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Página creada con '{{Draft}} {{Trekking Chile}} {{Rutas Patrimoniales english}} ==Season== ==Access== Juan Fernández Archipelago is located in Region V of Valparaiso, at 667 Km. From Chile Contin…'
{{Draft}}
{{Trekking Chile}}
{{Rutas Patrimoniales english}}
==Season==
==Access==
Juan Fernández Archipelago is located
in Region V of Valparaiso, at 667 Km.
From Chile Continental, in front of the
shores of San Antonio port.
==Route description==
===Stone with Letters - La Virgen Mirador. Snupies 1 - 10===
After passing the access portal
to the National Park Juan Fernández
Archipelago, you will reach the
SNUPIE Nr. 1, located in a high
erosion sector characterized by wood
blocking, a measure used to minimize
erosion effects caused by deforestation
occurred during the island colonization
period to cover the needs of housing
construction, vessel construction, fuel
and domestic heating. Following the
signal, you could visit at a few meters
downwards the well-known Stone
with Letters, which shows an
engraving stamping the signature of
the colonist islander Pedro Arredondo,
below the drawings of codfish and a
chonta (Juania australis), an endemic
palm of the island. The erosion
produced decades ago is shown in the
metal supports enclosed to a piping
that supplies water to the town.
As in other places, in the
SNUPIE Nr. 2, located in the El
Guindal sector, there are adventitious
or introduced vegetal species, such as
brambleberry (rubus ulmifolius),
maqui (aristotelia chilensis), and
murtilla (ugni molinae), which are
considered a plague in the island,
spread by the thrush (tordus falklanii)
that through its faecal wastes, spreads
seeds being a problem for the endemic
forest. By turning the sight to the
stream, at first sight you will observe
some samples of eucalyptus
(eucalyptus globulus) and, at a middle
distance, insigne pine (pinus radiata),
which were useful to reforest the sector,
due to the needs produced by the lack
of wood and erosion control.
In the Morro del Medio sector,
SNUPIE Nr. 3, it is observed how the
species introduced suffocate the
endemic forest, causing dead in some
cases. At a side of the SNUPIE Nr. 3,
a sample of luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana) is
observed, a species prevailing in the
sector.
Besides SNUPIE Nr. 4, there is
a blechnum chilense or costilla de
vaca, which is being suffocated by a
maqui (aristotelia chilensis). This
situation repeats throughout the path
until SNUPIE 11, showing the
interaction of the species introduced
with native and endemic species.
If you move forward, you will
arrive to the SNUPIE Nr. 5, which
is very close to the first water supply.
In this place, you can observe an
endemic fern of big proportions called
thyrsopteris elegans, a vulnerable
vegetal species, only known with that
name or with the name of tree fern.
You are reaching to the first and
unique water supply towards the
Selkirk Mirador (SNUPIE 18). Here
you will find greater abundance of
endemic species.
Upon the arrival to SNUPIE
Nr.6, you will find the sector of La
Aguada, where there is the only water
supply available before reaching to
Selkirk Mirador (SNUPIE 18),
although it is recommended to bring
bottled water. Besides the SNUPIE
you could appreciate an endemic fern
called polisticum tetragonum and, in
addition, in the water bed you could
find some samples of gunnera
bracteata, known as nalca or panque.
Besides the SNUPIE Nr. 7, you
could observe a fern of triangular
frond, where you appreciate that the
stem has two channels or three ribs
and it corresponds to a sample of
rumohra berteroana. It is an endemic
fern of the island very abundant and
resistant to introduced plants.
Downwards, at a floor level, there
are two endemic samples called
haloragis masatierrana, a small bush
with closed leaf and, lower, an
erigeron fernandezianus.
On the arrival to SNUPIE Nr.8,
you will reach the first mirador
provided by the road, where you could
appreciate the Cumberland Bay. This
name comes from the observations
made by Lord Anson in the year 1740
and that means bay of obstruction,
due to the large amounts of stones of
volcanic pumps found on the shore.
In this place, you could appreciate
very high endemic species such as
the cinnamon tree of Juan Fernández
(drimys confertifolia) and some ferns.
