- Address: Chile, Villeparaiso, Villeparaiso, Juan Fernandez, Robinson Crusoe Island;
- Height: 565 meters above sea level.
The viewing platform Mirador de Selkirk is located on a small plateau between the mountain peaks, on the island of Robinson Crusoe - the most visited from the archipelago of Juan Fernandez. The road to it starts from the city of San Juan Bautista and goes to the mountains, to a height of 565 m. It is necessary to climb a narrow path, winding through dense thickets along mountain slopes, for two hours. But the amazing view of the surrounding area and the ocean stretching for tens of kilometers compensate for this small inconvenience.
The Legend of Robinson
The prototype of the hero of the famous adventure novel about wandering on an uninhabited island was a real man - the Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk. The obstinate young man after the scandal with the captain demanded to land him on the first island on the way. Such a case soon appeared, but the island was uninhabited and remote from the main sea routes. Selkirk had to spend 4 years in solitude before he was picked up by a British ship. This island is now called by the name of the literary hero - Robinson Crusoe, but the neighboring island bears the name of the sailor himself, Alexander Selkirk. The viewing platform of Mirador de Selkirk is located just on the spot where the sailor climbed each in the hope of seeing the ships sailing past the island and drawing attention to themselves.
Mirador de Selkirk - landmark of the island
The memorial plaque, which contains information about the time of Alexander Selkirk's stay on the island and several facts from the biography of the unlucky islander, is partially hidden in the bushes of the overgrown shrub. Complement the composition of an elegant gazebo, several benches and a statue of the Madonna, which look unusual in such a desolate place. From the site you can see Cumberland Bay, the city of San Juan Bautista and almost the entire eastern part of the island. Here you can rent a small house and spend a few days in harmony and silence, admiring the wonderful views of tropical nature. The beauty and tranquility of these places perfectly complements the fragrant Chilean wine, which in its way is unique - it's not cooked on the mainland, but here on the island of Robinson!
How to get there?
Flights to the archipelago of Juan Fernandez from Santiago are carried out regularly and take about 2.5 hours, by this time it is necessary to add a ferry from the airport to the city. Traveling by sea from Valparaiso is less popular, since it takes up to two days, depending on the weather.