Read what past guest have said about their amazing experience with Jimmy Curtis Touring in the Falkland Islands.
The entire experience was “the best day ever”! Rugged two hour, off road 4x4 trek from Stanley to Volunteer Point and back. King, Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins everywhere-up close and... read more personal! Our driver, Steve enlightened us on the Falkland Islands history, culture, livelihood and wildlife. His sense of humor complimented the off road trip!
Explorer206878February 1, 2023
We had fantastic day walking amongst all of the penguins and sheep at Volunteer Point. Louise was a wonderful guide providing us with many stories about life on the islands... read more and the wildlife that call the Falkland Islands home.
We had a great boxed lunch and were free to roam for 2 hours. The ride to Volunteer Point was an adventure in itself and was great fun!
The day was well worth the money.
889barbwJanuary 6, 2023
We booked our cruise only about a month before the cruise started so I was frantically looking for an excursion to Volunteer Point - I tried every one possible in... read more Stanley and with 3 ships in port that day things were booked solid. I kept trying and Tanya finally emailed back that she had an opening for the 2 of us.
It was one of the best days of our cruise and Jimmy and Tanya, and our driver, Keanu, were the main reasons it was so great.
Jimmy and Tanya were at the tender dock to meet us in their bright yellow jackets and within 15 minutes we were off! We waited at Johnston's Harbour for about 15 minutes for the other 2 cars and then we started the bumpy ride to Volunteer Point. They tell you upfront that it will be bumpy - and it was. But it was so well worth it!
We had about 2 hours at Volunteer Point, and they provided us with a good lunch before we started back.
Our driver, Keanu, was great at telling us about things on the way out and back. He was an excellent driver and did everything he could to make the ride "not so bumpy".
Be sure to dress warmly with good walking shoes - the wind made it quite cold out there! Bring a camera with t a good telephoto.
There are several choices of companies to take you to Volunteer Point, but I think we got the best with Jimmy Curtis Tours. Tanya was prompt with her responses to my questions. If/when I get to the Falklands again, I'd be sure to use Jimmy and Tanya again - Great job!
February 26, 2020
Three of us hired Jimmy Curtis Touring for our venture to Volunteer Point to see the penguins. Jimmy was our guide and driver~~we highly recommend his company. We traveled... read more in his very comfortable Toyota Land Cruiser over ranchland to which his company has access. He was knowledgeable about the islands.the geography, the wildlife, the history etc. and he calmly but with enthusiasm answered our million questions!! We had 2 hours to roam around the penguins and the beach by ourselves. Game wardens answered our questions. You can come close to the penguins but no physical contact.
A basic sack lunch was provided for us by Jimmy.
Jimmy lived in Stanley during the war with Argentina; his stories were fascinating!
Our group spent days 22 in South America. I would rank Jimmy’s Tour as one of my very top excursions.
Candace CFebruary 2, 2023
Jimmy Curtis from Volunteer Point Tours
Volunteer Point is a “must” if you are visiting the Falkland Islands. Thanks to Jimmy Curtis of Volunteer Point Tours and Sue our driver, we had an amazing day.
Travelling is mainly “off-roading” and we were glad that the weather was fine, not sure about doing it in the wet, but that would be another experience!
We were able to spend nearly two hours walking around the beach with the King and Magellanic penguins. A nice “box” lunch was supplied.
The tour is not cheap, (cheaper than the ship’s tours), but to experience the penguins in their own environment was worth every pound.
One of the highlights of our cruise and an experience definitely we will never ever forget.
Once again thank you Jimmy and Sue for a great day.
macca2525
Excellent Trip With Jimmy Curtis
Had a perfect booking and excellent trip to Volunteer Point on December 31, 2018 with Jimmy Curtis.
Our driver named Steve was brilliant, giving us insights and narrative and jokes along the almost 2-hours off road trip to and from the Penguin Colonies at Volunteer Point.