As in most part of the road run, in
the SNUPIE Nr. 9 you will find murtilla
(ugni molinae), a plague suffered by
the island. This introduced species is
aggressive, since it replaces endemic
species in its eagerness to occupy the
fertile soil.
This segment finishes with the
access to the sector of La Virgen
Mirador, where you find the SNUPIE
Nr. 10. It is in the second point of
observation of the bay. From this place
you start entering in the path segment,
here species of the endemic forest of
the Robinson Crusoe Island prevail.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 1,25 kms, 0h 30m.
===La Virgen Mirador - Selkirk Lookout. Snupies 10 - 18===
Unlike the previous segment, there
is here a higher presence and variety of
endemic and native species, since we are
already in the original island forest. In
this segment, native forest does not reach
its highest density. It is located in the
north or sunny spot hillside of the island,
which does not allow it to capture the
same humidity as in the south or sunny
spot hillside. This segment starts in De
la Virgen Mirador, SNUPIE Nº10, until
Selkirk Mirador, SNUPIE Nº18.
Upon arriving to Mirador Forest
sector, at SNUPIE Nº11, you will enter
the endemic forest, surrounded by ferns
and trees, mostly luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana) and canelo
de Juan Fernández (drimys confertifolia).
In front of the SNUPIE, you will find a
luma that contains in its trunk a native
parasitic plant called pleopeltis
macrocarpa, quite singular for its green
leaves with white spots.
At La Cueva sector, and around
SNUPIE Nº12, you may observe some
endemic arboreal species of the island.
Downwards, species of Juan Fernández'
cinnamon tree (drimys confertifolia)
may be observed, and a trunk of
naranjillo (fagara mayu) appears just
above the SNUPIE. Both species may
be confused due to the presence of luma
d e M a s a t i e r r a ( m y rc e u g e n i a
fernandeziana). Please note that
naranjillo is the highest tree within
insular arboreal species.
At SNUPIE Nº13, La Vertiente
sector, you will find one of the curves
of this road, where we meet again a
specie of luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana). If you
look behind the SNUPIE, you will see
water flowing that has been trapped by
the island though maritime fog
catchment, produced by volcanic
formations and vegetation, providing
this vital resource to the entire biotic
system of Robinson Crusoe Island. Once
you arrive to SNUPIE Nº14, you will
get to El Canelo sector. If you pay
attention to the environmental sounds,
you will listen to the song of the Juan
Fernández' red hummingbird to the soft
warbling of cachudito de Juan
Fernández (anairetes fernandezianus).
From this point, you can see how the
road has received the impact of stone
slides and passage of cattle that walks
from and to the village, generating
serious erosion problems that, added
to successive rains, wear the road.
If you have had the chance to
appreciate a diversity of floristic species,
you have to consider observation of
island flora, the first inhabitants of this
landscape, lichens, mosses, and ferns.
Three types of pioneer species of
volcanic porous rocks may be seen in
the wall located behind SNUPIE N°15.
Once you arrive to SNUPIE Nº16,
you will find a nalca or panque
(gunnera bracteata) located
immediately above. Here, as in other
places where you have already been,
you will be surrounded by endemic and
native species, that compete against
introduced species, such as, the
blechnum chilense or cow rib. Getting
into a rock passage formed by the
excessive traffic of animals and people,
to get to SNUPIE Nº17, close to Selkirk
Mirador, where, among other species,
you will appreciate a gramineous called
uncinia douglasii.
This segment ends at SNUPIE
Nº18, corresponding to Selkirk Mirador,
where you will know the path walked
by Alejandro Selkirk since 1704 and
during 4 years and 4 months, eagerly
looking for finding from the north or
the south any vessel or boat that could
release him from his long wait. This
only happened on January 31, 1709. In
addition to assimilate the road that he
used, it is possible to understand the
panoramic view needed by Selkirk to
descry any vessel and ask for help, since
almost all the remaining segments to
the Aerodrome (SNUPIE Nº25) can be
seen from this point, and, from right to
left, Tres Puntas Hill, Punta Isla and
Santa Clara Island. Under favorable
atmospheric conditions, it is also
possible to see Alejandro Selkirk Island
or Más Afuera, which is located slightly
to the right side of Tres Puntas Hill,
following the horizon. In this SNUPIE,
you will see San Juan Bautista Village,
and following to the west by the high
peak line, you will encounter some
species of chonta (juania australis), a
palm that is proper to the island and
one of its vulnerable species, as well as
the typical luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana), that has
accompanied you throughout most of
this heritage road.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 1,9 kms, 0h 55m.
