'''Punta Arenas''' is a port city in the Extreme South of Chile. The city has a good infrastructure, in particular an abundance of shops, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and hiking gear shops.

Punta Arenas (literally in Spanish: "Sands Point") is the largest settlement on the Strait of Magellan and the capital of Chiles Magallanes y Antartica Region. It has a population of 120,000 (2002).

It is located on Brunswick Peninsula, 1418 km from the coast of Antarctica.

Get in

There is an international airport on the outskirts of the city with numerous connections to Puerto Montt and Santiago. Planes are met by taxis and transfer buses making it easy to transfer to the town centre.

Buses leave daily to Puerto Natales as well as Rio Gallegos, Argentina.

Get around

The town is accessible by foot.

See

  • Port area.
  • Regional Museum, with historical artifacts and part of the Braun-Menendez Mansion
  • Museo del Recuerdo, with an outstanding collection of old steam engines, horsecarts, cars, historic houses furnished in the 1875s style and farm implements.
  • Maggiorino Borgatello Museum, a Salesian Society museum of natural history and pre-Hispanic ethnic groups.
  • Punta Arenas Cemetery, dates back to 1840's, with many English and Croatian graves.
  • Out of town:

  • The '''penguin colony''' "Seno Otway" north of Punta Arenas is a place where each spring hundreds of Magellanic Penguins come home to their birth place to breed. Many travel agencies offer day trips from Punta Arenas that leave you very little time at the colony, so it's best if you have your own car.
  • Rey Jorge Island Natural Sea Park (whale observation).
  • Torres del Paine National Park, near Puerto Natales.
  • Seno Skyring
  • Puerto Hambre, an early Spanish colony which failed and under the name of Port Famine became a Royal Navy base. It was here that Captain Pringle Stokes, the captain of HMS Beagle, shot himself in his cabin due to severe depression and temporary command was given to Lieutenant W.G. Skyring.
  • Fauna Patagonica "Estancia Lolita". A beautiful place for watching different species of native animals and birds.
  • Do

    Ski, Torres del Paine Trekking, visit Porvenir (by ferry) or Puerto Natales (by bus or ferry)

    Buy

    There_fs a small open market ("feria") for tourist type merchandise downtown. You can find department stores, supermarkets and lots of shops (like Timberland, or The North face) in Bories Steet too. There is a large outlet mall in the outskirts of the city, called "Zona Franca", with hypermarkets, perfume, clothing and outdoor stores, all with very convenient prices. Recently opened, also in the outskirts of the city, Mall Espacio Urbano Pionero (Pioneer Urban Space Mall) offers 3 department stores (Falabella, Ripley and La Polar), food court, shopping stores and "Lider" hypermarket.

    Addresses:

    '''Open Market:''' Munoz Gamero Main Square, Downtown.

    '''Commerce:''' Bories St, Downtown.

    '''Zona Franca Outlet Mall:''' Km 3 1/2 Norte, Bulnes Av.

    '''Espacio Urbano Pionero Mall:''' 01110, Eduardo Frei Av.

    Eat

    '''Dino's Pizza:''' Locally famous pizza and sandwich restaurant. Try the delicious ruibarb juice or a "Barros Luco" (a beef and cheese sandwich).

    Address: 557, Bories St.

    '''Kiosko Roca:''' A very small place near the Main Square. Here you can eat "choripanes", a small sandwich filled with chorizo paste and home-made mayonnaise and "leche con platano" a milk beverage with the addition of bananas. The food is so good that the place is full almost all day.

    Address: Presidente Julio Roca Blvd. with Lautaro Navarro Street

    '''La luna (The moon):''' Special Cuisine made with fresh regional products. Its specialties are seafood and lamb.

    Address: 1017, O'Higgins St.

    '''Puerto Viejo Seafood and Grill''': Fresh and savory food focusing on fish and seafood, and a variety of grill dishes that includes the famous Magellian lamb.

    Address: 1166, O'Higgins St.

    '''Hotel Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn Hotel) Bar/Lounge & Restaurant:''' In the bar, try the famous Chilean wine, while you enjoy the warmth of a fireplace. In the restaurant, you will find the best local products prepared with the greatest delicacy. Or, if you prefer, you can enjoy international cuisine of the highest level, prepared with variations each day to create a superb and ample menu designed to satisfy the most demanding palate.

    Address: 1039, Munoz Gamero Square (Main Square St.)

    '''El Remezon Restaurant:''' Magellian Ethnic Food in a warm environment.

    Address: 1469, 21 de mayo St.

    The city is also known for the number of Cafes that you can find, for example:

    '''Cyrano Cafe:''' Enjoy a faboulous "Twinnings" teapot or one of its varieties of coffee or chocolate drinks with some local pastries.

    Address: Bulnes St. with Maipu St.

    '''Santo Remedio:''' Local Pastries. It becomes a pub in the evening, with good "tablas" and "picoteos".

    Address: 040, Bulnes St.

    Drink

    '''Kamikaze Club and Madero Pub''' : Japanese WWII-themed nightclub may be unusual but makes for an entertaining evening. Mixture of Western / Latin and Reggaton music, played into the early hours and attended by enthusiastic locals and tourists alike. Entry includes free drink but a bit pricey at 6,000 pesos at the weekend. On top of it, you can find the "Madero Pub", with karaoke and live music.

    Address: 655, Bories St.

    '''Bull Blood''': Nice environment, with great drinks and food. It has a small dance hall and karaoke all night.

    Address: 0480, Espana Av.

    '''Olijoe Pub''': A traditional local venue, it has a big bar made of wood from the signature regional tree called "lenga".

    Address: 970, Errazuriz St.

    '''1900 Pub''': In the centre of the city, its a small place nearby the Tierra Del Fuego Hotel.

    Address: Bulnes St. and Colon Av.

    '''Santino Bar e Cucina''': With a stunning decor, it offers quality Italian food and good drinks. Live Music on Saturdays.

    Address: 657, Colon Av.

    Sleep

    There is an abundance of cheap hospedajes in Punta Arenas, so you never have to worry about accommodation.

  • '''Hostal Patagonico''' [http://www.hostalpatagonico.com] is a familiar place for lodging. It has 5 rooms with private bathrooms. It is very quiet place. Its is placed near to Hypermarket, restaurant, Zona Franca, hospitals, videoclubs. All buses and taxis are very near. The manager is very friendly with the tourist and he helps and answers questions about Punta Arenas, city.
  • '''Hostal Maria Isabel''', cnr Errazuriz and Senoret, Tel 228926/228553, dorms only (doubles in Arauco 1066), central location, kitchen access, free internet, lots of warm water. A friendly, well-heated place.
  • '''Hospedaje Costanera''', cnr Quillota and Romulo Correa 1221, Tel +56-61-240175, eMail hospedajecostanera(at)hotmail.com, english spoken, breakfast included, kitchen access, free internet, lots of warm water, 10 min walk from bus station, laundy service. A very friendly, well-heated place. Dorm CLP 6000, Double CLP 7000.
  • Get out

    Punta Arenas is the launching point for various expeditions to (relatively) nearby Antarctica.