here during the summer months. It took two days at sea to reach the Falklands from Argentina. We were lucky to be able to take a tender to the main city of Stanley. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, the weather will not cooperate, and this important port of call can be missed.

I have heard stories of cruise ship passengers being able to disembark, but then the weather changed, and they could not safely reboard the ship until a few days later. When this happened, the Falkland community quickly joined together and opened their homes to provide the visiting passengers with a place to sleep and food until it was safe to rejoin their ship.

Others who wish to travel to the Falklands usually take a flight from Santiago or Punta Arenas, Chile.

Where is the best place to see penguins on the Falkland Islands?

The penguins populate the sandy shores along the Falkland coastline and can also be found among the sheep in the peat fields. Not far from Stanley, in Gypsy Cove or Yorke Bay, Gentoo and Magellanic peguins can found.

Discover three types of penguins at Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands. Explore the largest King penguin colony outside Antarctica and South Georgia, along with Gentoo penguins and thousands of Magellanic penguins.

King penguins at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Penguins at Volunteer Point

I was excited to take a private 6-hour tour to Volunteer Point, traveling the 50-mile route in a convoy of four jeeps. It was an excellent opportunity to see the island’s topography, with its rugged rocky mountains, small sheep farms, unique rivers of stone, and Battle Mountains of the Falkland War of 1982. The route is a mixture of gravel road and grass track terrain, so only 4 x 4 vehicles with experienced drivers can make the journey. 

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Views of Mount Hariet on the road to Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands to see the penguins. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Getting to Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands to see the penguins. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Getting to Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands to see the penguins. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Getting to Volunteer Point on the Falkland Islands to see the penguins. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Located on a private reserve, Volunteer Point is home to thousands of penguins, which breed on the fine white sands. The population has steadily increased since the 1860s. Here in their natural and undisturbed habitat, there were about 4,000 majestic King penguins, plus many thousands of Gentoo and Magellanic penguins.

This location is regularly called a ‘penguin paradise’ and I can certainly see why. You are virtually surrounded by penguins when you step out of the vehicle. I also visited the nearby white sand beach to watch them dive into the Atlantic Ocean.

Other wildlife can be seen in the shallow waters off Volenteer Point beach. Look for Comerson’s dolphin (which often swim in pods), South American fur seal, southern sea lion, and the occasional killer whale. Seabirds are also abundant; like the black-burrowed albatross, the giant petrel, and several others.

The photographic opportunities are immense, and I am very grateful that I brought my telephoto lens with me.

When I visited in the first weeks of December, there were hundreds of big brown fluffy King chicks. These chicks were hatched in the autumn and are very inquisitive. They will approach you if you stand still and are quiet.

Rules to follow to keep wildlife safe:

• Please do not cross the path of birds travelling to and from the beach or scare resting birds back into the water. 
• Do not touch any of the birds. Respect their space. Keep back at least 6 metres.
• Watch where you are walking and avoid burrows. Soil can give way around nests, causing eggs and young to be easily crushed.
• Burrows can contain thousands of lice.
• Never put a camera into a burrow to get photographs of the bird. The flash can damage birds and lead to the desertion of the nest.
• Penguins have sharp beaks and flippers. They will bite if they feel threatened.

How to get the best photographs of penguins

1. Be patient. If scared, Magellanic penguins will run for their burrows. Take a seat near the burrows and wait—you will be rewarded.
2. Birds returning from the sea will pass by you if you do not block their way. 
3. Sit or stand quietly, and the birds may come close to you.
4. I used a Canon 7D Mark 11 with a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and am very pleased with the results. A few images were also taken with my iPhone.
5. Watch your step if backing up or moving forward to avoid falling into nests.

Travel writer Wendy Nordvik-Carr with thousands of penguins at Volunteer Point Falkland Islands. Copyrighted Photo.

What kind of penguins can be found in the Falkland Islands?

1. Gentoo Penguins

The Falkland Islands are home to the world’s largest colony of Gentoo Penguins. Easily recognized by their bright orange beaks, Gentoo penguins are the most widespread in the Falklands, with thousands of breeding pairs across the islands. They live on the islands all year. 

Facts about Gentoo Penguins

• Life expectancy in the wild is 20 years.
• The height can reach a maximum of 2 feet 6 inches or 76 cm.
• Gentoos can swim up to 36 miles per hour.

Gentoo Penguins head back from the beach at Volunteer Point Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Gentoo Penguin sits on her egg at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Gentoo Penguins head back from the beach at Volunteer Point Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Gentoo Penguins head back from the beach at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

What do Gentoo Penguins sound like?