===Selkirk Lookout - Under Mt. Tres Puntas. Snupies 18 - 21===
Following the road by this segment,
you will get to a denser endemic - native
forest, since it is located in the south
hillside of the island, which receives
higher humidity by catchment of water
through the strong slopes of the sector.
In this segment, you will walk from
Selkirk Mirador, SNUPIE Nº18, to Tres
Puntas, SNUPIE Nº21.
Going down from SNUPIE Nº18
by a high rock step and strong slope
path, you will get into the endemic
native forest, which has in this sector
a wide variety of vegetation, marked
by the wind and environment
morphology.
When you arrive to Villagra,
SNUPIE Nº19, you will see a
panoramic view of all Bahia Villagra
and Punta del Gualpón, littoral
formations that dominate the south coast
of Robinson Crusoe Island, some cattle
breeders shelters, and the National Park,
and behind them, a fenced rectangle
where a cattle branding particular rodeo
takes place every year. From here, you
will see SNUPIE Nº20, corresponding
to Plan El Gualpón, and Tres Puntas
Hill. You can observe Santa Clara Island,
Chamelos and Los Ramplones Islets,
which are natural swimming pools made
of eroded volcanic rock and block
shaped molded by the power of waves,
located at the east margin of Bahía
Villagra.
Plan El Gualpón sector receives
this name because, behind this tip-ended
silhouette, there is a very high cliff that
gives shape to a big natural shed. Be
careful not to walk to that sector. To the
left, you will see a prairie called Plan
El Gualpón, used by islander cattle
breeders as a shepherding area for
bovine cattle. Here, Los Ramplones can
be seen from a shorter distance. To the
south-west, you will observe the road
to Tres Puntas, SNUPIE Nº21, with
El Manzano water falls and Tres
Puntas Hill silhouette. Nuco or
neque (asio flammeus), pertaining
to the owl and the eagle owl family,
and part of the native fauna, may
occasionally be seen.
When you arrive to the end of
the segment, SNUPIE Nº21, you
will look at the sea and observe
Chamelos Islets, three hills of rock
or islets that are detached from the
east edge silhouette of Bahía
Villagra. More to the left, in front
of us, we have Los Ramplones rocky
formations, where El Yungue Hill
south face slopes outline can be
observed. Follow in this direction,
where El Gualpón concave
formation may be highlighted. The
entire traveled road can be
appreciated. Behind SNUPIE Nº21,
upwards, the characteristic peaks
of the Tres Puntas Hill shown up, a
geomorphologic sequence of sharp
peaks that dominate, from this place,
mountain range volcanic forms of
the south-east of the island.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 7,19 kms, 2h 25m.
=== Under Mt. Tres Puntas - Berth. Snupies 21 - 27===
If we really want to understand
how Robinson Crusoe is, we must travel
this last segment, that starts under Tres
Puntas formation. Following the road,
we have to get to Tierra Amarilla, where
SNUPIE Nº22 is located. This is one
of the most colorful sectors of all the
road. In some sections of the road,
landslides can be seen that evidence
space dynamics accelerating
morphologic and atmospheric processes.
From the top, you can see some cliffs
and to the front, Vinilla Islet, as well as
some species of thicket, such as, the
abundant myrtle (ugni molinae).
At Punta Chupones, SNUPIE
Nº23, you can have a wide angle of
visibility that encompasses all the
road, from south to north; the
Aerodrome sector, Punta Isla and
Santa Clara Island, Tierras Blancas
Bay, La Barraca Cove, accompanied
by Vinilla Islet. Chamelos Islets may
also be seen, ending at Selkirk
Mirador, passing by the large
formation of El Yunque hill.
