Tours and Tickets to Experience Punta Arenas Cruise Port

Punta Arenas Cruise Port is 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) northeast of the city center of Punta Arenas. The long jetty uses tenders (smaller boats that transport you to the shore from your cruise ship). Upon arrival, you’ll find yourself right in the midst of Punta Arena’s compact center.

Yes, there are plenty of shore excursions available from Punta Arenas Cruise Port. You can take a sightseeing tour of the Patagonian city, which is home to a charming cathedral and historic center. Another popular option is admiring the penguin colony on Magdalena Island, which is a short boat ride away via the Magellan Strait.

There is no cruise terminal at Punta Arenas, so you won’t find any shopping or dining options until you reach the town center. Prepare yourself for a cold and windy disembarkation by wrapping up in warm clothing. In the town, you’ll find restaurants serving hearty Patagonian dishes such as grilled trout.

There are plenty of accommodation options near Punta Arenas Cruise Port in the center of the city. These range from luxurious 4–5-star hotels with spas to more budget-friendly guesthouse options. You can also find backpacker accommodations with shared dormitories for travelers on a shoestring budget.

The official currency of Chile is the Chilean peso (CLP), which you can withdraw from ATMs in Punta Arenas. However, US dollars and credit and debit cards are sometimes accepted in Chile, though you might get a worse exchange rate if you pay in dollars and receive change in Chilean pesos.

The best things to do near Punta Arenas Cruise Port include exploring cultural and historical highlights such as Fort Bulnes (Fuerte Bulnes), which overlooks the Strait of Magellan, and tracing the region's maritime history at the Nao Victoria Museum (Museo Nao Victoria). You can also wander the tree-lined Plaza Muñoz Gamero (also known as the Plaza de Armas).