East Falkland

Dating from the French foundation of the colony in 1764, Port Louis is the Falklands' oldest settlement. Volunteer Point, east of Port Louis, has the Falklands' largest concentration of king penguins. To visit, contact the Tourist Board for details.


In 1982, British forces came ashore at San Carlos, on Falkland Sound; in 1983, the sheep station there was subdivided and sold to half a dozen local families. There is fishing on the San Carlos River, north of the settlement.


At the narrow isthmus that separates Lafonia from northern East Falkland, Darwin was the site of an early saladero, where gauchos slaughtered feral cattle and tanned their hides. It later became the center of the FIC's camp operations. The heaviest; ground fighting of the Falklands War took place at Goose Green.

Off East Falkland's south coast, tiny Sea Lion Island is less than a mile across but teems with wildlife; it was one of few working farms with any substantial cover of native tussock grass. Rooms at Sea Lion Lodge (w 32004, fax 32003, seafion lodgeCa horizon.co.fk) start at FM60 (US$97) for full board per person. At least two full days would be desirable for seeing the island in its entirety.