Vegetation is gradually decreasing,
being dominated by adventitious
species. The lower the altitude, the
less diversity of species. SNUPIE
Nº23 is located at Punta Chupones
formation, that separates Chupones
Bay, by the North, and Tierras
Blancas Bay, by the South. Looking
at El Yunque hill silhouette, we can
observe, to the right, La Pascua and
La Piña hills, the natural
reservations of highest conservation
in all the island.
Altitude of the road is still
decreasing until pale colors
dominate the soft greenness of the
prairie. This is the arrival to
SNUPIE Nº24, at Tierras Blancas
sector. Here, you can see what is left
to get to the aerodrome, as well as
Santa Clara Island, at the bottom of
the coast massif where the colony of
lobo fino de Juan Fernández
(arctocephalus philippi) is settled. It
is the biggest in Robinson Crusoe
Island, their sounds may be heard
from this point. At the north sector,
an arm falls into the sea dividing
Tierras Blancas bay and Chupones
bay. Here, you can see some species
of kestrel (falco sparverius
fernandensis), a small reddish bird
of prey that feeds on the European
rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus), one
of the plagues that have affected the
island in the last decades. Rabbit
communities have eroded hillsides
and soil, which is already lacking,
due to excessive goat and sheep
shepherding.
Passing by the entrance gate of
the National Park, go to the
Aerodrome sector, SNUPIE Nº25,
one of infrastructures that support
the economy of this island. Robinson
Crusoe Island was connected by air
to the continent on October 1966,
with a safe place to land. The same
technology used to build the first
layout of the road to the village was
used to implement the Aerodrome
between the National Park and Punta
Isla, together with Cumberland bay.
The singularity of this aerodrome is
that it is one of the few in the world
which strip starts and ends in cliffs,
an adrenaline loaded test only for
experienced pilots.
At one side of the welcome to
the island sign, the road follows by
an asphalt paving. Some meters away,
you will find a sector similar to
Tierras Blancas. The landscape still
indicates soil scarcity. Poppy
(papaver somniferum) is abundant,
providing appealing colors in the
summer. SNUPIE N°26 is located
at the arrival of the start of the way
down to the berth. A privileged view
of Bahía del Padre, which is rounded,
with a small entrance to the west
and with a rocky formation in its
east edge, called La Capilla,
characterized by its transversal
drilling on the inside. The bay is
made up by a volcanic bubble beach.
Reddish, gray and white colored
strata may be seen in the walls,
demonstrating the volcanic activity
that gave rise to these islands. Punta
Isla Peninsula, in the foreground,
and Santa Clara Island, in the middle
ground, are the oldest formations of
all the Juan Fernández Archipelago.
Bahía del Padre is one if the 7 extinct
volcanoes that constitute Robinson
Crusoe.
Between Bahía del Padre and
Santa Clara island we have El Puente
isthmus and Punta Isla peninsula,
with a moderate slope plain. To the
west, we can see a calcareous surface
sector, totally damaged by massive
shepherding from early XXTH century
that ended up ravaging vegetation
and soil. One of the few coast margins
of Robinson Crusoe Island is located
behind the above described sector,
where there is a fine material beach:
El Arenal, a special place for the birth
of the offspring of lobo fino de Juan
Fernández (arctocephalus philippi).
At the end of this road, you will
have to go down by the above
mentioned slope from SNUPIE Nº26
to the Berth. Here, you will find
SNUPIE Nº27, located in Bahía del
Padre, south-west Robinson Crusoe.
Transshipment maneuvers of the
passengers that arrive to the island
take place in this pier, therefore, this
SNUPIE is used as a connection
between this circuit and Por el
Sotavento and Por el Barlovento
Ocean Circuits. There is a community
of lobo fino de Juan Fernández
(arctocephalus philippi) in the bay,
the first colony that contacts the
visitor from his/her arrival to the
island. This sea wolf was killed and
exported for a long time, almost
resulting in its extinction, mostly by
French vessels that took huge
amounts of this specie, using its
leather to manufacture boots for
officers of Napoleon Bonapartes army.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 16,69kms, 5h 25m.
==Recommendations==
{{Topoguide|08}}
==Route in Google Earth==
==Expected time==
*[[Media:.kmz|Route of...]]
