The ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE JUAN FERNÁNDEZ NATIONAL PARK is one of the most important in the world since contains one of the most particular and surprising ecosystems of the planet. Due to its rugged geography, tourist routes have been set up for a safe and entertaining travel with shelters, nurseries, picnic areas and viewpoints.
Declared by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, the Park also has a large number of endemic species that have aroused great scientific interest worldwide, especially in the field of ornithology.
The entrance fee and visitor registration are paid at the Conaf information booth. The ticket entitles you to visit the park for a week and you must keep the ticket until you leave the island.
El Yunque small square
Sorrounded by pines, eucalyptus and cypresses, the small square is located at the foot of El Yunque hill. Reaching it by a slightly sloping road, this is one of the areas with the most endemic vegetation near the town. It has an internal circuit that crosses a forest of Pangues to then enter dense native species vegetation.
In this palce you can see the ruins of the house of Hugo Weber, crew member of the Dresden who lived for a time in the place and later adopted the name of “The German Robinson”.
Distance 1km – Time: 40min.
Salsipuedes viewpoint
To acces the Salsipuedes sector, follow the trail that begins at the end of La P+olvora street. This trail leads to a forest of eucalyptus and cypress trees with an initially gentle slope with greater intensity towards the top from where you can see the panoramic view of the town of San Juan Bautista and Cumberland Bay.
Selkirk viewpoint
To get to the viewpoint you ascend through a path of varied and dense vegetation. You arrive at the lower part of the mountain range that divides the island and cross it to the south. From this sector you can see the other side of the island, the Chamelos and Vinillo islets, the Tres Puntas hill and Santa Clara Island
According to legend, Alexander Selkirk used to come to this place to spot an English ship that would come to his rescue. During the tour you will find a large rock sculpted with the figure of a large cod and the phrase “Colono Pedro Arredondo 1866”. Also, in this area you can discover the ruins of a hut that supposedly belonged to Alejandro Selkirk.
Villagra Valley
Descending by the south side of the Selkirk viewpoint, crossing a path of leafy endemic vegetation, you arrive to an esplanade from where you can obtain and excellent view of the hill El Yunque. In this place there is a Conaf shelter and a picnic area has been set up.
Every year, on a weekend in the first half of February, the traditional Villagra rodeo is held in this spot.
Distance 3km – Time: 2hrs
Valle de Villagra – Los Ramplones
From the Villagra sector you can make a stop on the road and descend to Los Ramplones, an ideal place for fishing and swimming in natural rock pools. In the sector there is a colony of sea lions and you can observe a great diversity of fish.
Punta de Isla
To gete to Punta de Isla you must go up to the Selkirk viewpoint, go down to the Villagra area and continue along the road that borders the large part of the northwestern slope of Robinson Crusoe.
Along the way you will be able to see the islets, a diversity of colors in the terrain, native flora and in the Tierras Blancas area, a large colony of the so-called “Lobos Finos” or “two-haired sea lion.
In the sector of Punta de Isla there are attractions such as El Arenal, El Puente, Las Cuatrocientas, Santa Clara Island, Bahía del Padre and the aerodrome.
Distance 15km – Time: 5:30hrs
Centinela Hill
From the town begins a journey to the Pangal sector. There starts the ascent to Centinela Hill, on the top of which are the ruins of the Robinson Crusoe telegraph station, built in 1909 and moved to the town in 1927.
Distance 2,5km – Time: 1:30hr
Puerto Francés
To start this trip you must hire a tour guide service because the road has no signage and its route has streams and multiple forests.
The road starts from the town to the Centinela hill and continues to Puerto Francés. Along the way you can appreciate a great diversity of landscapes, eroded lands with reddish and orange tones, ravines, forests and cliffs.
Distance 11km – Time: 4hrs
Most of the mentioned routes can be done by horse. It is recommended to consult specialized tour operators.