José Luis has been around a bit in the service of his job. At the age of 50, his missions have led him to travel a lot in Chile, but also to Tahiti and Easter Island. Before his job at the lighthouse on the very southern tip of the American continent, José Luis spent 4 years in Punta Arenas, the largest city in the south of Chilean Patagonia, which allowed him to apply for the job at Cape Horn. The prerequisites of the mission? Be in good physical and mental health and have had surgery for appendicitis!
A family adventure
The adventure on the other side of the world is a full, rich experience. His mission is to look after the sovereignty of the island, monitor the weather, control maritime traffic and ensure the safety of sailors passing these hostile waters. It also welcomes tourists who come to visit the national park during the season from mid-September to mid-April. José Luis has taken his wife Pamela, his two children Sofía and Gael, 14 and 7 years old, and their cat, Calafate, on this extraordinary adventure.
And periodically his job is punctuated by VHF exchanges with the sailors who pass the cape, but also he is responsible for teaching maths and Spanish lessons that we have to give to Gael. Sofia takes her classes online. By necessity their life has to be particularly organized. There is no neighborhood supermarket or Uber Eats to help out! Refuelling is only every two months via a Chilean Navy ship. Yes there is a certain splendid isolation which he and his family really cherish.
