The surface of the Juan Fernández National Park comprises 45,220 acres, of which 22,980 belong to the Robinson Crusoe Island (Isla Robinsoe Crusoe), 21,003 to the Alejandro Selkirk Island (Isla Alejandro Selkirk) and 1,235 to the Santa Clara Island (Isla Santa Clara).

It has a maritime climate with high environmental humidity. The average annual temperature is 59.7°F and its average rainfall is 1.181 mm. The rain period diminishes between October and February.

The ocean surrounding the Juan Fernández Archipelago is a great attraction for those who enjoy fishing and underwater sports since it is warmer and clearer than the waters of the Chilean coast. This area provides a rich habitat for species such as lobsters, yellow tail amberjack (vidriola), flying fish (pez volador), cod (bacalao), rock salmon (salmón de roca) and gafftopsail pompano (pampanitos).

With regards to its flora, some native species of interest are chonta palm trees (palma chonta), the small orange tree (naranjilllo), cinnamon tree (canelo) and the apple tree (manzano) of Juan Fernández. Others are Magellan barberry (michay), Chilean guava (murtilla), sandal tree (sándalo) and several types of ferns.

Regarding its birdlife, of particular interest are its Juan Fernández firecrown (picaflor rojo) and the Mas afuera rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae). Most of the mammals here have been introduced, such as goats, rabbits and rats, and among the marine life, the South American fur seal (lobo de dos pelos) and the elephant seal (elefante marino).

You can access the park by air, plus a land stretch and another maritime one that will take you Cumberland bay, the sole village around.

Growth of Tourism in the Juan Fernández National Park

To the many and diverse tourist resources available at this beautiful Chilean archipelago, lately another one have been added: “a treasure was supposedly discovered.” The National Tourism Service (Servicio Nacional de Turismo), Sernatur, expects a strong tourism growth after it was publicly announced that a treasure was supposedly found in the area of the Tres Puntas hill (cerro Tres Puntas), in the insular territory of the Fifth Region.

The fauna and flora of the area was determined by the birds, wind and ocean that brought seeds and insects, that later inhabited the islands and that, during a thousand- year-old isolation, evolved with unique genetic characteristics. In regards to botany, a great variety of ferns was developed and other species such as luma tree (Myrceugenia fernandeziana) and the cinnamon tree of Juan Fernández (Drymis confertifolia). large small orange tree (Fagara mayu) and the chonta or palm tree of Juan Fernández (Juania Australis) also grew. Endemic species of interest are: the Cabbage tree of Juan Fernández (Dendroseris litoralis and its other 11 species), Sweet garlic (Ochagavia elegans), Juan Bueno (Raphitamus venustus), Margarita of Robinson Crusoe (Erigeron fernandezianus), Coligue of Juan Fernández (Chusquea fernandeziana) and the elegant Robinsonia Gayana, Robinsonia gracilis, Robinsonia berteroi and Robinsonia Thurifera. Besides, the following endemic species stand out in the area: Yunquea tenzii that grows only on the top of the Yunque hill and the pre-historical Lactoris fernandeziana, the only endemic specie of also endemic genus in the planet.

Another important specie was the sandal tree (Santalum fernandezianum), whose scented aroma caused its over exploitation and, later, its extinction from the island in the beginning of the XX century. In regards to vegetable species, currently there are 212 varieties, from which 130 are endemic (exclusives) of this archipelago; this makes these islands the second place in the world with the higher endemism rate, after Hawaii, and a must see place for a great number of scientists.

These islands were always privileged lands for birds that found here a safe place for reproduction, a template climate and abundant food. It’s of interest the Juan Fernández firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis), that has a distinctive sexual dimorphism, whereas the male is red and the female is a combination of white, green and metallic blue colors; other birds are the grey-flanked cinclodes (Cinclodes oustaleti), the Tit-Tyrant (Awefes fernandezianus), rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae) and many endemic species of petrels (fardelas): Juan Fernández petrel (Pterodroma externa), Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus), Stejneger's Petrel (Pterodroma longirostrís and Pterodroma defilippiana), Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta).

The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus philippi), a unique mammal endemic of the Island of Robinson Crusoe, was protected from extinction due to the work done by CONAF, IACH and WWF, and the commitment taken by the fishermen of the island Robinson Crusoe.

The archipelago Juan Fernández is a National Park supervised by CONAF since 1935. It comprises 23,650 acres. Only two areas of the Robinson Crusoe Island are excluded from the park (about 978 acres), corresponding to the village and the area of Punta de la Isla, where the paved landing field of 2,788 feet of length is located. In 1977 it was declared Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO.

The sandal
Santalum fernandezianum

This rare endemic specie occupied a large part of the Juan Fernández archipelago.
The sandalwood had a reddish and scented heart, surrounded by the sapwood, a whitish and unscented wood. It was strongly exploited during the XVII and XVIII centuries.
In the decade of 1836, when there were no live trees left, the semi-fossil sandalwood was indiscriminately extracted.

Federico Johow made a scientific description of a live tree, which was discovered in the Puerto Inglés bay in 1886. Carl Skottsberg saw the last sandal tree alive in 1908, and left an emotional written testimony. When he went back to Juan Fernández, in 1918, it was already extinguished.

