Carcass Island

Island Uninhabited Falklands island known for birdlife

Carcass Island hosts grassy coastal plains, sandy beaches, and abundant seabirds, including penguin colonies. Visitors arrive on wildlife charters for birdwatching, beach walks, and small-boat landings amid a pastoral farming landscape.

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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.
Carcass Island
-51.2823, -60.5577

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.

Best Time to Visit Carcass Island #

Best visited in the austral summer (December-February) when weather is mildest and wildlife is most active.

Austral summer (Peak wildlife activity)
Dec-Feb · 5-12°C
Mildest weather of the year with the greatest wildlife activity and breeding seabirds - the most favorable time for nature visits.
Autumn/Winter
Mar-Aug · 0-8°C
Cool, often windy conditions with fewer visitors and reduced daylight; boat access can be more challenging in rough seas.

Weather & Climate near Carcass Island #

Climate

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.

Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
13°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is cool with highs of 13°C and lows of 7°C. The wettest month with 51 mm of rain and breezy conditions.

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cool
10°C
Temperature
13°

Weather

51 mm
Rainfall
7.9 m/s
Wind
Breezy

February

February is cool with highs of 13°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (39 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

10°
Feels Like Cool
10°C
Temperature
13°

Weather

39 mm
Rainfall
7.9 m/s
Wind
Breezy

March

March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°

Weather

46 mm
Rainfall
7.5 m/s
Wind
Breezy

April

April is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (45 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

45 mm
Rainfall
7.4 m/s
Wind
Breezy

May

May is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (43 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

43 mm
Rainfall
7.0 m/s
Wind
Breezy

June

June is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

40 mm
Rainfall
6.9 m/s
Wind
Breezy

July

July is the coolest month with highs of 5°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (37 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

37 mm
Rainfall
7.1 m/s
Wind
Breezy

August

August is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

32 mm
Rainfall
7.6 m/s
Wind
Breezy

September

September is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of 2°C. The driest month with just 27 mm and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

27 mm
Rainfall
7.6 m/s
Wind
Breezy

October

October is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Light rainfall and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature

Weather

29 mm
Rainfall
7.8 m/s
Wind
Breezy

November

November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (30 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
10°

Weather

30 mm
Rainfall
7.8 m/s
Wind
Breezy

December

December is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and breezy conditions.

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°

Weather

44 mm
Rainfall
7.8 m/s
Wind
Breezy

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