Introduction
This programme is designed to give one the opportunity to discover and gain an insight to this UNESCO World Biosphere reserve.
Included are return transfers from your hotel in Santiago to Tobalaba Airfield, return flights including taxes from Santiago to the Island (flying time 3 hours in small aircraft), boat transfers on the island to the hotel, accommodation at the Crusoe Island Hotel, all meals (except drinks) and excursions.
Passengers can choose from a variety of excursions that include:
Village Tour: (3 hrs) Tour of the village of San Juan Bautista, visitng the Spanish Fort, House of Culture, graveyard, sites where bombs landed in the World War I battle between the German Destroyer Dresden and British Ships Kent, Glasgow and Orama in 1915. Visit to the nurseries where they grow native and endemic plants of Juan Fernandez. Visit to the artisans who work in black coral, fish leather and the fishermen making lobster traps. Presentation on the Island’s unique characteristics.
Excursion to Puerto Ingles: (2 hrs) Departure by boat heading North West to Puerto Ingles (English Port), where the English Pirates used to anchor. Disembark. Visit to the cave where the Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk lived for 4 years and 4 months between 1704 and 1709. This story was the inspiration for the novel Robinson Crusoe. Vist to a site where there is supposed to be buried Spanish treasure, which hasn't been found yet. The search still goes on ! Hike of the area visiting different viewing points.
Selkirk Viewing Point: (4 hrs) Trek through the native forests to the lookout point where Alexander Selkirk would scout the horizon in search of a rescue ship. Views of a great part of the island’s Southern peninsula. Descend to the sector of Salto Blanco on the other side of the island.
Excursion to Puerto Frances: (9 hrs) Departure by boat heading South West towards Puerto Frances (French Port). Disembark and then a hike through woods of myrtle (Myrceugenia fernandeziana), cinnamon (Drymis confertifolia), Rue (Fagara mayu) and a great variety of ferns (Blechnum cicadyfolium, Pteris berteroana). Possibility to see some of the following birds: short eared owls (Assio flammeus), tit-tyrants (Anairetes fernandezianus). There is also a chance to see coatís (Nasua nasua) and wild boar. Arrival to a viewpoint from where one will be able to see the Island of Santa Clara in the distance. On the return there will be barbecued fish and a glass of wine waiting for us on the beach at the spot where the French Corsairs used to weigh anchor. Possibility to do some snorkeling.
Trek from Punta de Isla to the hotel: (9 hrs) Departure by boat heading for Punta de Isla (Island Point). Disembark and head for Tierras Blancas, where one finds the most important colony of the island's only endemic mammal, the Juan Fernandez Fur Seal. Trek the desertlike countryside of the isthmus towards the South of the island visiting Arenal beach and O’Higgins Point and continuing to Villagra Bay. Picnic lunch and then continue to the Selkirk viewing point and back to the hotel.
Infrastructure
Due to the island's remoteness you will not find banking facilities and therefore it is important to take sufficient Chilean pesos in cash for incidentals as credit cards are not accepted outside the hotel and there are no ATMs on the Island. Shopping is very limited and therfore essentials must be purchased prior to travelling to the Island. There is a clinic but it is only equiped to deal with minor emergencies. The hotel has a resident doctor.
Suggested kit includes trekking shoes, trekking trousers, wind cheater, warm clothing for the evening, sun glasses and hat, sun screen (30 SPF), Chilean pesos in cash.
The baggage allowance for the flight is 10kg.
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