Omora Ethnobotanical Park

Omora Ethnobotanical Park is a protected natural area on Navarino Island that contains sub-Antarctic forest types, including southern beech, evergreen vegetation, and peatland environments. The Róbalo river valley flows through the landscape, linking these different ecological zones together.

The protected area was established in 2000 with the goal of linking conservation efforts to scientific research. The Omora Foundation and the Universidad de Magallanes joined forces to put this vision into practice.

The name references a small hummingbird from the Yaghan language, reflecting how indigenous peoples of this southern coast understood the natural world around them. Walking through the forest, visitors can spot this same bird and connect with how locals once viewed their environment.

The park sits west of Puerto Williams and accommodates visitors in small numbers to protect the environment. Most activities happen in small guided groups that explore the forest trails together.

The site uses an uncommon research approach that links scientific work directly with visitor experiments. Visitors actively participate in field observations using special tools, rather than just watching from the sidelines.