Kelp Point

OVERVIEW

Take an exhilarating ride through the rugged wilds of the Falkland Islands in an 4x4 vehicle to observe elephant seals in a sanctuary and Gentoo penguins in a nearby rookery. While traveling the circuitous route through the hinterlands, you can’t help but admire the natural beauty and stone runs – a geological phenomenon of glacier-like streams of quartz boulders that naturalist Charles Darwin described in his diaries after visiting in the 1830s. At secluded Kelp Point, you will walk among a colony of elephant seals on the pebble beach. These carnivorous mammals are the largest of all seals and named for their inflatable trunk-like snouts. They weigh more than four tons and can withstand even the most frigid waters. Gentoo penguins are easy to identify as they have red-orange beaks and peach-colored feet, so they stand out against the coastal rocks. These charismatic waddlers may look awkward on land, but they are exceptionally graceful underwater.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Travel through the wilds of the Falkland Islands in a 4x4 vehicle made for adventure.
• Visit a colony of elephant seals, the largest of all seals, at Kelp Point.
• Observe Gentoo penguins in their natural habitat along the coastal rocks.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.