{{Download waypoints}}
{{Trekking Chile}}
{{Rutas Patrimoniales english}}
==Season==
==Access==
Juan Fernández Archipelago is located
in Region V of Valparaiso, at 667 Km.
From Chile Continental, in front of the
shores of San Antonio port.
==Route description==
===Stone with Letters - La Virgen Mirador. Snupies 1 - 10===
After passing the access portal
to the National Park Juan Fernández
Archipelago, you will reach the
SNUPIE Nr. 1, located in a high
erosion sector characterized by wood
blocking, a measure used to minimize
erosion effects caused by deforestation
occurred during the island colonization
period to cover the needs of housing
construction, vessel construction, fuel
and domestic heating. Following the
signal, you could visit at a few meters
downwards the well-known Stone
with Letters, which shows an
engraving stamping the signature of
the colonist islander Pedro Arredondo,
below the drawings of codfish and a
chonta (Juania australis), an endemic
palm of the island. The erosion
produced decades ago is shown in the
metal supports enclosed to a piping
that supplies water to the town.
As in other places, in the
SNUPIE Nr. 2, located in the El
Guindal sector, there are adventitious
or introduced vegetal species, such as
brambleberry (rubus ulmifolius),
maqui (aristotelia chilensis), and
murtilla (ugni molinae), which are
considered a plague in the island,
spread by the thrush (tordus falklanii)
that through its faecal wastes, spreads
seeds being a problem for the endemic
forest. By turning the sight to the
stream, at first sight you will observe
some samples of eucalyptus
(eucalyptus globulus) and, at a middle
distance, insigne pine (pinus radiata),
which were useful to reforest the sector,
due to the needs produced by the lack
of wood and erosion control.
In the Morro del Medio sector,
SNUPIE Nr. 3, it is observed how the
species introduced suffocate the
endemic forest, causing dead in some
cases. At a side of the SNUPIE Nr. 3,
a sample of luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana) is
observed, a species prevailing in the
sector.
Besides SNUPIE Nr. 4, there is
a blechnum chilense or costilla de
vaca, which is being suffocated by a
maqui (aristotelia chilensis). This
situation repeats throughout the path
until SNUPIE 11, showing the
interaction of the species introduced
with native and endemic species.
If you move forward, you will
arrive to the SNUPIE Nr. 5, which
is very close to the first water supply.
In this place, you can observe an
endemic fern of big proportions called
thyrsopteris elegans, a vulnerable
vegetal species, only known with that
name or with the name of tree fern.
You are reaching to the first and
unique water supply towards the
Selkirk Mirador (SNUPIE 18). Here
you will find greater abundance of
endemic species.
Upon the arrival to SNUPIE
Nr.6, you will find the sector of La
Aguada, where there is the only water
supply available before reaching to
Selkirk Mirador (SNUPIE 18),
although it is recommended to bring
bottled water. Besides the SNUPIE
you could appreciate an endemic fern
called polisticum tetragonum and, in
addition, in the water bed you could
find some samples of gunnera
bracteata, known as nalca or panque.
Besides the SNUPIE Nr. 7, you
could observe a fern of triangular
frond, where you appreciate that the
stem has two channels or three ribs
and it corresponds to a sample of
rumohra berteroana. It is an endemic
fern of the island very abundant and
resistant to introduced plants.
Downwards, at a floor level, there
are two endemic samples called
haloragis masatierrana, a small bush
with closed leaf and, lower, an
erigeron fernandezianus.
On the arrival to SNUPIE Nr.8,
you will reach the first mirador
provided by the road, where you could
appreciate the Cumberland Bay. This
name comes from the observations
made by Lord Anson in the year 1740
and that means bay of obstruction,
due to the large amounts of stones of
volcanic pumps found on the shore.
In this place, you could appreciate
very high endemic species such as
the cinnamon tree of Juan Fernández
(drimys confertifolia) and some ferns.
As in most part of the road run, in
the SNUPIE Nr. 9 you will find murtilla
(ugni molinae), a plague suffered by
the island. This introduced species is
aggressive, since it replaces endemic
species in its eagerness to occupy the
fertile soil.
