As we continued our westerly course towards the Falklands, we encountered plenty of marine life as the conditions of our crossing from South Georgia improved dramatically. A seemingly endless stream of shearwaters and petrel species glided by effortlessly, with the occasional albatross punctuating the horizon to spice up the scene. The waters around the Falklands are some of the most productive in the southern hemisphere, as evidenced by the abundant seabirds and the array of marine mammals found here—including our own remarkable sighting of over 100 hourglass dolphins!

Upon our arrival at Stanley Harbor just after lunch, we immediately set out to take in the sights to make the most of our time here. The town Stanley is home to the vast majority of the Falklands, with nearly 3,000 residents and a rich history dating back to the late 17th century. Today Stanley thrives as a successful fishing port and visitor destination and is also the main hub for the outlying camps spread throughout this incredible archipelago.