Untouched Pristine Island With 150 Miles of Coastline on Sale for $35M

By: Chris Gorrie | Published: Mar 09, 2024

Virgin Island is a completely untouched piece of land that clocks in at half the size of Hong Kong. It has recently been listed for sale at an impressive $35 million. 

Situated within the Patagonian Archipelago off the western coast of Chile, this pristine island spans 11,000 acres, surpassing the size of Manhattan by over seven times.

Virgin Island is a One-of-a-Kind Opportunity for Developers

With over 80 lagoons, three lakes, and 150 miles of pristine coastline, it offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for a prospective owner to build and develop on a piece of land untouched by human hands.

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A lake nestled in part of Virgin Island’s inland environment.

Hall and Hall

Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Virgin Island stands as a rare gem, offering privacy, seclusion, and raw natural beauty.

An Incredible Coastline, Freshwater Sources, and Natural Beauty

Jeff Buerger of Hall and Hall, the listing agent for Virgin Island, notes that while islands may not appeal to everyone, this is a truly unusual and incredible piece of real estate.

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A beach on Virgin Island, surrounded by woodlands. The water is clear near the shore.

Hall and Hall

The extraordinary features of this vast, untouched island, including its abundant coastline, freshwater sources, and natural allure, make it a unique and rare find. The island is in the shadow of the Andes mountain range, which creates a diverse ecosystem encompassing jungles, sandbanks, peatlands, wetlands, and native forests.

Virgin Island is Shielded by the Andes Mountains

The Virgin Island is also shielded by the Andes Mountains, the longest mountain range on Earth, providing protection from severe weather events and acting as a natural insulator and climatic screen.

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The Andes mountains photographed from the air. Sparse clouds linger in front of snow-capped ridges and peaks.

sgbirch/Wikimedia Commons

This geographical feature has allowed wildlife to thrive undisturbed, preserving the island’s ecological balance as it existed thousands of years ago. The neighboring fjords, islands, seas, and canals further shield Virgin Island from environmental changes, maintaining its pristine condition.

Island Covered in Peatlands, Which Capture Greenhouse Gasses

Peatlands, referred to locally as “turba,” are a significant category of wetlands acknowledged as the most extensive natural terrestrial carbon reservoirs within an ecosystem.

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An example of peatlands, or “turba,” in Quebec, Canada. Small and large pools of water separated by damp earth with low grass and sparse shrubbery spread out across a large field.

Nichole Ouellette/Wikimedia Commons

The island is predominantly covered in turba, forming a natural incubator for flora. Extensive wetlands are distributed across the island, serving as reservoirs for fresh water and acting as capture zones for greenhouse gasses.

Virgin Island is Located in Chilean Patagonia

The island’s unique location in Chilean Patagonia, often referred to as “the end of the world,” adds to its allure.

An example of Chilean Patagonia’s interior. A river winds through a lush valley that is flanked on either side by hills and mountains.

Cleide Isabel/Wikimedia Commons

Chile holds the distinction of being the southernmost country globally, and Virgin Island represents the southernmost natural region of the country and the southernmost part of the American continent. This remoteness contributes to the island’s status as a fundamental green lung for the planet, providing a haven for untouched wildlife.

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What is Chilean Patagonia?

Chilean Patagonia is an expansive region spanning 402,000 square miles that is shared by Argentina and Chile, It is characterized by unique and captivating features.

An aerial photo of Río de las Chinas in Chilean Patagonia’s Magallanes Basin. A winding river that splits and reconnects flows through a vast valley with mountains on the far side.

Deensel/Wikimedia Commons

It has truly distinct geography that is shaped by the dramatic descent of the Andes Mountains into the Pacific Ocean, creating a breathtaking landscape of archipelagos, channels, and fjords. In contrast to the rugged beaches of Argentinian Patagonia, the Chilean counterpart showcases an extensive network of waterways, offering a one-of-a-kind geographical experience.

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The Patagonian Archipelago

Stretching approximately 11 degrees of latitude along the western coast of Patagonia, the archipelago presents a challenging and generally inhospitable landscape, especially in its southern regions. Marked by mountains, the terrain alternates between dense forests, bare rock, and deep bogs, creating a rugged and diverse environment.

The Faro San Isidro Lighthouse is located in the Strait of Magellan in southern Patagonia (Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica). From here the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego begins. It is the southernmost lighthouse in South America.

W. Bulach/Wikimedia Commons

Deep channels intricately divide the land into peninsulas and islands, some of which remain incompletely charted. The climate in this region is harsh, characterized by persistent drenching rains, snowfall, and sleet throughout the year, with fierce westerly gales being a common occurrence. Additionally, glaciers extend in various locations, occasionally reaching nearly to sea level, further shaping the formidable and dynamic nature of the archipelago.

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Listing Agent Envisions Virgin Island as an Ideal Vacation Destination

Despite some of the harsher conditions associated with the Patagonian Archipelago, listing agent Jeff Buerger believes the island holds great potential as a destination. Virgin Island is not merely a piece of real estate but a vision of adventure and possibility. Buerger envisions it as an ideal location for activities such as fishing and sea kayaking, offering a retreat into nature’s untouched beauty.

A man kayaking in southern Chile on a large lake. A mountain range spreads out on the horizon before him.

Marco Antonio Correa Flores/Wikimedia Commons

Buerger argues that as the world becomes seemingly smaller, with increasing opportunities to explore and develop world-class properties, Virgin Island stands as a unique and privileged opportunity for those seeking expansion in a pristine and untouched environment.

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What is the Closest Town to Virgin Island?

The island is two-and-a-half hours away by speedboat from the closest town, Puerto Aysén. The town is situated in the Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region of Chile, and lies approximately 2 miles above the head of Aisén Fjord in the country’s extreme south.

A photo from above Puerto Aysén looking down across the town. Houses and shops spread out, with a river separating the town in two. Behind the town are mountains, some of which have snowcaps.

Robertoaysen/Wikimedia Commons

With a population of around 27,644 inhabitants as per the 2017 census, the city rests on the banks of the Aysén River and is positioned 9 miles from the port of Puerto Chacabuco, a primary entry point accessible by sea. Additionally, it is 40 miles from the regional capital of Coyhaique. The local economy thrives on fisheries and tourism, with Puerto Chacabuco serving both passenger ferries and cargo traffic.

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A Rare and Pristine Piece of the Earth

The listing emphasizes the island’s role as an ecological sanctuary unaffected by modern development.

An aerial photograph of an inlet on Virgin Island, showcasing the island’s untouched woodlands and waters, as well as its remarkable expanse.

Hall and Hall

As expansion opportunities for working on world-class properties grow, Virgin Island emerges as a symbol of excitement, privilege, and humility. It invites potential buyers to become stewards of this untouched paradise, acknowledging the responsibility that comes with owning such a rare and pristine piece of Earth.

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