This segment finishes with the
access to the sector of La Virgen
Mirador, where you find the SNUPIE
Nr. 10. It is in the second point of
observation of the bay. From this place
you start entering in the path segment,
here species of the endemic forest of
the Robinson Crusoe Island prevail.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 1,25 kms, 0h 30m.
===La Virgen Mirador - Selkirk Lookout. Snupies 10 - 18===
Unlike the previous segment, there
is here a higher presence and variety of
endemic and native species, since we are
already in the original island forest. In
this segment, native forest does not reach
its highest density. It is located in the
north or sunny spot hillside of the island,
which does not allow it to capture the
same humidity as in the south or sunny
spot hillside. This segment starts in De
la Virgen Mirador, SNUPIE Nº10, until
Selkirk Mirador, SNUPIE Nº18.
Upon arriving to Mirador Forest
sector, at SNUPIE Nº11, you will enter
the endemic forest, surrounded by ferns
and trees, mostly luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana) and canelo
de Juan Fernández (drimys confertifolia).
In front of the SNUPIE, you will find a
luma that contains in its trunk a native
parasitic plant called pleopeltis
macrocarpa, quite singular for its green
leaves with white spots.
At La Cueva sector, and around
SNUPIE Nº12, you may observe some
endemic arboreal species of the island.
Downwards, species of Juan Fernández'
cinnamon tree (drimys confertifolia)
may be observed, and a trunk of
naranjillo (fagara mayu) appears just
above the SNUPIE. Both species may
be confused due to the presence of luma
d e M a s a t i e r r a ( m y rc e u g e n i a
fernandeziana). Please note that
naranjillo is the highest tree within
insular arboreal species.
At SNUPIE Nº13, La Vertiente
sector, you will find one of the curves
of this road, where we meet again a
specie of luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana). If you
look behind the SNUPIE, you will see
water flowing that has been trapped by
the island though maritime fog
catchment, produced by volcanic
formations and vegetation, providing
this vital resource to the entire biotic
system of Robinson Crusoe Island. Once
you arrive to SNUPIE Nº14, you will
get to El Canelo sector. If you pay
attention to the environmental sounds,
you will listen to the song of the Juan
Fernández' red hummingbird to the soft
warbling of cachudito de Juan
Fernández (anairetes fernandezianus).
From this point, you can see how the
road has received the impact of stone
slides and passage of cattle that walks
from and to the village, generating
serious erosion problems that, added
to successive rains, wear the road.
If you have had the chance to
appreciate a diversity of floristic species,
you have to consider observation of
island flora, the first inhabitants of this
landscape, lichens, mosses, and ferns.
Three types of pioneer species of
volcanic porous rocks may be seen in
the wall located behind SNUPIE N°15.
Once you arrive to SNUPIE Nº16,
you will find a nalca or panque
(gunnera bracteata) located
immediately above. Here, as in other
places where you have already been,
you will be surrounded by endemic and
native species, that compete against
introduced species, such as, the
blechnum chilense or cow rib. Getting
into a rock passage formed by the
excessive traffic of animals and people,
to get to SNUPIE Nº17, close to Selkirk
Mirador, where, among other species,
you will appreciate a gramineous called
uncinia douglasii.
This segment ends at SNUPIE
Nº18, corresponding to Selkirk Mirador,
where you will know the path walked
by Alejandro Selkirk since 1704 and
during 4 years and 4 months, eagerly
looking for finding from the north or
the south any vessel or boat that could
release him from his long wait. This
only happened on January 31, 1709. In
addition to assimilate the road that he
used, it is possible to understand the
panoramic view needed by Selkirk to
descry any vessel and ask for help, since
almost all the remaining segments to
the Aerodrome (SNUPIE Nº25) can be
seen from this point, and, from right to
left, Tres Puntas Hill, Punta Isla and
Santa Clara Island. Under favorable
atmospheric conditions, it is also
possible to see Alejandro Selkirk Island
or Más Afuera, which is located slightly
to the right side of Tres Puntas Hill,
following the horizon. In this SNUPIE,
you will see San Juan Bautista Village,
and following to the west by the high
peak line, you will encounter some
species of chonta (juania australis), a
palm that is proper to the island and
one of its vulnerable species, as well as
the typical luma de Masatierra
(myrceugenia fernandeziana), that has
accompanied you throughout most of
this heritage road.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 1,9 kms, 0h 55m.
