Located 362 nautical miles off the Chilean coast, the Juan Fernández Archipelago is a remote volcanic island group made up of Robinson Crusoe, Alejandro Selkirk and Santa Clara. Known for its lobster fishing tradition and unique biodiversity, the archipelago gained worldwide fame through the story of the Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, whose real-life survival on Robinson Crusoe Island inspired Daniel Defoe’s 1719 novel.
Discovered in 1574, the islands later became a strategic refuge for pirates and privateers, giving rise to legendary hidden treasure tales. In 1915, during World War I, the German cruiser SMS Dresden was scuttled in Cumberland Bay, where its wreck still rests today as a historic dive site.
After the 2010 tsunami, the island has steadily recovered and today offers one of Chile’s most unique travel experiences, with hiking, snorkeling, endemic nature, fresh lobster cuisine and spectacular sunsets. Due to its extreme isolation, it remains an off-the-beaten-path destination and was named by The Independent as one of the best South American islands to disconnect from the world.
How to Get to Robinson Crusoe Island
Reaching Robinson Crusoe Island is part of the adventure. Located about 670 km (416 mi) off the coast of mainland Chile, in the remote Juan Fernández Archipelago, the island can only be accessed by air or sea — and both options require planning ahead.
By plane from Santiago (the main way)
The fastest and most common route is a small aircraft flight from Santiago. The journey takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, but it’s very different from a regular commercial flight: planes usually carry fewer than 10–12 passengers and operate only a few times per week, depending on weather conditions.
Flights land at the tiny Robinson Crusoe Aerodrome, located on the opposite side of the island from the village of San Juan Bautista. From there, you still need to take a boat transfer of about 60–90 minutes to reach the town.
Key things to know:
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Flights depart from Santiago (usually from private terminals or smaller airfields)
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There are typically 2–3 flights per week in high season
- Cancellations are common due to strong winds and changing weather
- Luggage allowance is very limited (around 10 kg total)
- Because of the unpredictable conditions, it’s essential to add buffer days in Santiago before and after your trip.
By sea from Valparaíso (rare and slow)
It is also possible to reach the island by boat from Valparaíso, but this option is:
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Infrequent
- Much slower (about 1.5 to 2 days at sea)
- Usually prioritized for residents and cargo
Tourist spots are very limited and schedules are not fixed, so for most travelers this is not a practical way to visit.
Best time for transport availability
Flights operate more regularly between October and March, which is the most popular travel season thanks to better weather and calmer winds. During winter, connections can be reduced or temporarily suspended.
Why getting there is not simple — and that’s the point
Robinson Crusoe is far more isolated than Easter Island and that remoteness is precisely what makes it special. The limited access helps protect its fragile ecosystem and keeps mass tourism away — but it also means you must plan your trip well in advance.
El Mirador de Selkirk (Selkirk's Lookout)
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| A view from Alexander Selkirk's lookout |
A tour through the main attractions of the island, must undoubtedly include a visit to the "Mirador de Selkirk" (Selkirk's Lookout). This is located at Cerro Portezuelo, 565 mts. above sea level, a point that dominates much of the geography of Robinson Crusoe. The sailor abandoned here in 1704 often climbed up to this place to scan the horizon in case a ship approached to rescue him. Fate and his eagerness to survive allowed him to endure this condition of almost four and a half years of isolation.
Selkirk was close to a state of barbarism when on January 31, 1709 arrived on the island another English expedition, commanded by Captain Woodes Rogers, who finally took him back to London. There, Selkirk's story began spreading everywhere reaching the ears of Daniel Defoe, who immortalized the experience of the Scottish sailor through his work published in 1719, the novel also captures the adventures lived by the Spanish Pedro Serrano, who in turn suffered a similar experience in a Caribbean island.
Artillery fire on the Dresden Cruiser
Cemetery of Robinson Crusoe Island
La Cueva de Los Patriotas (Patriots' Cave)
Located in Bahia Cumberland, in the proximity of Fuerte Santa Barbara, "La Cueva de Los Patriotas" are some caves made in the rocks surrounding Cumberland Bay, set of excavations dating from the eighteenth century during the colonial period, reign of Viceroy Jose Antonio Manso de Velasco. At the beginning, the caves were used to house prisoners convicted by the Audiencia of Santiago and Quito.
After the defeat experienced by the patriot forces in the Battle of Rancagua in 1814, different authorities were banished to the island, who made use of the excavations for shelter from inclement weather. Many of the deportees were voluntarily followed by sons and daughters, besides some of their servants. During the twentieth century it was also used to exile political prisoners.
Diving and Snorkeling in Robinson Crusoe
Image: Diario La Tercera
With crystal-clear waters, abundant marine life and historic shipwrecks, Robinson Crusoe Island in the Juan Fernández Archipelago is one of Chile’s top diving and snorkeling destinations. The best season runs from October to March, when sea temperatures range between 14 °C and 21 °C.
