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Why Punta Arenas?
Punta Arenas is one of the southernmost cities on earth. Situated at about 54 degrees south, only Ushuaia in Argentina is further south. Prior to full activation of the Puerto Natales airport located approximately 3 hours to the north, Punta Arenas was the main gateway for visitors wanting to explore Torres del Paine and environs. For those with limited time, the quickest way to reach Torres del Paine is now to fly into Puerto Natales. However, for visitors wanting to see some of southern Patagonia’s unique and magnificent marine life, a stay in Punta Arenas is essential with Chile’s first protected marine environment on the Brunswick Peninsula located just 75 km to the south. Punta Arenas is also the jumping off point for two other magnificent wilderness areas, Antarctica (flights from/to King George Island offered from here) and Tierra del Fuego (you can take a ferry or short scenic flight to the great Land of Fire).
History
The City straddles the Strait of Magellan and was founded in 1849 to reinforce Chilean sovereignty over this important trade route. At first, its prosperity rose and fell with that trade: rising with the California Gold Rush and falling with the opening of the Panama Canal. Later, at the beginning of the twentieth century, the city reached even greater prosperity as the centre of Chile’s international wool trade. During this time, there was a catastrophic decline in the indigenous population, namely the Onas and Yaganes.
Today it is an important trading centre for wool ands, mutton, timber and fish and the supply centre for the oil industry on the nearby archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. Population in 2023 was just over 140,000.
Marine Life
Discovered in 1520 by the Portuguese navigator Hernando de Magallanes, the Strait of Magellan curves from east to west between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is 583 kms long an its width varies from 3 kms to 40 kms. This strait gained importance because of its strategic location as an international shipping route. Today its importance also lies in its history and marine life with the creation of Chile’s first protected marine environment, the Francisco Coloane Marine Park.
Located 75 km south of Punta Arenas, the area is home to a great diversity of species and habitat including sub-antarctic native beech forests, peat bogs, alpine zones and valleys formed by glaciers. Its rivers, lakes and seas are home to humpback whales, Chilean and peale dolphins, penguins, sea lions and a vast variety of sea birds. Whales can be seen here between December and March.
Explore
The city itself can be explored on foot, the Plaza de Armas is a good place to start with the Club de la Union and mansions with turrets, beautiful roofs, glassed-in sunrooms and well kept gardens with huge araucaria trees (monkey puzzle trees). The Plaza itself is full of huge, old trees and in the centre is the Monumento a Hernando de Magallanes. Note that the toes of one of the bronze Indians is polished and shiny. Local legend states that everyone who touches these toes will return to Punta Arenas someday, making the statue a favourite with tourists and local inhabitants alike.
Punta Arenas is the gateway to some diverse activities and experiences. It has a domestic airport served by a number of airline carriers with regular flights to Santiago and other parts of Chile. There is also a regular bus service to Puerto Natales further north, the jumping off point for Torres del Paine and where onward buses to el Calafate can be met.
It is the gateway to the Francisco Coloane Marine Park and Magdalena Island where, at certain times of the year, it is possible to join boat explorations into the Straits of Magellan to observe whales, penguins and other marine life.
It is also possible to take a ferry or fly to the fascinating archipelago of Tierra del Fuego to see king penguins (year round) and explore the colossal, astonishing landscapes. You can join a comfortable 4-night cruise to Ushuaia via the mythical Cape Horn, a chance to explore hidden Patagonia in splendid isolation. And for a truly once in a lifetime adventure, why not combine Patagonia with Antarctica (flights to the great white continent are offered from Punta Arenas by some operators)
Fact
If seeing penguins in the wild is on your Patagonia wish list you will need to include Punta Arenas in your itinerary. There are a couple of options; the closest is Magdalena Island reached by boarding a boat a short distance into the Straits of Magellan. This protected area holds a huge Magellanic Penguin Colony of more than 120,000 individual birds. Besides the penguins, several other species of seabirds such as the Imperial and Rock Cormorants, dolphins, kelp gulls, Chilean skua and South American tern also nest here. This trip is an excellent opportunity to observe these penguins and other Patagonian seabirds in their natural habitat and learn more about their natural history and breeding strategies.
Alternatively you can visit the smaller colony of the noble King Penguin at Useless Bay, Tierra del Fuego by either flying or taking a ferry to Tierra del Fuego.
The Gateway to Patagonia and Beyond
Venture out on a yacht, small boat or kayak into the diverse and ecologically significant Francisco Coloane Marine Park as you witness the incredible breach of a humpback whale. Visit colonies of the cute burrowing Magellanic penguins at Magdalena Island. Board a ferry to Tierra del Fuego or a luxury small boat cruise to Ushuaia via Cape Horn, known as the Sailor’s Everest. Fly to King George Island and join a small group voyage to the inimitable Antarctica