===Selkirk Lookout - Under Mt. Tres Puntas. Snupies 18 - 21===
Following the road by this segment,
you will get to a denser endemic - native
forest, since it is located in the south
hillside of the island, which receives
higher humidity by catchment of water
through the strong slopes of the sector.
In this segment, you will walk from
Selkirk Mirador, SNUPIE Nº18, to Tres
Puntas, SNUPIE Nº21.
Going down from SNUPIE Nº18
by a high rock step and strong slope
path, you will get into the endemic
native forest, which has in this sector
a wide variety of vegetation, marked
by the wind and environment
morphology.
When you arrive to Villagra,
SNUPIE Nº19, you will see a
panoramic view of all Bahia Villagra
and Punta del Gualpón, littoral
formations that dominate the south coast
of Robinson Crusoe Island, some cattle
breeders shelters, and the National Park,
and behind them, a fenced rectangle
where a cattle branding particular rodeo
takes place every year. From here, you
will see SNUPIE Nº20, corresponding
to Plan El Gualpón, and Tres Puntas
Hill. You can observe Santa Clara Island,
Chamelos and Los Ramplones Islets,
which are natural swimming pools made
of eroded volcanic rock and block
shaped molded by the power of waves,
located at the east margin of Bahía
Villagra.
Plan El Gualpón sector receives
this name because, behind this tip-ended
silhouette, there is a very high cliff that
gives shape to a big natural shed. Be
careful not to walk to that sector. To the
left, you will see a prairie called Plan
El Gualpón, used by islander cattle
breeders as a shepherding area for
bovine cattle. Here, Los Ramplones can
be seen from a shorter distance. To the
south-west, you will observe the road
to Tres Puntas, SNUPIE Nº21, with
El Manzano water falls and Tres
Puntas Hill silhouette. Nuco or
neque (asio flammeus), pertaining
to the owl and the eagle owl family,
and part of the native fauna, may
occasionally be seen.
When you arrive to the end of
the segment, SNUPIE Nº21, you
will look at the sea and observe
Chamelos Islets, three hills of rock
or islets that are detached from the
east edge silhouette of Bahía
Villagra. More to the left, in front
of us, we have Los Ramplones rocky
formations, where El Yungue Hill
south face slopes outline can be
observed. Follow in this direction,
where El Gualpón concave
formation may be highlighted. The
entire traveled road can be
appreciated. Behind SNUPIE Nº21,
upwards, the characteristic peaks
of the Tres Puntas Hill shown up, a
geomorphologic sequence of sharp
peaks that dominate, from this place,
mountain range volcanic forms of
the south-east of the island.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 7,19 kms, 2h 25m.
=== Under Mt. Tres Puntas - Berth. Snupies 21 - 27===
If we really want to understand
how Robinson Crusoe is, we must travel
this last segment, that starts under Tres
Puntas formation. Following the road,
we have to get to Tierra Amarilla, where
SNUPIE Nº22 is located. This is one
of the most colorful sectors of all the
road. In some sections of the road,
landslides can be seen that evidence
space dynamics accelerating
morphologic and atmospheric processes.
From the top, you can see some cliffs
and to the front, Vinilla Islet, as well as
some species of thicket, such as, the
abundant myrtle (ugni molinae).
At Punta Chupones, SNUPIE
Nº23, you can have a wide angle of
visibility that encompasses all the
road, from south to north; the
Aerodrome sector, Punta Isla and
Santa Clara Island, Tierras Blancas
Bay, La Barraca Cove, accompanied
by Vinilla Islet. Chamelos Islets may
also be seen, ending at Selkirk
Mirador, passing by the large
formation of El Yunque hill.
