Arrival at Port Stanley
Enjoy the historic capital of this far-flung outpost en route to Antarctica
Information about Arrival at Port Stanley
Port Stanley (also known simply as Stanley) has been the capital of the Falkland Islands since 1845 and lies on the eastern coast of East Falkland. Although it is a capital, you’re not going to find a bustling metropolis here. But you will find a very warm welcome from the 2,500 islanders who live here (some 70% of the entire population).
Stanley feels like a small slice of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic. As well as traditional red telephone boxes, and driving on the “wrong side of the road”, there’s a charm about Stanley that harks back to how the rural UK may have been in the 1950s. You’ll be made to feel at home in any of its 4 pubs and you must try a “takeaway” from its fish and chip shop!
About a third of the residents are government employees, with another substantial proportion involved in tourism, fishing, and farming.
The area around Stanley is worth an excursion. It’s a 4-mile walk or taxi ride to Gypsy Cove where there is a Magellanic penguin colony and the chance to see a lot of Falklands wildlife. You can also visit Cape Pembroke, the easternmost point of the Falkland Islands.
Whether you choose to explore the wider area or just take a relaxed stroll around Port Stanley itself, this is a wonderful place to enjoy your last footfall before you reach the Antarctic.
Interesting facts about Arrival at Port Stanley
Traditional "British" fish and chips, or a sipping a pint in one of the pubs - enjoy this slice of Britain on your way to your wonderful Antarctic expedition.