Falkland Islands
How much does a trip to Falkland Islands cost? Daily budget and prices
Plan on £95–180 per day at budget level, £230–440 mid-range and £410–720 for comfort, per person, excluding the international flight. The single biggest cost is getting around: FIGAS island flights run £100–250 each way, so book lodges and flights together before anything else.
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GuideFalkland Islands
Key facts
- Currency
- Falkland Islands pound (FKP), at par with UK sterling; sterling notes accepted
- Budget per day
- £95–180 (Stanley guesthouse, self-catering, walks)
- Mid-range per day
- £230–440 (full-board lodge, one FIGAS hop, a guided trip)
- Comfort per day
- £410–720 (top lodges, private guides, several flights)
- FIGAS inter-island flightcheck
- £100–250 one way
- International flightcheck
- About US$700–1,000 return from Punta Arenas, not included above
- Cards and cash
- Cards work in larger Stanley businesses; bring cash for camps and small shops; very few ATMs
Daily costs by travel style
The figures below are per person per day, assuming two people sharing a room at mid-range and comfort level. They exclude the international flight and any prepaid lodge package. Falklands prices are quoted in Falkland Islands pounds (FKP), which sit at par with UK sterling, so a pound here is a pound there.
Budget travel is realistic only in Stanley, where a guesthouse or self-catering cottage plus supermarket food keeps the day under £180. The moment you add an outer-island lodge or a FIGAS flight, you move into the mid-range band. Comfort level means top lodges, private guiding and several inter-island hops, which is where the total climbs fastest.
| Tier | Bed | Food | Transport | Sights | Extras | Total per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | £50–80 | £25–40 | £10–20 | £0–20 | £10–20 | £95–180 |
| Mid-range | £150–220 | Included–£20 | £40–90 | £30–80 | £10–30 | £230–440 |
| Comfort | £220–300 | Included–£40 | £90–180 | £80–150 | £20–50 | £410–720 |
2026 estimate, per person, sharing a room at mid and comfort. International flight excluded.
What individual things cost
Day-to-day items in Stanley are priced close to UK levels, with a premium on anything that has to be shipped in. A pub meal of fish and chips made with toothfish or squid is the benchmark cheap eat; a pint is a normal British price. The big-ticket items are all transport and lodging on the outer islands, and those are usually bundled into a package rather than paid item by item.
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fish and chips (toothfish or squid) | £12–18 | Stanley pub or restaurant |
| Pint of beer | £4–5.50 | Stanley pubs |
| Full-board lodge night | £150–250 per person | check |
| Volunteer Point day trip | £150–250 | check |
| FIGAS inter-island flight | £100–250 one way | check |
| International flight from Punta Arenas | About US$700–1,000 return | check |
2026 estimate. Outer-island lodges are full board; Stanley has a few restaurants and pubs.
Getting around: the cost that decides your trip
FIGAS, the islands' air service, is how you reach most wildlife lodges, and it is the line item that most often pushes a Falklands trip over budget. Fares are banded by distance and by whether the flight is shared, and seats are limited, so the practical advice is to fix your lodge dates and FIGAS legs in the same booking rather than trying to add flights later.
On East Falkland, road transfers and self-drive 4x4 hire cover Stanley, Volunteer Point and settlements such as Port Howard. These are cheaper per day than flying but still add up over a week. See getting around Falkland Islands for the full picture of road, air and boat options.
- Book FIGAS legs and lodge nights together; seats are limited and fares are distance-banded.
- Volunteer Point and similar day trips are usually sold as a package with transport included.
- Self-drive 4x4 hire suits East Falkland; outer islands are fly-in only.
Money practicalities
The currency is the Falkland Islands pound (FKP), at par with the British pound, and UK sterling notes are accepted. Falklands notes and coins are not usable outside the islands, so spend them or change them before you leave. Cards work in Stanley's larger businesses, but bring cash for camps and small shops, and do not rely on finding an ATM.
Most lodges and FIGAS flights are prepaid through the booking agent or the tourist board, which means a large share of your trip is settled before you arrive. Budget your cash for meals, drinks, small purchases and tips rather than for the headline costs.
- FKP is at par with sterling; sterling notes accepted.
- Cards in larger Stanley businesses; cash for camps and small shops.
- Very few ATMs — do not rely on one.
- Lodges and FIGAS flights are usually prepaid via the agent or tourist board.
When to go, and how it changes the bill
November to February is the season, and it is also when lodge beds and FIGAS seats are scarcest, so late bookings cost more or simply fail. Shoulder months can be cheaper on lodging but may close some wildlife access. Check the best time to visit page before you fix dates, and treat the season as a budget variable, not just a weather one.
- November–February: full season, highest demand, book early.
- Shoulder months: cheaper beds, some wildlife access limited.
- International flights from Punta Arenas are weekly — check the current schedule.
How to cut the cost
The realistic savings are in Stanley and in how you move. Base yourself in a guesthouse or self-catering cottage, eat from the supermarket for some meals, and walk the town rather than hiring a vehicle every day. Then spend on one or two FIGAS hops to the wildlife you actually came for, rather than trying to see every island.
Travelling as a pair or group lowers the per-person cost of 4x4 hire and private guiding. If your dates are flexible, ask the booking agent about shared FIGAS legs and shoulder-season lodge rates.
- Stay in Stanley guesthouses or self-catering for the cheap nights.
- Self-cater some meals; eat pub food for the rest.
- Pick one or two outer islands instead of many.
- Share 4x4 hire and guiding with other travellers.
Questions people ask
How much money do you need per day in Falkland Islands?
Budget about £95–180 per person per day in Stanley, £230–440 mid-range with a full-board lodge and a FIGAS hop, and £410–720 at comfort level. The international flight is not included in these figures.
Is Falkland Islands expensive for tourists?
Yes, relative to most destinations. Stanley prices are close to UK levels, and the outer-island lodges plus FIGAS flights are the costs that push a trip well above a typical week elsewhere.
What do meals, hotels and transport cost in Falkland Islands?
Fish and chips £12–18, a pint £4–5.50, a full-board lodge night £150–250 per person, a Volunteer Point day trip £150–250, and a FIGAS flight £100–250 one way. All 2026 estimates — check current rates.
Do I need cash in the Falkland Islands?
Bring some. Cards work in larger Stanley businesses, but camps and small shops may not take them, and there are very few ATMs. FKP is at par with sterling and UK notes are accepted.
Is the international flight included in the daily budget?
No. The flight from Punta Arenas runs about US$700–1,000 return and is excluded from all per-day figures on this page. Check current fares and the weekly schedule.
Can I visit the Falkland Islands cheaply?
Only in Stanley. A guesthouse or self-catering cottage with supermarket food and walking can stay under £180 a day. Any outer-island lodge or FIGAS flight moves you into the mid-range band.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check