Swim with humpback whales in Moʻorea, September 2027 · from CHF 4,500See the trip →
Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Americas

Americas

Falkland Islands

A cold, windy archipelago where penguins, seals and orcas are watched from land.

South American sea lion
South American sea lion, found in the waters of the wider region · Photo: Ricardo Espinoza Kock on Unsplash
Story only

Story only, for now. We love learning about this place and its ocean, so we share its story here and do not sell trips yet. Checked by Ocean Calling on 6 Oct 2026. Sources: Sea Lion Island wildlife seasons, Falkland Islands Holidays; The elephant seals, sea lions and killer whales of Sea Lion Island, Sea Lion Lodge; Yorke Bay gentoo colony open to the public (visitor guidelines), Falkland Islands Government.

Why: Sea Lion Island is one of the Falklands' great wildlife places: elephant seals haul out from September and pup through October, sea lions pup in late December, gentoo, Magellanic and rockhopper penguins breed from about September to April, and orcas patrol the shores in the elephant seal season. Falkland Islands Government guidance asks visitors to stay at least 10 metres from wildlife, keep out of roped areas and never touch birds, and the local cetacean code says do not swim with, touch or feed whales and dolphins. We give them that space: we share this place as a story and a shore-side watch, and we never swim with or touch the animals.

Wildlife watching

Why Falkland Islands

People come for penguins, wild islands and history. The sea is cold and the wildlife is watched from shore, so it is not an in-water retreat. Several penguin species breed here, with South American sea lions, elephant seals and fur seals. Orcas are often seen off Sea Lion Island between October and February. Stay 6 m from colonies, and never touch or feed. Story only.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

ArgentinaChileFalkland Is.Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

When to go

Oct-Feb. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We share this place as a story so you can learn. There is no Ocean Calling trip.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Story only

We tell the story. We do not sell a trip here.

Checked 6 Oct 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
The story

Where in Falkland Islands

We share these places as stories and research notes. We do not offer or sell trips here.

Sea Lion Island

Story only

A small island where sea lions, penguins and seals live on the shore.

Also seen: Sea lions and penguins from land, 6 m away, Orcas from the shore or a boat, often October to February, never promised

When: Oct-Feb. Orcas are often seen off Sea Lion Island between October and February. The water is cold all year and we do not offer in-water time.

Animals

Animals recorded in Falkland Islands

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Close-up of a sleeping maned male South American sea lion on rocksSouth American sea lionOtaria byroniaSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernOrcas surfacing close together in calm Arctic Norwegian watersOrca (killer whale)Orcinus orcaSeen in 55 countries in the AtlasData DeficientSouthern right whale surfacing with V-shaped blow and pale callosities, ArgentinaSouthern right whaleEubalaena australisSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSei whale's tall dorsal fin breaking a calm sea surfaceSei whaleBalaenoptera borealisSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasEndangeredLarge southern elephant seal resting on a wet beach, face turned to the cameraSouthern elephant sealMirounga leoninaSeen in 11 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSouth American fur seal sitting upright on a seaweed-covered rock by the shoreSouth American fur sealArctocephalus australisSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernPeale's dolphin leaping beside a rocky shore, showing a dark back and pale flankPeale's dolphinCephalorhynchus australisSeen in 1 country in the AtlasLeast ConcernGentoo penguins in shallow turquoise water at the shore, one leaping out of the sea, photographed in the Falkland IslandsGentoo penguinPygoscelis papuaSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernClose view of a rockhopper penguin with yellow crest feathers, red eye and orange-red bill, standing in tussock grassSouthern rockhopper penguinEudyptes chrysocomeSeen in 9 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAdult king penguin standing on short grass beside a large brown downy chickKing penguinAptenodytes patagonicusSeen in 10 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernThree black-browed albatrosses with their bills together at a Steeple Jason Island colony, against blue skyBlack-browed albatrossThalassarche melanophrisSeen in 21 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHumpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSperm whale mother raising her fluke beside her calf off DominicaSperm whalePhyseter macrocephalusSeen in 114 countries in the AtlasVulnerableFin whale surfacing, showing its white right lower jawFin whaleBalaenoptera physalusSeen in 37 countries in the AtlasVulnerableTwo long-finned pilot whales surfacing side by sideLong-finned pilot whaleGlobicephala melasSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGroup of Magellanic penguins standing on a pebble beach beside the waterMagellanic penguinSpheniscus magellanicusSeen in 6 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommerson's dolphin at the surface of green water, with a black head and a white bodyCommerson's dolphinCephalorhynchus commersoniiSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernSpiny dogfish resting on the seabed at the Josephine Marie shipwreck, Stellwagen Bank National Marine SanctuarySpiny dogfishSqualus acanthiasSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLeopard seal resting on rocks at the water's edge with its mouth wide openLeopard sealHydrurga leptonyxSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHuge flock of sooty shearwaters flying low over the sea beside a rocky coastSooty shearwaterArdenna griseaSeen in 53 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWilson's storm-petrel resting on calm water with its wings raised above its backWilson's storm-petrelOceanites oceanicusSeen in 41 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernManx shearwater banking just above the sea, white underparts and dark upperparts visibleManx shearwaterPuffinus puffinusSeen in 34 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreat shearwater flying low over calm water, its reflection belowGreat shearwaterArdenna gravisSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernWhite-chinned petrel floating on blue water with its white chin patch showingWhite-chinned petrelProcellaria aequinoctialisSeen in 14 countries in the AtlasVulnerableAntarctic fur seal rising upright out of the water with wet fur and closed eyesAntarctic fur sealArctocephalus gazellaSeen in 8 countries in the AtlasEndangeredImperial shag perched on a rock at the water's edge, with an orange knob at the base of the billImperial shagLeucocarbo atricepsSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernThree macaroni penguins on a rocky slope, golden crest feathers over the eyesMacaroni penguinEudyptes chrysolophusSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasVulnerableBroadnose skateBathyraja brachyuropsSeen in 7 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedNorthern rockhopper penguin in profile with yellow crest, red eye and orange billNorthern rockhopper penguinEudyptes moseleyiSeen in 3 countries in the AtlasEndangered
Curious?

Why this is a story, not a trip

Read our ethics check above. If you would like to talk about it, Rocío is happy to explain.

Ask RocíoBack to the Ocean Atlas

Also in Americas
AntarcticaArgentinaBermudaBrazilCanadaChileColombiaCosta RicaEcuadorEl SalvadorFrench GuianaGuatemalaGuyanaMexicoNicaraguaPanamaPeruSurinameUnited StatesUruguay

← Back to the Ocean Atlas

For partners

Based in Falkland Islands?

We are always happy to hear from exceptional local operators, accommodation, conservation organisations and destination experts in Falkland Islands. If your work fits responsible, small-group ocean travel, we would love to learn more.

Partner with Ocean Calling
You might like

5-day freediving course in Bali

CHF 1,180

See the trip →