Falkland Islands Governor’s House; credit: Michael Clarke, Wikimedia

Each year, the majority of visitors who travel to the Falkland Islands do so on-board cruise and expedition vessels. Though visitors arrive all year round, smart visitors decide on their time of visit depending on their reason for visiting.

The Falkland Islands consist of two main islands and several hundred smaller cays in the Southern Atlantic, approximately 300 miles east off the coast of southern South America.

The Summer Months

For visitors who are planning a visit and would like to experience fair weather and wildlife, the best time to visit is during the summer months – October to April.

During this period, the wild will be teeming with animals such as the Gentoo, Magellanic and Rockhopper penguins, as well as sea lions, elephant seals and the black-browed albatross.

During December and January, animals begin to bear young and the forests, parks, savannahs, etc. come alive with activities.  Generally speaking, the Falkland Islands have a temperate climate, with the ideal time to visit if one expects fair, warm weather being during the summer.

The Falklands is a victim of the Antarctic ozone hole, so it is important to wear sunscreen on sunny days during the early summer.

The Rest of the Year

Outside the summer months, the weather in the Falklands is often quite changeable. In fact, one single day may see intense heat followed by a slight chill.

Still, during the more stable summer months, the maximum temperature in Stanley, for example,  is about 20 degrees Celsius. During the winter, temperatures generally lie between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius.

Although the islands are located almost exactly as far south as London is north of the equator, the absence of a warming current like the Gulf Stream means temperatures are considerably colder and snow may occur at any time except for January and February.

National Holidays

There are three major holidays celebrated in the Falklands:

• HM the Queen’s Birthday, 21 April
• Liberation Day, 14 June
• Battle Day, 8 December

On these days, public institutions as well as a number of private corporations are closed. Liberation and Battle Day tend to see much celebration in the way of ceremonies and parades.

Generally, the best months to visit the Falklands are during the beginning of the year, from January to April as well as at the closing of the year, from September to December.

Apart from experiencing wildlife at their best, another reason that may convince visitors to travel to the Falkland Islands during the summer is due to the fact that most people travel around the Falkland Islands on a light aircraft.

During the summer, even the flight is a great experience in itself and will take visitors to the best locations around the islands.