Chile’s Alternative Islands

Rapa Nui (Easter Island) may get most of the press. But Chile boasts several other big offshore islands that offer plenty of their own nature, adventure, and mysterious history.

Robinson Crusoe Island

Located around 360 miles due west of Valparaiso, Robinson Crusoe is the largest landfall in the Juan Fernandez archipelago. Its name derives from the fact that Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk was marooned on the island for five years ((1704-1709), a real-life episode that inspired Daniel Defoe to write the fictional Robinson Crusoe. Nowadays it’s a paradise for outdoor adventure including fishing, kayaking, hiking, and scuba diving.

Isla de Chiloé

A magical land of traditions, myths and legends, Chile’s second largest island is like a time trip back to simpler times when people made their living from the land and sea. The island is renowned for its pastoral landscapes, UNESCO World Heritage churches, pristine forests, long empty beaches, fishing villages with stilt houses suspended above the harbor, and an incredible mythology that includes many supernatural creatures.

Tierra del Fuego

Wild and largely untamed, South America’s largest island is divided between Chile (c. 61%) and Argentina (c. 39%). The Chilean side boasts massive ranches and two huge national parks — Karukinka and Alberto do Agostini — which are mainly accessed by sea or overland treks. Wildlife ranges from condors and penguins to whales, elephant seals, foxes, and sea lions.

Chile Concept can help plan the perfect getaway to any or all three of these incredible Chilean islands.

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