Bluff Cove Lagoon Penguin Tour — Local services in East Falkland

First, I want to say that you can see the same three species of penguins by paying $20pp for the bus ride to Gypsey Cove from the dock and doing a bit more walking. We opted for an excursion to Bluff Cove Lagoon via our cruise company, which was considerably more expensive, pp, and was 100% worth it in terms of experience.

You'll get a concise history of the Falklands from the driver on the way to and from. There's no switching to a 4x4 anymore; you're driven straight to the location where there is a small colony of King penguins and a larger colony of gentoos. When we visited (early January 2024) the gentoo chicks were fairly large but still fluffy and gray. The Kings hadn't hatched yet; it was equally adorable to watch them tending to their eggs under the brood flaps. When you've gotten your fill of Kings and Gentoos, make the trek to the beach to see a few Magellenics, and also to watch the penguins emerge from the ocean and start the long waddling trek back to feed their chicks.

The scenery is spectacular, skies and ocean and wildlife. There are guides who can tell you about the penguins, and also make sure you're not getting too close to them.

The absolute kicker/bonus/whipped cream and cherry on top is the tea shop and gift shop. Tea/hot cocoa with two generously proportioned desserts is included in your admission fee, and the woman who makes the desserts could bake the butt off any of the world's best pastry chefs. The gift shop is full of very carefully curated items - no tat here! - including a specially designed tweed in a number of items, wool for knitting or crocheting, and the obligatory mugs, tea towels, notebooks, etc. Everyone is extremely kind and helpful.

You get 2 hours to look around, which is just enough if you want to enjoy your tea and baked goods, then do a bit of shopping. Overall, the experience, while pricey, is worth every penny.

If you're on a budget, do the $20pp trip to Gypsey Cove and see penguins. If you're not...try to book a Bluff Cove excursion. You won't regret it. One of our best memories of our Antarctica cruise, and we had four clear, amazing days of...

Our visit to Bluff Cove on the Falklands, booked as part of a land excursion through our Holland America cruise, was nothing short of magical—one of the most breathtaking experiences of our trip.

From the seamless logistics—smooth pickup at the docks to a perfectly timed drop-off four hours later—every detail was well thought out. Visiting in late February, at the tail end of the breeding season, meant that many hatchlings had already fledged, and some adults had taken to the sea. Yet, a vibrant colony of King and Gentoo penguins still lingered along the beach and seafront, offering an unforgettable up close spectacle.

Our driver, a jolly storyteller brimming with local knowledge, made the short 20-minute journey to the cove fly by. And then, Bluff Cove itself—an expanse of wild, windswept beauty where sheep, cows, and penguins share the land, while gulls, skuas, and geese add their raucous symphony to the scene. We had plenty of time to soak it all in, with friendly rangers nearby, ready to share insights.

As if the day couldn’t be more perfect, we ended our visit at the utterly charming Sea Cabbage Café—possibly the coziest and most delightful English tea house in the entire Southern Hemisphere. A steaming cup of tea and a slice of homemade coffee cake never tasted so divine. Before heading back, we even picked up some beautifully crafted Falklands tweed as a keepsake.

An experience not to be missed—10/10,...

When we went, the roadway wasn’t in yet so we started our adventure with a 4x4 vehicles (Landrovers) for an “off road” safari adventure. At Bluff Cove Lagoon, rangers met us and took us down to the beach to meet the penguins. We saw Gentoo and a small colony of King Penguins. King Penguins can grow to around 3 feet tall and ‘towered’ over the nearby Gentoo. Although Gentoo can grow to within 4-5 inches of the Kings, the difference in height was due to most of the penguins we were seeing being young, many of whom were still molting. When we were there, the Sea Cabbage Café was still in operation. At the Café, we had free tea and sweets, and at the museum, I found an authentic handmade (by one of the rangers I had met) embroidered piece made out of Falklands tweed (from the farm we were on). I bought this as a gift for our friend who drove us to the airport and who will pick us...