Isla Magdalena National Park, Nature reserve in Provincia de Aysén, Chile

Isla Magdalena National Park is a nature reserve on a large island off the coast of southern Chile in the Aysén region. The landscape is defined by forested slopes and the Mentolat Volcano, which rises prominently above the surrounding terrain.

The area began as a forest reserve and gained national park status in 1983. This change reflected growing efforts to protect the fragile island ecosystems and remote coastal habitats.

Puerto Gaviota, the only settlement on the island, was founded in the 1980s as a colony of pike fishermen and has around 100 residents. It sits at the southern tip of the park and is the one place with any infrastructure, a small harbour.

Access is only by sea, from the ports of Puerto Cisnes or Puerto Puyuhuapi. Apart from the harbour at Puerto Gaviota on the southern tip there is no infrastructure and no staff in the park. The terrain is mountainous and rocky, with dense scrub and no trails, so the park is practically impassable on foot; sheltered coves and fjords can be explored by boat. Flying drones privately is strictly forbidden.

The island's forests of southern beech were the reason it was protected in the 1960s: it was declared a forest reserve to stop logging, and only in June 1983 did it become a national park. Flying drones over the park privately is strictly forbidden and allowed only for scientific purposes after a lengthy permit procedure.