Robinson Crusoe island, also known as Juan Fernandez Island, is located in the archipelago of Juan Fernandez about 414 miles off the coast of South America. Its name comes from the story of a shipwreck of Alexander Selkirk, immortalized in the famous novel “Robinson Crusoe” by author, Daniel Defoe. Well we found out that this was not necessarily a shipwreck but a result of a 1704 argument between a Boatswain, Alexander Selkirk, and a the Captain where the Selkirk abandoned the ship and remained on the island armed with a Bible, a knife, a rifle, a pound of powder, some tobacco and clothes. He stayed and survived on the island for 4 years and 4 months when he was rescued by an English corsair expedition headed by Woodes Rogers. Selkirk was able to survive mainly because this was one of the islands that was stocked by previous Spanish sailor expeditions. Back in the day, call it the 1500’s expeditions would stock supplies on various islands, kind of like live warehouses, for instance on this island they left some goats, pigs and planted some fruit and vegetables. Over time the animals would breed and the plants would grow, wild yes, but would still be good for future sailors to restock with.
With less than a thousand inhabitants and true to the story, the island in a fascinating paradise with flora and fauna that is unknown in other latitudes. Seventy percent of the plant species on the island are endemic and there may also be the possibility of seeing a rare, unique only this area, a Juan Fernandez fur seal and the Juan Fernandez fire crown.
This archipelago is a World Biosphere Reserve. The landscape does justice to the novel with peaks rising some 1,500 meters above sea level. There are paths for walks and beaches with temperate waters where you can swim or dive in places where there are sunken ships and incredible sea life. The island is utopia come to life.
Michele, Silvie, Marianne, Jan and myself jumped on the 9:30 tender and headed to this beautiful island paradise. We stopped at the visitor centre to purchase the mandatory 5,000 chilean peso tickets ($6.00 USD) to hike up to the National Park. No easy feat, a total turnaround time of about 3 hours. Up, up and then up some more to the main park area, then a beautifully built boardwalk takes you around the park (45 or so mins) and then back down for a much earned local Cristal beer (1 litre beer for 3,000 pesos or about $2.50 USD). Jan and Marianne headed back to the ship for lunch then after our beer, Silvie headed back while Michele and I checked out the caves. From what I understand this is where the pirates of the day hung out to hide between their invasions.
The weather was perfect, we had lots of stops for pictures and just really enjoyed our day here, sea day tomorrow so we all can rest our weary legs after out 13,000 step day here in Robinson Crusoe Island.
A few pics of our day, hope you enjoy…
Quote of the day: “ Travel brings power and love to your life” - Rumi
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