Juan Fernandez Archipelago National Park

Located 674 km off the Chilean coast, this park is opposite the Port of San Antonio and was created in 1935. The archipelago was declared a National Park by the Government of Chile and World Biosphere Reserve, as a legacy for humanity (UNESCO 1977). Most species of flora and fauna in the world can be found in the park. It covers an area of 18,300 hectares, of which 9,300 belong to Robinson Crusoe Island, 8,500 to Alexander Selkirk Island and 500 to the Santa Clara Island. It has a maritime climate with high humidity. The average annual temperature is 15.4 °C and average rainfall is 1,181 mm. The rainy season here is from October to February. The sea surrounding the Juan Fernandez archipelago is a great attraction for lovers of sport and underwater fishing, as it is warmer and clearer than the waters off the Chilean coast. This area offers a rich habitat for species such as lobsters, flying fish, rock salmon, cod, vidriola, moderna and pampanitos. In terms of flora, some native species of interest are the palm trees, little orange tree, cinnamon tree and the Juan Fernandez apple tree. Other examples are michay, myrtle, sándalo and various ferns. In terms of birds, of special interest is the red hummingbird. Most of the animals here have been introduced, such as goats, rabbits and rats. As for marine life, the most common species are the elephant seals and the lobos de dos pelos. You can access the park by air, which has a land and sea extension to get to Cumberland Bay, which is its only town.

How Much Do We Love This Place?

The Good

• There is almost no tourism activity
• Beautiful virgin territory
• Lots of cheep lobsters

The Bad

• Poor accommodation facilities
• Very difficult to get there. Only by cruise or private flight