Follow the very ridgeline where castaway Alexander Selkirk scanned the horizon for rescue ships for four years, four months, and four days — the true story behind Robinson Crusoe. Panoramic views of the entire archipelago reward the climb.
What to expect
The trail ascends steeply through cloud forest thick with 91 endemic plant species — many bearing Latin names honoring the botanists who first catalogued them. At Mirador Selkirk, a bronze plaque marks where the castaway lit his signal fires; on clear days you can see Alejandro Selkirk Island 180 km to the west. Your guide identifies the Juan Fernández firecrown hummingbird (critically endangered, endemic) and the endemic Juan Fernández petrel wheeling overhead. The descent winds through tree-fern ravines and past waterfalls fed by Pacific trade-wind mist.
Good to know
Wear sturdy hiking boots — the trail is steep and can be muddy. The round trip takes 3.5–4 hours; depart by 08:00 to comfortably return before all-aboard. Carry 2 litres of water minimum. Book direct by WhatsApp or email through the operator website.