Vegetation is gradually decreasing,
being dominated by adventitious
species. The lower the altitude, the
less diversity of species. SNUPIE
Nº23 is located at Punta Chupones
formation, that separates Chupones
Bay, by the North, and Tierras
Blancas Bay, by the South. Looking
at El Yunque hill silhouette, we can
observe, to the right, La Pascua and
La Piña hills, the natural
reservations of highest conservation
in all the island.
Altitude of the road is still
decreasing until pale colors
dominate the soft greenness of the
prairie. This is the arrival to
SNUPIE Nº24, at Tierras Blancas
sector. Here, you can see what is left
to get to the aerodrome, as well as
Santa Clara Island, at the bottom of
the coast massif where the colony of
lobo fino de Juan Fernández
(arctocephalus philippi) is settled. It
is the biggest in Robinson Crusoe
Island, their sounds may be heard
from this point. At the north sector,
an arm falls into the sea dividing
Tierras Blancas bay and Chupones
bay. Here, you can see some species
of kestrel (falco sparverius
fernandensis), a small reddish bird
of prey that feeds on the European
rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus), one
of the plagues that have affected the
island in the last decades. Rabbit
communities have eroded hillsides
and soil, which is already lacking,
due to excessive goat and sheep
shepherding.
Passing by the entrance gate of
the National Park, go to the
Aerodrome sector, SNUPIE Nº25,
one of infrastructures that support
the economy of this island. Robinson
Crusoe Island was connected by air
to the continent on October 1966,
with a safe place to land. The same
technology used to build the first
layout of the road to the village was
used to implement the Aerodrome
between the National Park and Punta
Isla, together with Cumberland bay.
The singularity of this aerodrome is
that it is one of the few in the world
which strip starts and ends in cliffs,
an adrenaline loaded test only for
experienced pilots.
At one side of the welcome to
the island sign, the road follows by
an asphalt paving. Some meters away,
you will find a sector similar to
Tierras Blancas. The landscape still
indicates soil scarcity. Poppy
(papaver somniferum) is abundant,
providing appealing colors in the
summer. SNUPIE N°26 is located
at the arrival of the start of the way
down to the berth. A privileged view
of Bahía del Padre, which is rounded,
with a small entrance to the west
and with a rocky formation in its
east edge, called La Capilla,
characterized by its transversal
drilling on the inside. The bay is
made up by a volcanic bubble beach.
Reddish, gray and white colored
strata may be seen in the walls,
demonstrating the volcanic activity
that gave rise to these islands. Punta
Isla Peninsula, in the foreground,
and Santa Clara Island, in the middle
ground, are the oldest formations of
all the Juan Fernández Archipelago.
Bahía del Padre is one if the 7 extinct
volcanoes that constitute Robinson
Crusoe.
Between Bahía del Padre and
Santa Clara island we have El Puente
isthmus and Punta Isla peninsula,
with a moderate slope plain. To the
west, we can see a calcareous surface
sector, totally damaged by massive
shepherding from early XXTH century
that ended up ravaging vegetation
and soil. One of the few coast margins
of Robinson Crusoe Island is located
behind the above described sector,
where there is a fine material beach:
El Arenal, a special place for the birth
of the offspring of lobo fino de Juan
Fernández (arctocephalus philippi).
At the end of this road, you will
have to go down by the above
mentioned slope from SNUPIE Nº26
to the Berth. Here, you will find
SNUPIE Nº27, located in Bahía del
Padre, south-west Robinson Crusoe.
Transshipment maneuvers of the
passengers that arrive to the island
take place in this pier, therefore, this
SNUPIE is used as a connection
between this circuit and Por el
Sotavento and Por el Barlovento
Ocean Circuits. There is a community
of lobo fino de Juan Fernández
(arctocephalus philippi) in the bay,
the first colony that contacts the
visitor from his/her arrival to the
island. This sea wolf was killed and
exported for a long time, almost
resulting in its extinction, mostly by
French vessels that took huge
amounts of this specie, using its
leather to manufacture boots for
officers of Napoleon Bonapartes army.
*'''Distance and expected time''': 16,69kms, 5h 25m.
==Recommendations==
{{Topoguide|08}}
==Route in Google Earth==
==Expected time==
*[[Media:.kmz|Route of...]]
{{Download waypoints}}
