World Biosphere Reserve


Guided hikes around Robinson Crusoe and Santa Clara Island. We will get to know their hills, gorges and mountains, admiring the spectacular geography and exceptional endemic plantlife of this National Park and World Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO).
We will follow the steps and paths once taken by Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, the authentic Robinson Crusoe.

Some of the more important treks in Robinson Crusoe Island are: Puerto Frances, Rebaje de la Piña, La Pascua, Cerro Centinela, El Rabanal, Cordón Atravesado, Mirador de Selkirk (lookout point), Puerto Inglés, La Vaquería, Cordón Villa Alemana, Valle de Villagra, Plan del Yunque, Los Ramplones, Punta de Isla, Playa El Arenal, Isla Santa Clara.
 
*** See the different excursions in our map

 
Some of the more important excursions are:

Puerto Frances Walk
10:00 hrs. Cruise departure to Puerto Frances; disembarking by zodiac, walk to Rebaje de la Piña area. Walk through forests of lumas (Myrceugenia fernandeziana), canelo (Drymis confertifolia), naranjillos (Fagara mayu) and ferns. We will reach the mountain crossing Rebaje de la Piña, admiring a spectacular view of the highset cliffs in Robinson Crusoe... with an amazing view of the south coast of the island, sighting Santa Clara Island in the background.

On return to the beach we are received with a delicious fresh grill of vidriola, freshly fished by one of our underwater guides, enjoying a tasty lunch by the seashore, where French privateers once stalled during pirate times.

Snorkel for those who wish. Return to Cumberland at 19:00 hrs.
Guides, cruise there and back, disembarkment, walking ration, lunch and snorkeling.
Minimum of 5 persons.
Approx. duration 9 hours.
Medium difficulty.

Puerto Ingles Excursion
Departure cruise to Puerto Ingles (English Port)Bay, stalling area for many important English seamen. Disembarkment. History walk along Puerto Ingles, visiting the cave of Scottish seaman Alexander Selkirk, where he lived after being abandoned there between 1704 and 1709. This incredible experience later inspired English chronicler Daniel Defoe to write his novel "Robinson Crusoe".

We will also discover the place where archeological excavations are currently being carried out, so as to find the treasure buried in 1715 by the Spanish seaman and nobleman of the Order of Santiago, Juan Esteban Ubilla y Echeverría.

Minimum of 5 persons.
Approx. Duration 90 minutes.
Low difficulty.

Trekking to Los Ramplones, on the trail of Selkirk
Walk to Selkirk look out, botanical excursion through lush forests of native and endemic vegetation. Descent to Valle de Villagra (valley), rest.

Lunch and camp set-up. Light walk to get to know the area. Return. Dinner. Next day, walk to Los Ramplones. Visiting natural pools and restricted approach of existing Two-Haired sea wolf colony (Arctocephalus philippii). Lunch and return walk to Villagra, continuing onto Selkirk´s Lookout and San Juan Bautista Village, Cumberland Bay.

Guides, mule transport, tents, camping gear, food, walking rations.
Maximum of 4 persons.
Approx. Duration 2 days.
Medium-high difficulty.

Pirate Disembarkment in Playa El Arenal
Depart to Punta de Isla on speedboat, to the southern tip of the Island, in Bahia Carvajal (bay). Adventurous disembarkment in Zodiac speedboats. Walk along this solitary and sole sandy beach, snorkel diving amongst the small colony of two-haired sea wolfs. Lunch on the beach. Rest and return.

Minimum of 5 persons.
Approx. Duration 10 hours.
Low difficulty.


Trekking and SCUBA Diving in Alexander Selkirk Island
15 Day journey to this marvellous and almost unexplored Island, the third one in the Archipelago, also part of the National Park. This island is inhospitable, wild and untouched. Its high mountains, green creeks and gorges, where wild goats hide and where sealife is even richer than Robinson Crusoe, are the unique destinations of this exceptional expedition-adventure.
Shelter is available in a settlement where only 25 people live.
Trekking and sport hunting in places such as: Loberia Vieja, Playa del Buque Varado (beach), Quebrada de Sanchez (gorge), Cordon Atravesado (mountain chain), La Cuchara and the peak of Cerro Los Inocentes at 1,650 m.a.s.l. (several degrees of difficulty). Huge gorges and creeks, great number of ferns, waterfalls and cascades.

Excursions to the old jail ruins of 1900.
Diving in places such as: Rodriguez, El Pasto, Loberia, etc
Large schools of pelagic and benthonic fish.

Includes: certified guides, Robinson-Selkirk-Robinson cruise. Boat transport within Alexander Selkirk Island, camping gear, all meals, diving equipment, etc.
6 Person groups. Consult about this program.
Duration 1 Week.
High difficulty.

***(See photo gallery of Alexander Selkirk Island)


Get to know the Juan Fernandez fur seal
We are developing a Scientific tourism program. It is a theoretic/practical workshop which consists of a behavioral approach to the world of the Two-Haired fur seal of Juan Fernandez (Arctocephalus phillipi). The program includes a course on approaching sea mammals and apnea diving based on the movements and gestures of the Sea Lion.

Snorkel and SCUBA diving amongst colonies of the sea mammal.
Amongst our staff is a Biologist of the University of Chile, Master in Sciences, with a vast experience in Pinniped mammals.

Minimum 3 students.
Consult about this program.