Gentoo Penguin Colony — Falkland Islands

About this spectacle

Volunteer Point is one of the Falkland Islands' most celebrated wildlife destinations, where visitors can walk to within metres of thousands of nesting gentoo, rockhopper, and king penguins. The beach is alive with the constant shuffle of birds returning from the sea, the braying calls of gentoos, and the comic bustle of chicks begging for food. King penguins stand tall and vivid against the pale sand, their orange and yellow throat patches blazing in the southern light. The wind is ever-present, carrying the salt tang of the South Atlantic and the earthy musk of the colony. Seals occasionally haul out nearby, and skuas circle overhead waiting for opportunity. The sheer density and approachability of the birds — largely unbothered by calm, quiet visitors — makes for an intimate, almost surreal encounter with wild Antarctica-adjacent wildlife.

When to go

Oct — Mar, peak Nov — Feb

Getting there

Nearest airport: MPN. Nearest city: Stanley.

Booking options

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