Isla Salas y GómezIsla Salas y Gómez at a Glance
About Isla Salas y Gómez
Isla Salas y Gómez is a remote, uninhabited rocky islet in the southeastern Pacific Ocean administered by Chile and part of the Valparaíso Region. The islet has no permanent freshwater and supports only sparse vegetation and seabird colonies.
The site is of interest mainly to scientists and conservationists studying seabird nesting and oceanic ecosystems; there are no visitor facilities and landings are rare. Surrounding waters form part of a wider area of high marine biodiversity and are subject to conservation measures.
Spanish and later European navigators charted the islet in the 18th century and it has remained uninhabited. Chile administers it as part of its Pacific territories and it is managed with an emphasis on marine conservation.
The islet lies in the southeastern Pacific and is one of Chile’s most remote offshore features, well east of the main Chilean coast and located in open ocean far from major population centres.
- Access: Uninhabited and lacking permanent fresh water, the islet is visited only by scientific or authorised conservation vessels.
- Administration: Administered by Chile as part of the Valparaíso Region and noted for its remote position in the southeastern Pacific and importance to seabirds and marine life.
Best Time to Visit Isla Salas y Gómez
Isla Salas y Gómez is not a regular tourist destination-access is highly restricted and visits generally occur only as part of research or specialised expeditions.
Weather & Climate near Isla Salas y Gómez
Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in February) and mild winters (coldest in August). Temperatures range from 17°C to 26°C. Abundant rainfall (1029 mm/year), wettest in April.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 21° - 26° | 24° | 56 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 22° - 26° | 24° | 68 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 22° - 26° | 24° | 90 mm | - | - | 4.3 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 21° - 24° | 23° | 128 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 20° - 23° | 21° | 128 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 19° - 22° | 20° | 95 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 18° - 21° | 19° | 104 mm | - | - | 4.8 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 17° - 20° | 19° | 93 mm | - | - | 5.0 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 17° - 21° | 19° | 81 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 18° - 21° | 20° | 69 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 19° - 23° | 21° | 46 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 20° - 25° | 22° | 71 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Isla Salas y Gómez
Isla Salas y Gómez is extremely remote and uninhabited; there are no scheduled passenger services. Access is limited to private expedition or research vessels (typically sailing from Rapa Nui / Easter Island or mainland Chile) and landings require permits from Chilean authorities. For practical purposes it is not reachable by normal tourist transport.
Tips for Visiting Isla Salas y Gómez
- Do not plan an independent tourist landing - Isla Salas y Gómez is an uninhabited, highly remote Chilean islet within a protected marine area and there are effectively no civilian visitor facilities or regular transport.
- If you need to study or see the island for research or conservation purposes, contact Chilean authorities (e.g., the Navy and the agencies managing the marine reserve) well in advance to request permits and to join an authorized scientific expedition.
- For most visitors, the only realistic option is to view the island from a permitted long-range research or conservation vessel; treat it as a strictly controlled protected area, not a travel destination.