South & Central America
Pebble Island
Pebble Island, at 19 miles (31 kms) long, is the third largest offshore island. The landscape varies greatly from large ponds and moorland, to long sandy beaches and rocky cliffs. All of these provide vital breeding habitats for a wide-range of birds, including some rare and elusive species. The ponds on the eastern part of the island, some of which are within walking distance of the lodge, are home to Chiloe wigeon, grebes, Black-necked swans and a wide variety of other wildfowl and wading birds. Many thousands of Gentoo, Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins breed on Pebble Island each summer, spearheading the incredible list of some 42 resident bird species. In addition, each year the island acts as a magnet for many rare avian visitors from mainland South America and beyond. Pebble was proud to announce a record sighting of 7 different species of penguin a few seasons ago. Marine mammal enthusiasts can look out for Southern sea lions hauled out along the coast.
Pebble also has something for the historian with many reminders of the 1982 conflict, including remains of aircraft destroyed when British special forces raided the island’s Argentine-occupied airstrip. Visitors to Pebble Island today land on the same grass airstrip that saw the first land-based action of the Falklands War. There are several memorials, most notably a large cross erected on a scenic hillside not far from the settlement, that looks out to where HMS Coventry was sunk by Argentine jets.
Our preferred lodge is:
Pebble Island Lodge
