Rábida

Island

By Karey Fuhs

Also known as Jervis, Rábida is a small island (5 km2) south of Santiago whose colorful splendor makes it a photographer’s dream. Visitors will be struck by the sharp contrasts between the turquoise waters, maroon sandy beach, beige rock substrate, and lush green highlands.

There is a wet landing onto the long, red beach where sea lions lounge, pelicans nest, and the occasional manta ray jumps in the distance. A short walk away from the beach takes you to a brackish lagoon, where you can sometimes see flamingoes despite the fact that sea lion fecal contamination of the lagoon has prevented the growth of crustaceans, the flamingoes’ food source. A .75 km circular trail begins at the lagoon, winding through cactus (look for Mickey Mouse) and palo santo stands, which are home to a few land iguanas. The walk offers amazing views of the sea as well as the island’s 367 m volcanic peak.

You can also snorkel from the beach or take a dingy ride along the cove to look for green sea turtles, marine iguanas, and fur sea lions. The deep-water snorkeling off of Rabida's walls is fantastic.