Day 6, Monday, March 10, 2025

Stanley, Falkland Islands

Stanley, also known as Port Stanley, is the capital of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas to all Argentinians). This remote South Atlantic archipelago is on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about 300 mi (500 km) east of South America’s southern Patagonian coast and 752 mi (1,210 km) from Cape Dubouzet at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The archipelago, with an area of 4,700 sq miles comprises East Falkland, West Falkland, and 776 smaller islands. As a British Overseas Territory, the Falklands have internal self-governance, but the United Kingdom takes responsibility for their defense and foreign affairs. With rugged terrain and cliff-lined coasts, its hundreds of islands and islets are home to sheep farms and abundant birdlife. The capital, Stanley, sits on East Falkland, the largest island. In 1982 Argentinian forces invaded Falklands to reclaim them. The Falkland War lasted 2 months before the British reclaimed them. But it’s ownership continues to be a bone of contention in Argentina.

We needed to tender at this port, and what a ride it was. All tours were delayed about 30 minutes due to the weather. We were off to Bertha’s Beach and — a scenic sandy beach nestled along the beautiful coastline of the Falkland Islands, where ocean and wetland wildlife live and thrive in harmony. This Ramsar Site is named for the barque Bertha, shipwrecked here in 1952.

The island’s main road network winds through a rugged Falklands landscape, punctuated by the unique geological stone runs that were cataloged by Charles Darwin. After approximately an hour, we turned off-road for another 30-minute adventure across the flatlands. Bertha’s Beach itself boasts a large Gentoo penguin colony with more than 800 birds. Additionally, more than 80 different flowering plants have been recorded here, five of which are endemic to the Falkland Islands. Among the many are the dog orchid, the yellow violet, Falkland lavender and the National Flower — the pale maiden. With this all being said, you might see these plants IF you can see out of your bus. The rain Gods were not on our side today. It rained, sometimes buckets, but it didn’t stop us. I wanted to see penguins.