Vinson of Antarctica in The Falkland Islands – 4th November – 18th November 2023 - A photographic safari tour of the islands' finest wildlife sanctuaries and places of interest by sailing vessel led by Rick Tomlinson.
Orca up close with Pelagic Australis
Base Camp for the expedition Vinson of Antarctica. Click for vessel details>>
This tour, by sailing vessel, of The Falklands will visit the islands' finest wildlife sanctuaries, places of historical interest, including battlefields and wreck sites, and various settlements or 'Camps' as they are known locally. In 2019 this trip formed the basis of a very successful wildlife photography safari. See video below for a selection of images from our last Falklands photo expedition.
For our 2023 trip we are planning a 14 day itinerary concentrating on the islands diverse and unique wildlife. See map below. Vinson of Antarctica can take up to six passengers for this trip and we welcome enquires from groups or individuals. In addition to Rick leading the photography workshop, we will be providing a dedicated wildlife guide from the Falklands. This trip is suitable for a family group/s and provides a unique opportunity to inspire a deep and lifelong environmental interest in the young. See a video of one such family trip in the video below.
Other information about our Falklands destination see Falkland Islands Close Up - A cruise of Falkland Island waters recounted by Magnus Day and Silvia Varela written for the Chronicles of The Cruising Club of America Issue 59. Click for 2 mb pdf of the full article >> and see the destination page here>>
COSTS
GBP 9,000 per person. This fee covers all provisions, fuel for the vessel and transport from Mt Pleasant Airport to Port San Carlos. This does not include travel to the Falklands.
PROVISONAL ITINERARY
The provisional itinerary below is both weather dependent and adjustable to the wishes of the charter party.
Day 1: Arrive Mount Pleasant Airport. Transport direct to Vinson of Antarctica in San Carlos (46 slow land miles).
Typical Falkland Harbour
Visit war museum and British cemetery. If weather is fine sail for night anchorage off Ajax Bay - settle in on board.
 Pucara destroyed during raid on Pebble Island |
Day 2: Sail for Pebble Island (excellent example of settlement life) possibly via Port San Carlos or Jersey Harbour Day 3: Sail through Pebble Sound to Carcass (finest wildlife sanctuary) via Saunders Island (1777 Royal Marines settlement). |
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Day 4: Carcass Island. |
Day 5: Weather and tides permitting, sail for Jason Islands. If fine, remain for night. (Finest penguin and albatross colonies.) Anchor off Steeple Jason.
Albatross chick Steeple Jason by Justin Hoffman www.justin-hoffman.com
Day 6: Sail for West Point Island. Night stop. (Finest albatross colonies.) 
Day 7: Short sail to Port North Bense Island anchorage. (Fine beaches - possible dolphins and whales.)
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Day 8: Sail for New Island. (Wildlife paradise and wrecks.) Day 9: Sail for Port Albermarle via Horse Block Rock - south about Weddell Island. (Possible dolphins and whales?) |
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Day 10: Sail for Fox Bay (woollen and knitwear centres), possibly via Port Edgar (site of proposed anchorage for the Royal Family in World War Two - fascinating anchorage). Day 11: Sail for anchorage at Bull Cove (penguins). |
Day 12: Sail for either Fitzroy Settlement or Bluff Cove Settlement or if time permits: leave out Fitzroy and Bluff Cove and divert to Goose Green (wrecks and site of Argentine garrison and Parachute Battalion battle).
Approaching Stanley
Stanley waterfront
Day 14: Overland transport to Mount Pleasant Airport
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Guests would either fly twice weekly to Mt. Pleasant Airport (MPA) on East Falkland direct from the UK (Royal Air Force Airbus from Brize Norton), or every Saturday from Punta Arenas via Santiago Chile on LATAM. They would be met on arrival and then take Land Rover transport either to Port San Carlos. We strongly recommend that international return flights are fully flexible to allow for missed connections due to bad weather.
TRAVEL TO THE FALKLANDS VIA CHILE
We suggest that if you are arriving via Chile that you plan to be in Santiago on the Thursday night prior to the early Saturday morning departure from Santiago to Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falklands. This will allow some slack for missed connections and bags that did not make connections. Note that there is only one flight per week from Chile going into the Falklands, so this is critical. We also suggest you stay at the Airport Holiday Inn while in Santiago as it is a walk across the street to the terminal. And, you can enjoy this fascinating city on the Friday and meet up with your team mates.
Falklands Travel Agents
The Falklands are a specialist destination. Local agents to book your flights to Mount Pleasant Airport in the Falklands and arrange for transfer to the vessel once there are: International Tours and Travel LTD 1 Dean Street Stanley FIQQ1ZZ Falkland Islands +500 22041 Jennie Forrest jf.itt@horizon.co.fk
EQUIPMENT LIST
See http://www.pelagic.co.uk/eqpt_lists/eqpt02_delivery.htm
See video below for a flavour of this cruise
