Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019 Issue

22
ing group of king penguins as well as large
colonies of Gentoo and Magellanic penguins.
Located roughly two-hours northeast
of the port (Stanley), the trek to Volunteer
Point will encompass the majority of your
day, but it will be the excursion of a lifetime.
For the complete Falkland Island experience,
we recommend reserving your tour
with Jimmy and Tanya Curtis, the dynamic
husband and wife duo who own and operate
Volunteer Point Tours (curtis@volunteerpointtours.com).
Jimmy, Tanya and their
team of drivers will pick you up directly
from the port and zip you off to Volunteer
Point in their fleet of 4x4s. Once at
Volunteer Point, guests are free to walk
amongst all the penguins and unlike in
other reserves, no physical barriers exist
between guests and the animals. For mutual
protection, one must always be conscious
not to get too close as not to disturb
them either on land or in the sea. For conservation
reasons, daily visitors to the
reserve are limited and it is recommended
to book your tour well in advance of arrival,
especially if you are sailing on a large ship.
The Falkland Islands
An excursion of a lifetime
Article and photography by Daniel Smajovits
Yet, perhaps the most enjoyable part of
your journey with Jimmy and Tanya will be
the drive to and from Volunteer Point itself.
As lifetime residents of the Falkland Islands,
they love chatting about day-to-day life in
such a unique and sought-after British
Colony as well as will share some incredible
stories from the infamous and deadly
Falklands War. On route, they will also
point out famous landmarks and relics
from the war. Should time allow before the
last tender of the day, make sure to join
Jimmy and Tanya at their favourite pub,
one of four in Stanley, for a delicious local
pint.
Tucked away in the South Atlantic
Ocean, 300 miles east of
Argentina and 750 miles north of
Antarctica, the Falkland Islands are easy to
miss, yet, if you’re adding places to that
proverbial bucket list, this destination
should be right at the top.
Canadian World Traveller Summer 2019
Home to less than 4,000 residents of the
human kind, the islands are undoubtedly
most famous for its thousands of its tuxedo
wearing natives: the multiple penguin
breeds that call the Falklands home.
Once a remote destination that was only
accessible via one daily flight from
Santiago, recently, major cruise lines such
as Norwegian, Celebrity and Princess have
begun to include the Islands as a port-ofcall.
Itineraries allow visitors one full day on
the island of East Falkland, which is just the
perfect amount of time to indulge in the
colony’s incredible wildlife as well as sample
some of its unique culture.
When planning your trip, the premiere
sight is Volunteer Point, a private peninsula
that is home to the island’s largest breed-
Should you choose to spend your day in
Stanley, the quiet town offers some nice
shops, restaurants with local and British
fare as well as a museum and a golf
course. Due the Islands’ location, the average
summer temperature in the is 14
degrees (58 F), so dress in layers and
expect a mix of rain and sun.
www.falklandislands.com