The Dx Adventure Radio Club (DA-RC) is thrilled to announce an upcoming activation of Santa Maria Island, part of the Bio-Bio Region Group (SA-070) off the coast of Chile, by experienced campaigners 32DA002 Manu and 32DA010 Filipe.
This operation, under the callsign 32DA/SA-070, marks a long-awaited return to a rare and highly sought-after island group not heard on the eleven meter band for 21 years, when 32ED/SA-070 last put it on the airwaves of 27 MHz.
According to the respected Islands Base Online (IOB) database, that 2004 operation was the last time Santa Maria Island was active — making this new expedition especially significant for IOTA enthusiasts worldwide.
About the Island:
Santa Maria Island is located in the South Pacific, roughly 30 km off the western coast of the Concepción Province near Coronel in the Bio-Bio Region.
Covering an area of around 35 square kilometers, the DXstination has a rich cultural and historical heritage, including a long connection with Chile’s fishing communities.
The island’s coasts are home to the South American sea lion, a sea creature famous for its thick, shaggy mane like a lion’s.
It’s also an Important Bird Area because it supports significant populations of sooty shearwaters, pink-footed shearwaters, Peruvian diving-petrels, red-legged cormorants, and Franklin’s gulls
In the Bay of Arauco, rugged shorelines, exposed WX, and its relative isolation make it a fitting challenge for IOTA activators.
Its limited accessibility — reached only by boat or by plane — adds to the rarity and appeal of this reference.
Journey to the Island:
Expeditioners 32DA002 Manu and 32DA010 Filipe will journey by boat to Santa Maria, carrying all radio equipment and supplies required for the activation.
The sea voyage underscores the true spirit of IOTA adventure, where operators embrace the elements and logistical hurdles to bring rare island groups to the Freeband radio community.
Commitment to IOTA:
Both Manu and Felipe and the Dx Adventure Radio Club are committed to serious, world-class IOTA DXpedition work…
With a proven track record of delivering rare island activations, the DA-RC places strong emphasis on professional planning, reliable operating standards, and providing maximum opportunity for IOTA chasers to log new and difficult references.
This expedition to this exquisite QTH is another chapter in that commitment.
On the Air:
Manu & Filipe’s portable station will feature an ICOM IC-7300 transceiver, running 100 watts into a 2-element delta loop antenna — a setup proven to deliver excellent performance from island locations.
They will operate for extended periods of time, ensuring propagation paths to different parts of the world are maximized and that hunters across the globe have a fair shot at logging this rare reference.
Why This Matters:
For serious IOTA chasers, SA-070 is a “must-have” group.
With no activity reported since 2004, demand is expected to be extremely high, and pile-ups will be fierce.
This is your chance to tick off one of the Pacific’s elusive island groups and enjoy the thrill of working a fresh maritime portable station.
QSL Information:
All QSL requests will be handled by 32DA002 Manu…
Please follow the standard procedure when requesting your card.
Direct contributions of $3 US + SAE are appreciated to help cover the costs of this rare and logistically challenging operation.
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