2. King Penguins

King penguins are the second-largest penguin species and are known for their striking orange and black markings. The best place to see them is Volunteer Point, home to the largest colony in the Falklands. King penguins live in the Falklands all year.

King chicks stay together in groups called crèches. They rely on each other for protection and warmth. Look at the sad picture below, where a young chick mourns the loss of a companion by sitting on top of a dead chick offering protection.

Facts about King Penguins

• These penguins are the second largest in the world. The largest is the Emperor penguin.
• Chicks are born without feathers. It takes them 40 days to become covered in fluffy feathers, and it takes them three years to develop a full adult coat.
• The penguin takes about 15 months to mature.
• Their height ranges between 70-100 cm or 27-29 inches.
• They weigh from 10-16 kg or 22-25 pounds.
• Their scientific name is Aptenodytes patagonicus.
• They live on a diet of small fish, squid and other small crustaceans.
• They breed every three years and the eggs take 50-60 days to hatch.
• Life expectancy is up to 25 years.

A King penguin chick sits on top of a dead chick, mourning the loss of a companion at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

King penguins and chicks at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

King penguins walking to the beach at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

King penguins and chicks at Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

What do King penguins sound like?

3. Magellanic Penguins

The number of Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus Magellanic) has been increasing on the Falklands. They have distinctive black bands across their white chests and can often be seen near beaches and grassy areas. At Volunteer Point, the population is around 2,500 breeding pairs. These burrowing penguins can sometimes be hard to see. This species burrows deeply into the turf to make its nests and can often be seen sitting outside of its nests on sunny days.

If you explore the area, watch your step, as some burrows blend into the landscape fairly well. Burrows can be as deep as 2 metres or 7 feet. A woman travelling with us fell and badly hurt herself.

The Magellanic penguin can be found in other areas along the Falklands’ unpopulated coast.

Fast Facts about Magellanic Penguins

• The donkey-like calls of a Magellanic penguin have earned them the local nickname of “jackass” penguins.
• Oil spills along the coast of South America have directly caused 40,000 a year to die.
• One oil spill in 1991 killed 15,000.
• Every winter, they migrate thousands of miles away to Brazil.
• The Magellanic penguin returns every September to the same burrow and the same partner.
• It takes 40-45 days for an egg to hatch.

Magellanic Penguins walking from the beach at Volunteer Point Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Magellanic Penguins on their nest at Volunteer Point Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

Magellanic Penguin on their nest at Volunteer Point Falkland Islands. Photo: Wendy Nordvik-Carr©

4. Rockhopper Penguins 

The Rockhopper penguin is small and feisty, adorned with spiky yellow crests. Most of the world’s population migrates to the Falkland Islands in the summer, making their home mainly on the rocky cliffs of the Jason Islands. This area can only be accessed by boat, and special permission needs to be granted to set foot on the National Nature Reserve.  

5. Macaroni Penguins

The rarest in the Falklands, macaroni penguins closely resemble rockhoppers but have thicker yellow crests.

Fast Facts about the Falkland Islands

• Black-browed albatross live and breed on the steep cliffs at 16 locations on the Falkland Islands. This species is the smallest of 27 varieties of albatross in the world. The Falklands have the largest population of this type of sea bird.
• The waters of the Falkland Islands are home to 15 types of whales. This is one of the few areas in the world where the endangered Sei whales can be spotted close to shore in Berkeley Sound and the Johnson Harbour area. This type of whale is the third largest in the world and the fastest-traveling.
• Trees are not native on the island.
• It has a temperate marine climate.
• There are no indigenous people. The islands were uninhabited.
• First claimed by the British in 1752.
• From 1811, British, French and Spanish, at various times, established garrisons.
• 1845, Stanley became the capital of the Islands.
• April 2, 1982, Argentina invades the Falkland Islands.
• October 6, 1882, Argentina tried to disregard Britain’s claim.
• January 2, 1883, the Argentine military was ousted by the British Royal Navy.
• June 14, 1982, Britain defeated Argentina. Casualties during the 10-week war: Argentina lost 650 and Britain lost 255.
• 1990, Diplomatic relations between Britain and Argentina were restored. Find out more about important historical dates for the Falkland Islands.

Discover more incredible places to travel to. Here are a few:

Travel Norway  to discover unique historic Stave Churches or Viking settlements. Travel to Newfoundland to see world wonders and hunt for icbergs. Travel to Spain to see one of the oldest European cities.