Top sites include Punta Lobería in Cumberland Bay, ideal for beginners and home to the 18th-century anchors of the Speedwell; Punta San Carlos, where the German cruiser SMS Dresden was scuttled in 1915; and Lobería Tres Puntas, famous for close encounters with sea lions. For advanced divers, El Cernicalo offers dramatic volcanic rock formations at 25–45 m depth, while Salsipuedes stands out for its anemone-covered seabed.
The island also features a 500 m underwater section of the Sendero de Chile near San Juan Bautista, a unique high-visibility snorkeling route.
Juan Fernandez National Park
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Created in 1935, Juan Fernández National Park protects 9,571 hectares across Robinson Crusoe, Alejandro Selkirk and Santa Clara islands. Recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve in 1977, it is one of Chile’s most important conservation areas, home to more than 130 endemic plant species and unique wildlife.
Well-marked trails, viewpoints and basic visitor facilities allow guided and self-guided hikes through lush forests, volcanic cliffs and panoramic sites such as Cumberland Bay. Strict biosecurity measures help protect this fragile ecosystem from invasive species.
Among its most iconic animals are the Juan Fernández hummingbird, critically endangered and found nowhere else on Earth, and the Juan Fernández fur seal, which has recovered after once being hunted to near extinction. Introduced goats, now feral, are also part of the archipelago’s cultural and ecological history.
Fuerte Santa Bárbara
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| Partial view of the village of San Juan Bautista Image: El Mercurio |
Fuerte Santa Bárbara is one of the top historic landmarks on Robinson Crusoe Island and a privileged viewpoint over Cumberland Bay and San Juan Bautista.
Originally built by the Spanish Crown in 1749 to defend Más a Tierra (today Robinson Crusoe Island) from pirates and privateers, the stone fortress was equipped with 16 cannons distributed across six artillery batteries. The structure visible today is a partial reconstruction carried out in 1974 by the University of Chile, and it was declared a National Historic Monument in 1979.
Cerro El Yunque Trail
Plazoleta El Yunque is a peaceful forest clearing near San Juan Bautista and the starting point for the trail to Cerro El Yunque (915 m), the highest peak on Robinson Crusoe Island. The area has basic facilities and the remains of the shelter where Hugo Weber—survivor of the German cruiser SMS Dresden—lived for over a decade, earning the nickname “the German Robinson.”
This well-marked, self-guided hike passes through one of the island’s most important endemic forests, home to species such as pangue, canelo and naranjillo. It is also one of the best places to observe the Juan Fernández hummingbird, an endemic and critically endangered species with a population of around 1,000 individuals.
Access to the summit is restricted and requires authorization from CONAF to protect this fragile UNESCO Biosphere Reserve ecosystem.
Punta de Isla Trek
The hike to Punta de Isla, on the western end of Robinson Crusoe Island, is the longest trail on the island, covering about 18 km (11 miles) from San Juan Bautista. Along the way, trekkers enjoy panoramic views over Cumberland Bay and the town.
This route is part of the Sendero de Chile, passing through the Selkirk Lookout and the Villagra sector, where a CONAF campsite and basic shelter are available. An alternative option is to reach Bahía El Padre by boat and hike back to town.
Bahía del Padre
Bahía del Padre is the main sea access to Robinson Crusoe Island and the location of the local pier. This small, enclosed bay—formed by an ancient volcanic crater and surrounded by steep cliffs—stands out for its semicircular shape and arid, yellowish landscape.
Puerto Inglés & Puerto Francés
Located about 15 minutes by boat from Cumberland Bay, Puerto Inglés is a historic and scenic site set on a coastal plain beneath Cerro Alto (600 m). It is best known for the legendary treasure excavations carried out here since the late 1990s and for the so-called “Robinson Crusoe Cave,” traditionally associated with the shelter used by the Scottish castaway Alexander Selkirk.
On the opposite side of the bay lies Puerto Francés, a dramatic coastal area linked to old pirate landings. It can be reached by a 20-minute boat trip from San Juan Bautista followed by a short ascent toward Cerro La Piña, or via a demanding 4-hour coastal trek or horseback ride. The route crosses Cerro Centinela and leads to viewpoints such as El Rebaje de la Piña, with some of the most spectacular cliff views on Robinson Crusoe Island and panoramas toward Santa Clara Island.
Practical Information for Visitors – Robinson Crusoe Island
- Location: Juan Fernández Archipelago, Valparaíso Region, Chile
- Main Gateway City: Santiago
- Nearest Airport: Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) → domestic flight to Robinson Crusoe Island (Aeródromo Juan Fernández)
- Distance from Santiago: Around 670 km west of the Chilean mainland (approx. 2.5–3-hour flight, weather dependent)
- GPS Coordinates: -33.6333, -78.8333
- Main Town: San Juan Bautista
- Best Time to Visit: October to April for milder temperatures, better trekking conditions, and more stable flight schedules. Diving season peaks between November and May.
- Altitude: Sea level in San Juan Bautista up to 916 m a.s.l. (Cerro El Yunque)
- Currency: Chilean Peso (CLP)
- Language: Spanish (very limited English in some tourism services)
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