The Best & Worst Times to Visit the Falklands in 2024

The Falkland Islands, or the Islas Malvinas, are one of the last stops before you get to the Atlantic. Once the site of a short war between the UK and Argentina, they’re now a popular stopping point on Antarctic cruises.

The main draw of the islands is their rugged natural beauty. The islands have white sandy beaches, stunning cliffs, and mountainous landscapes, all with very little pollution, making for the perfect hike.

The sparsely populated islands are popular among migrating birds, including penguins, offering prime bird-watching opportunities. You can also visit some of the small museums to learn about the people who call this rugged place home.

The Falklands are an adventure waiting to happen, especially if you visit during the right time. We’ll show you this and more below.

The Overall Best Time to Visit the Falkland Islands

The best time to visit the Falkland Islands is during the Southern Hemisphere summer, from December to February, when the weather is at its best for an adventure in the South Atlantic.

The Falkland Islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean, close to the tip of South America. They are not far from the Antarctic polar region, which influences their climate accordingly. The islands belong to the cold maritime climate zone.

What this means is that you can expect cool temperatures all year round, but the warmest temperatures occur in the summer. Average high temperatures in the summer are in the high 50s and low 60s Fahrenheit.

That’s better than visiting during the winter, when temperatures usually hover around freezing. Although summer in the Falklands still isn’t shorts weather, it is more pleasant to go hiking or kayaking when the weather is at least above freezing.

The skies are clearest in the summer, which also makes for good photos. The archipelago gets some rain in the summer (the rainiest month is in the fall), but it isn’t so rainy that precipitation should affect your trip.

Choosing a time to visit with good weather is important when planning your trip to the Falklands since so many of the activities you’ll want to do are outdoors.

The Falklands are prime territory for outdoor adventures, such as:

• Hiking
• 4×4 touring
• Rock climbing
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Sailing

Some tour operators operate seasonally, meaning that they close during the off-season. If you visit during the summer, you’ll have the most choice over what activities you can do since the most tourism-oriented businesses will be open.

Summer is the best time to visit for wildlife spotting opportunities since that is when animals are the most active. Between December and February is when most animals have their babies, making for adorable photos.

According to the official Falkland Islands Wildlife Calendar, put out by the charity Falklands Conservation, the following animals hatch or birth their young in the summer:

• Elephant seals (November)
• Gentoo penguins (December)
• Magellanic penguins (December)
• Rockhopper penguins (December)
• King penguins (January)
• Sea lions (December-January)

For these reasons, visiting the Falkland Islands in the summer is the best time to visit.

Cheapest Time to Visit the Falklands

The cheapest time to visit the Falklands is during the autumn months, when the lower tourism demand means that prices also tend to go down.

The summer is the short high season in the Falklands, and outside of that season prices for popular accommodation and tour options tend to be lower. If you visit during one of the shoulder seasons, you can get lower prices.

Autumn in particular tends to be more affordable as businesses try to capitalize on the tail end of the high season. Autumn is one of the more affordable seasons for traveling to the Falkland Islands as well.

The lowest-cost months for flights from South America tend to be March and April, and there are still semi-frequent flights.

Keep in mind that the price of visiting the Falklands doesn’t fluctuate that much throughout the year, so saving money shouldn’t be your only calculation when figuring out when to visit. Getting to this remote place is likely going to cost you a lot of money no matter when you visit.

Least Busy Time to Visit the Falklands

The least busy time to visit the Falklands is in the spring (September-November) or autumn (March-May), which mark the shoulder seasons on the islands.

During spring and autumn, the weather is still mild on the islands. It is colder than summer, but not too cold. The high season is over or hasn’t started yet, so there are fewer crowds.

By not visiting in the summer, you also avoid arriving at the same time as the peak Antarctic cruises, which make up a good percentage of high season visitors to the archipelago.

Visitors during the spring get to enjoy renewed wildlife activity. Although babies aren’t born or hatched yet, you can spot mating rituals among the elephant seals in particular, and among some species of penguins.

Wildflowers begin to grow and carpet the hills, making it perfect for hiking. Autumn is a great time to visit if you are more interested in exploring how people live on the Falklands.

According to the Falkland Islands Tourism Board, autumn is a busy season for people on the island as the harvest picks up and agricultural work ends. You can see plenty of stands selling fresh jam or preserves, or join a farm to try some hands-on work yourself.

Autumn also has a lot of local festivals and holidays, such as:

• Camp Sports, a traditional fair marking the end of sheep season
• Horticultural Show, showing off the best of local products
• Remembrance Day, commemorating the 1982 war
• May Ball, a dance organized by villagers where all are welcome

The Falkland Islands aren’t very crowded even during peak season because they are so remote and hard to get to, but if you really want an authentic experience, this is the best time to visit.

Worst Time to Visit the Falkland Islands

The worst time to visit the Falkland Islands is during the winter (June-August), when the weather is the worst and there is not as much to do.

During the winter, temperatures aren’t very cold (usually about 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit) thanks to the mild influence of the ocean streams. However, the ocean also causes the weather to become unpredictable.

In the winter, expect high winds, frequent storms, and driving rain and snow. Many outdoor activities are not possible during the winter, or simply not as much fun. Most migrating bird species leave, including most penguins, so there aren’t as many opportunities to go wildlife spotting.

Many local businesses close for the season, so you may not be able to do everything you set out to do. If you visit during the winter, you’ll truly get the islands to yourself and get to feel as if you are away from it all.

Plus, the winter is the best time to see the aurora australis, or the southern lights, which are visible from April to August when the days are shorter.

Frequently Asked Questions

These common questions can also help you find the best time to visit the Falklands:

So, What’s the Best Time to Visit the Falklands?

For mild weather, adventure opportunities, and plenty of wildlife to photograph, visit the Falklands in the summer, between December and February.