Currently, with great difficulty, semi-fossils remains appear in lonely places and there are only left remains of the natural and semi-fossil wood in museums of the world and in herbariums such as the Natural History Museum (Museo de Historia Natural ) in Santiago.

It has a maritime climate with high environmental humidity. The average annual temperature is 59.7°F and its average rainfall is 1.181 mm. The rain period diminishes between October and February.

The ocean surrounding the Juan Fernández Archipelago is a great attraction for those who enjoy fishing and underwater sports since it is warmer and clearer than the waters of the Chilean coast. This area provides a rich habitat for species such as lobsters, yellow tail amberjack (vidriola), flying fish (pez volador), cod (bacalao), rock salmon (salmón de roca) and gafftopsail pompano (pampanitos).

With regards to its flora, some native species of interest are chonta palm trees (palma chonta), the small orange tree (naranjilllo), cinnamon tree (canelo) and the apple tree (manzano) of Juan Fernández. Others are Magellan barberry (michay), Chilean guava (murtilla), sandal tree (sándalo) and several types of ferns.

Regarding its birdlife, of particular interest are its Juan Fernández firecrown (picaflor rojo) and the Mas afuera rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae). Most of the mammals here have been introduced, such as goats, rabbits and rats, and among the marine life, the South American fur seal (lobo de dos pelos) and the elephant seal (elefante marino).

You can access the park by air, plus a land stretch and another maritime one that will take you Cumberland bay, the sole village around.

Growth of Tourism in the Juan Fernández National Park

To the many and diverse tourist resources available at this beautiful Chilean archipelago, lately another one have been added: “a treasure was supposedly discovered.” The National Tourism Service (Servicio Nacional de Turismo), Sernatur, expects a strong tourism growth after it was publicly announced that a treasure was supposedly found in the area of the Tres Puntas hill (cerro Tres Puntas), in the insular territory of the Fifth Region.

The fauna and flora of the area was determined by the birds, wind and ocean that brought seeds and insects, that later inhabited the islands and that, during a thousand- year-old isolation, evolved with unique genetic characteristics. In regards to botany, a great variety of ferns was developed and other species such as luma tree (Myrceugenia fernandeziana) and the cinnamon tree of Juan Fernández (Drymis confertifolia). large small orange tree (Fagara mayu) and the chonta or palm tree of Juan Fernández (Juania Australis) also grew. Endemic species of interest are: the Cabbage tree of Juan Fernández (Dendroseris litoralis and its other 11 species), Sweet garlic (Ochagavia elegans), Juan Bueno (Raphitamus venustus), Margarita of Robinson Crusoe (Erigeron fernandezianus), Coligue of Juan Fernández (Chusquea fernandeziana) and the elegant Robinsonia Gayana, Robinsonia gracilis, Robinsonia berteroi and Robinsonia Thurifera. Besides, the following endemic species stand out in the area: Yunquea tenzii that grows only on the top of the Yunque hill and the pre-historical Lactoris fernandeziana, the only endemic specie of also endemic genus in the planet.

Another important specie was the sandal tree (Santalum fernandezianum), whose scented aroma caused its over exploitation and, later, its extinction from the island in the beginning of the XX century. In regards to vegetable species, currently there are 212 varieties, from which 130 are endemic (exclusives) of this archipelago; this makes these islands the second place in the world with the higher endemism rate, after Hawaii, and a must see place for a great number of scientists.

These islands were always privileged lands for birds that found here a safe place for reproduction, a template climate and abundant food. It’s of interest the Juan Fernández firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis), that has a distinctive sexual dimorphism, whereas the male is red and the female is a combination of white, green and metallic blue colors; other birds are the grey-flanked cinclodes (Cinclodes oustaleti), the Tit-Tyrant (Awefes fernandezianus), rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae) and many endemic species of petrels (fardelas): Juan Fernández petrel (Pterodroma externa), Pink-footed Shearwater (Puffinus creatopus), Stejneger's Petrel (Pterodroma longirostrís and Pterodroma defilippiana), Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta).

The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus philippi), a unique mammal endemic of the Island of Robinson Crusoe, was protected from extinction due to the work done by CONAF, IACH and WWF, and the commitment taken by the fishermen of the island Robinson Crusoe.

The archipelago Juan Fernández is a National Park supervised by CONAF since 1935. It comprises 23,650 acres. Only two areas of the Robinson Crusoe Island are excluded from the park (about 978 acres), corresponding to the village and the area of Punta de la Isla, where the paved landing field of 2,788 feet of length is located. In 1977 it was declared Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO.

The sandal
Santalum fernandezianum

This rare endemic specie occupied a large part of the Juan Fernández archipelago.
The sandalwood had a reddish and scented heart, surrounded by the sapwood, a whitish and unscented wood. It was strongly exploited during the XVII and XVIII centuries.
In the decade of 1836, when there were no live trees left, the semi-fossil sandalwood was indiscriminately extracted.

Federico Johow made a scientific description of a live tree, which was discovered in the Puerto Inglés bay in 1886. Carl Skottsberg saw the last sandal tree alive in 1908, and left an emotional written testimony. When he went back to Juan Fernández, in 1918, it was already extinguished.

Currently, with great difficulty, semi-fossils remains appear in lonely places and there are only left remains of the natural and semi-fossil wood in museums of the world and in herbariums such as the Natural History Museum (Museo de Historia Natural ) in Santiago.