We spent a quiet night sailing along the northern coastline of the Falkland Islands. As we settled down to our breakfast, the National Geographic Explorer was coming alongside the floating dock near Port Stanley, the capital of the islands. Today there are a number of options for us to be able to take advantage of our visit to this remote part of the planet.

The Stanley Highlights tour is an opportunity to get a good overview of the city passing by the Lady Elizabeth wreck, then along to the small airport, and then into town passing the “Totem Pole.” Once in the urban area we visited the governor’s house, the hospital, the schools, the war memorials, and ending at the wonderful museum. Our guides also gave us a lot of information about the history of the islands, their lifestyle, and about the conflict.

Many of us also opted to take a wander in town for a meal, a drink, and of course to make some purchases in the little shops.

Visit to Long Island Farm: this farm still maintains many of the traditions such as cutting and burning peat. There are also sheepdog demonstrations, sheep shearing, and saddling a horse with a “recado,” the saddle used by the gauchos.