Carcass Island at a Glance
About Carcass Island
Carcass Island is one of the islands in the Falkland Islands group, located off the west coast of West Falkland. It is known locally for its rural settlement and natural values.
The island supports diverse birdlife and a mix of coastal habitats; visitors commonly come for wildlife watching, short walks, and to visit the small local settlement. Sandy beaches and sheltered bays are among the island’s shoreline features.
Like many Falkland Islands, the island has a history of European charting and later sheep farming; it has long been occupied at a small scale and managed for pastoral use alongside conservation of wildlife. Specific historical events on the island are tied to local settlement and farming practices.
Carcass Island lies offshore within the Falkland Islands archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, west of West Falkland, and is accessed by boat or occasional air services from larger islands.
- Visitor highlights: The island has a small permanent settlement and is known for accessible shorelines and good birdwatching opportunities across its coastal and inland habitats.
Best Time to Visit Carcass Island
Best visited in the austral summer (December-February) when weather is mildest and wildlife is most active.
Weather & Climate near Carcass Island
Carcass Island's climate is classified as Subpolar Oceanic - Subpolar Oceanic climate with cool summers (peaking in January) and cold winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 1°C to 13°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 7° - 13° | 10° | 51 mm | - | - | 7.9 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 7° - 13° | 10° | 39 mm | - | - | 7.9 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 7° - 12° | 6° | 46 mm | - | - | 7.5 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 5° - 9° | 3° | 45 mm | - | - | 7.4 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 3° - 7° | 1° | 43 mm | - | - | 7.0 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 2° - 5° | -1° | 40 mm | - | - | 6.9 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 1° - 5° | -2° | 37 mm | - | - | 7.1 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 2° - 5° | -2° | 32 mm | - | - | 7.6 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 2° - 7° | -1° | 27 mm | - | - | 7.6 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 3° - 9° | 1° | 29 mm | - | - | 7.8 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 5° - 10° | 4° | 30 mm | - | - | 7.8 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 6° - 12° | 6° | 44 mm | - | - | 7.8 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Carcass Island
Carcass Island (Falkland Islands) is reached from Stanley by internal transport: scheduled FIGAS (Falkland Islands Government Air Service) flights serve many outer islands including Carcass Island-book via FIGAS from Stanley/RAF Mount Pleasant-and private boat charters also run from Stanley harbour. On arrival you disembark at the island’s landing/airstrip and reach visitor accommodations and birding sites on foot; there are no road connections from Stanley.
Tips for Visiting Carcass Island
- Arrange transport and landing through a Falklands operator based in Stanley and build flexibility into your schedule-shore landings depend on weather and tides and operators will advise best times.
- Visit in the southern spring/summer (roughly October-March) for breeding seabirds and penguins; many wildlife highlights are seasonal so time your trip for birding season.
- Expect basic visitor facilities and plan for self-sufficiency; independent walks from the landing site to beaches and saltmarshes are rewarding and quieter than the short, commonly visited shoreline spots.