Food was provided along with drink and it was a nice touch to the trip.
Volunteer Point is a MUST SEE with different rookeries of penguins all located in the same spot. Incredible photo opportunites and ability to get very close to these amazing creatures.
I cant say enough positive things about the overall trip and our experience to this location using Jimmy Curtis.
Kolasa03148
Outstanding trip to the King Penguins!!
Jimmy Curtis is an expert guide, driver and so knowledgeable about the area – born and raised there! I sent an e-mail a couple of weeks prior to our port of call to see if my husband and I could join on one of their tours. We were added to the list, he met us at the port and off we went. Almost 2.5 hours to get to Volunteer Point – so fun to see the lay of the land and “rock rivers” & great chat with both him and Sue along the way. We had loads of time with the penguins – hundreds of them! – we watched as they marched down to the water to swim, encouraged their young to be independent, and communicate with one another about who knows what. What a marvelous experience. A must do!!
Mary F H
First to see the penguins!
Thank you Jimmy Curtis! Look for the yellow jackets as you reach the pier. We had the best tour guide and transportation to Volunteer Point! The first to arrive – took pictures without people! It was amazing – we never got stuck in our 4×4 saw and heard about the Falklands as we were traveling. Jimmy
Even made sure we were back in plenty of time to walk around Port Stanley👍
Best excursion ever! 😎. Kerri and John
Michigan
Kerri and John
Incredible Tour with Jimmy Curtis from Volunteer Point Tours – Once in a lifetime experience
Wow. That’s all I can say. THANK YOU JIMMY!
Volunteer Point is an exceptional place for any animal lover, however, I think it is only a part of what visitors to the Falkland Islands should experience. Thanks to Jimmy Curtis and Volunteer Point Tours, our time in Stanley and at Volunteers was exceptional from the moment we stepped off our tender until we returned.
Getting to Volunteer Point is not for the fait of heart. The travel there and back is mostly “off-roading” and for the four of us in Jimmy’s 4×4, he ensured to make it a memorable experience. While there are a number of ways one can traverse the hills and fields to and from Volunteers, Jimmy promised and delivered a wild ride, which should be a shore excursion in itself! Of course, there are calmer ways to get there, and we had those options, but we asked for some excitement – and he delivered!
Upon arriving at Volunteers, we were able to spend nearly two hours walking amongst thousands of King and Magellanic penguins. While you can’t, nor don’t want to, disturb the penguins, they are nonetheless walking amongst the tourists, living their lives. You can head down to the beach and see them go for a swim, and just follow them everywhere. Unlike other colonies, there are very little restrictions as per what you can do. This place is incredible.
But one of the most important things for us, when having limited time at ports-of-call, is really trying to get a taste of the culture and life and I have to say that our day with Jimmy really made our time at the Falklands special.
Jimmy has lived on the islands since he was 8 years old. He actually immigrated there only six months before the war with Argentina, and he shared his memories with us as well as really gave us a peek into daily life on the islands. There were a number of tour options available (City tour, battlefield tour, etc.) and I think in just talking with and spending 4 hours in the car with Jimmy, we had everything rolled up into one.
Upon returning from Volunteers, Jimmy pointed out some important battlefields and wreckage along the way (satisfying my interest in the war) and gave us a tour of Stanley, allowing us to see all the highlights: government buildings, schools, memorials – and even his mother in law’s house!
Everything was timed perfectly that we even had some extra time to grab a pint, with, you guessed it, Jimmy (and his wife, Tanya), before heading back to our ship!
While it is true that the Volunteer Point excursion, whether booked with the cruise ship or on your own, is not cheap, however, for the penguins alone, it is worth every penny. But when you get to spend your time with someone, it makes the experience definitely one you will never ever forget.
We read a bunch of reviews for other guides, but we are so so so happy we found Jimmy. We urge you to send him an e-mail at: curtis@volunteerpointtours.com. If you’re heading out there. You’ll thank us later!!!