Robinson Crusoe Island has all the ingredients for a real off-the-beaten-track trip. This destination harbours surprises and offers plenty of formidable attractions.

The tranquility of the place and the kindness of its people are rarely found anywhere else, and the views from the moun- tains and the variety of wildlife are spectacular. The Juan Fernandez Archipelago was discovered in 1574 and it became a preferred haven for pirates and buccaneers after crossing Cape Horn or South America's tip at the Strait of Magellan.

The islands are at 667 km / 415 miles from Valparaiso, Chile's main port and coastal city, and consist of three islands. Alexander Selkirk, an English seafarer, lived on the islands all by himself for 4 years and 4 months from 1704 to 1708 after being stranded as a punishment; later on, his story inspired Daniel Defoe to write his famous novel "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."

All three islands are filled with exotic and endemic vegetations; both the flora and wildlife are noteworthy. Scientists from all over the world come to Robinson Crusoe to study 38 types of ferns, native trees, the endemic hummingbird, the luma tree, the canelo, the chonta palm tree, the Juan Fernandez fur seal, and the Robinson's lobster offer a wide variety of specimens. The island was declared a national park and World Biosphere Reserve in 1977 by the UNESCO. read more...