Carcass Island
A rat-free private island off the northwest coast of West Falkland, with a very high density of small birds and resident Gentoo and Magellanic penguins; a favorite landing stop for cruise ships.
Carcass Island lies in the open waters northwest of West Falkland. It is named after the British warship HMS Carcass, which visited in 1766. Rats and cats have never been introduced to the island, so small birds such as Cobb’s wren, the black-throated finch and the striated caracara are very numerous and tame. The island has Gentoo and Magellanic penguin colonies, coastal tussock grass and white-sand bays, and the farm owners are famous for their generous afternoon teas. Expedition cruises to the Antarctic and the Falklands often land here for half a day. Independent travellers must fly in from Stanley on a FIGAS light aircraft and stay in island cabins, usually for at least one night. Visitors must follow biosecurity rules: clean footwear and never bring seeds or soil onto the island.
Opening hours
Requires booked flight or cruise shore landing
Nearby sights
- Sea Lion Island
- Bertha's Beach
- Bluff Cove Lagoon
- Mount Longdon
- Mount Tumbledown
- Government House, Stanley
- Volunteer Point
- 1982 Liberation Memorial