Senior travel: Stanley
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 1 stop a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 113 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Victory Green and Liberation MonumentStep-free: yes · about 35 minFlat paved road and mown green; strong wind is the barrier.
- Jetty Visitor CentreStep-free: yes · about 40 minLevel entrance from Ross Road; the jetty itself has steps and a slope.
- Christ Church Cathedral and Whalebone ArchStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 45 minAbout three low steps at the door.
- Historic Dockyard MuseumStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 90 minSteps at some doors and between wings.
- Gypsy CoveStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 120 minA few steps to the beach viewpoints.
- Volunteer Point (king penguins)Step-free: partial (check before you go) · about 150 minNone built; uneven terrain.
- Cape Pembroke Lighthouse and Yorke BayStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 150 minNone built; uneven terrain.
- Mount Tumbledown and 1982 battlefield sitesStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 270 minNone built; steep slopes.
Getting around in Stanley
Stanley is small, flat along Ross Road and generally easy to navigate on foot or by wheelchair in town, though pavements are narrow in places and wind can be a barrier. Outside town, tracks and beaches are rough; most wildlife sites are hard going without a strong vehicle or a guide.
- Pavements:
- Mostly level in the centre; ramps at many corners; gravel or steep in side streets.
- Getting around:
- A few taxis, some of which can take a folding wheelchair (ask when booking). No public transport.
- Accommodation:
- Ask about step-free rooms: older buildings often have steps and narrow doors.
- Toilets:
- The Visitor Centre and some cafés; no toilets at Gypsy Cove or Volunteer Point (check).
Medicines and health on the ground
- Medical insurance with evacuation · before flying: Required; evacuation is by air to Chile or the UK.
- Tap water:
- Safe to drink in Stanley; ask in camp lodges.
- Cold and wind:
- Wind chill can make a 10 C day feel below freezing: wear layers and a windproof shell to prevent a chill.
- Sun:
- UV is high in summer despite the cool air: use sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Medical care:
- KEMH in Stanley handles most cases; serious cases are evacuated, so travel insurance with evacuation cover is essential.
- Vaccinations:
- No special vaccines are required; check that routine vaccinations are up to date.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.