Getting around the Falklands takes patience and forward planning. The infrastructure is thin and the weather can disrupt the best-laid itineraries.
Stanley and East Falkland by road
Stanley is small enough to walk around in an hour. The road network on East Falkland connects Stanley to Mount Pleasant Airport and a handful of settlements. Hire cars are available in Stanley if you want to explore independently, but many tracks beyond the main road require a four-wheel-drive vehicle, and crossing private land usually requires landowner permission. Local tour operators run day trips to places like Volunteer Point — this is the easiest option for most visitors.
FIGAS — the island air service
The Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) is the main way to reach the outer islands. It operates as an air taxi service using Britten-Norman Islander aircraft from Stanley Airport. There is no fixed schedule; flights are arranged based on daily demand. Book by 10am the day before you want to travel; the schedule for the following day is announced in the afternoon.
To book, contact FIGAS by email ([email protected]) or phone (+500 27219) with your travel dates, number of passengers, and start and end destinations. The baggage allowance for visitors is 20kg per person. Most outer island airstrips are grass, and weight restrictions sometimes mean groups are split across two flights.
Getting to the outer islands
Some privately owned islands — Saunders, West Point, Sea Lion Island — have lodges and their own airstrips. FIGAS serves them, and the lodges can arrange bookings. A few islands can also be reached by boat, though this is mostly for local use. Plan outer island visits as part of a fixed itinerary rather than trying to improvise on arrival.