The grand, tree-lined Plaza Muñoz Gamero (also known as the Plaza de Armas) is a popular gathering place in Punta Arenas due to its historic atmosphere and close proximity to some of the city’s most important attractions. Surrounded by 19th-century baroque mansions, the plaza offers a glimpse into Punta Arenas during its heydey
Tumbling into Grey Lake (Lago Grey) in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, massive Grey Glacier is almost 100 feet (30 meters) high at its peak. An arresting backdrop of snowcapped mountains adds to the glacier’s frozen enchantment.
Inaugurated in 1894, the Punta Arenas Cemetery (Cementerio Municipal Sara Braun) is the final resting place for some of the area’s most famous historical figures. Notable families, including the Menendez-Behetys, even have their own chapels. A visit to the beautiful cypress tree-lined cemetery provides a peek into the lives of those who shaped much of Punta Arenas’ fascinating history.
Arrayanes Forest (Bosque de Arrayanes), named after the rare Arrayán trees that grow along the northern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake, is Los Arrayanes National Park's star attraction. Covering more than 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) along the Quetrihué Peninsula, it’s a picturesque spot for hiking and wildlife watching.
Situated in the popular Torres del Paine National Park, the Salto Grande Waterfall is fed by the ice-blue waters of Nordenskjöld Lake and tumbles 50 feet (15 meters) into Lake Pehoé below. Admire the Salto Grande Waterfall—one of the most impressive attractions in the park—during a beginner-friendly day hike and look out for grazing guanacos (camelids).
A few minutes west of Puerto Montt’s center, Angelmó is famous for its craft and fish markets. The colorful, bustling markets are crammed with vendors, making it a popular spot for visitors to stroll along the waterfront, browse for souvenirs, and grab a fresh seafood meal. It’s touristy but well worth a visit while in Puerto Montt.
Thickly forested with diverse trees that include the native araucaria, laced with dozens of lakes, and home to the cone-shaped Lanín Volcano, Lanín National Park is a Patagonian treasure in the Argentine state of Neuquén. Travelers flock here to enjoy some of Argentina’s best hiking, kayaking, sport fishing of salmon and trout, and camping.
When Magellan passed through his eponymous strait bound for Chile for the first time, he cruised past the tiny Magdalena Island (Isla Magdalena). Today, travelers make it a point to stop at this scenic island just northeast of Punta Arenas to explore the rocky shores and observe the huge colony of Magellanic penguins at their critical breeding site.
Comprising ancient glaciers, fjords, and icy islands, Laguna San Rafael National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Biosphere Reserve in the remote depths of Chilean Patagonia. The park's star attraction is the 30,000-year-old San Valentín glacier, which you can get close to on a Zodiac boat ride.
After hiking through Pucón’s national parks, the Termas Geométricas are the perfect place to soothe aching muscles. Part of Villarrica National Park, the naturally heated and cooled pools are shrouded by native forest interspersed by waterfalls and natural springs, and connected by red wooden walkways.
In spite of its ominous name, the Channel of Last Hope (Ultima Esperanza is a calm inlet stretching from Eberhard Fjord to Monte Balmaceda in Chilean Patagonia. The 16th-century Spanish explorer Juan Ladrillero gave it its name in the belief that navigating it was his last opportunity to reach the Strait of Magellan.
Founded in 1893 by Salesian missionaries, the Maggiorino Borgatello Salesian Museum preserves and offers insights into the cultural and environmental history of southern Chile’s Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region (also known as the Magallanes Region). It’s the third-oldest museum in the country.
One of two snow-capped volcanic cones rising above the town of Puerto Varas on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Cabulco is also one of Chile’s most active volcanoes. Cabulco has had 36 confirmed eruptions, 13 of them since 1893. While not a perfect cone like neighboring Osorno Volcano, the sight of Calbuco is equally magnificent.
Stretching over 745 miles (1,200 kilometers), Carretera Austral, Chile's legendary Southern Highway, takes travelers through unparalleled landscapes, from majestic mountains to crystal-clear lakes and dense forests. A wide range of outdoor and cultural activities make it a Patagonian dream come true for nature lovers and thrillseekers alike.
Reigning supreme over Southern Chile, the 3,500-year-old Villarrica Volcano is an active volcano home to a 1.2-mile (2-kilometer) wide crater that spurts huge clouds of smoke and vivid orange lava. At its foot is Villarrica Lake, around which several lovely towns offer stunning views of the volcano and serve as the perfect base for climbing, hiking, skiing, and watersports.
This lavish and well-preserved mansion symbolizes the wealth and power of the influential Braun-Menéndez family during Patagonia’s Golden Age. Designed by French architect Antoine Beaulier in 1903, the former residence-turned-museum is home to a collection of artifacts exploring the history and culture of the Magallanes region, as well as fine furniture, tapestries, and statues.
Presided over by the mighty Villarrica Volcano, Villarrica National Park is one of central Chile’s natural highlights. Waterfalls, caves, rivers, and forests comprise the pristine landscapes of this national park, which is also home to rare species such as pumas, red foxes, and mountain monkeys. The charming town of Pucón serves as the gateway.
The largest of the South Shetland Islands, King George Island (Isla Rey Jorge) is the first stop for many travelers making their way to Antarctica. Its scenic bays—which include Maxwell, Admiralty, and King George Bays—are home to much of the unique wildlife and scenery that draws intrepid travelers to the frozen south.
Famed for its colony of adorable Magellanic penguins, Otway Sound (Seno Otway) houses one of the most easily visited penguin preserves in the world. In September, thousands of the smallish warm-weather penguins—all of them couples—make their way to this large inland bay in southern Chile and begin building nests.
Unforgiving winds, rugged coastline, and narrow passages made the Strait of Magellan one of the most deadly channels for early explorers of South America. Luckily, modern cruise ship technology means today’s travelers can safely cross the strait for a scenic voyage past rocky fjords, forested islands, and glaciers that spill into the sea.
Located on the Strait of Magellan, near the southern tip of Chile, Punta Arenas is a port of call for South American cruises and a departure point for Antarctica expeditions. Punta Arenas is best known as the gateway to southern Patagonia including Torres del Paine National Park and El Chalten and its proximity to the penguin colony at Isla Magdalena.
Founded by German colonists in 1853, the Chilean port city of Puerto Montt serves as the gateway to the Andes Mountains and Patagonia fjords. The city's architecture, culture, and cuisine are strongly influenced by its German past. The region’s lakes, mountains, and volcanoes offer endless activities for the outdoor adventure traveler.
One of Chiloé’s 16 UNESCO-listed churches, the Church of San Francisco (Iglesia San Francisco de Castro) is a neo-Gothic gem designed by the Italian architect Eduardo Provasoli and built by local carpenters. Painted a sunny yellow with violet trim, the pleasing structure is a highlight of Castro’s Plaza de Armas.
While rainforests usually conjure images of high humidity and tropical temperatures, Parque Aiken del Sur is one of one of the world’s coldest jungles. This protected reserve features more than 617 acres (250 hectares) of walking trails, which lead you through dense forests to rivers and waterfalls, which flow with water from melted glaciers.
The Villarrica Volcanic Caves, sometimes called the House of Devil, snake hundreds of yards into the side of the Villarrica Volcano, Chile’s most active volcano. Take a trek into the caves, which are the hardened remains of historic lava flows, and enjoy the mountaintop scenery.
The Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Gracia de Nercón (Church of Nercón) is one of the 16 Churches of Chiloé that are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as a Chilean National Monument. This church stands out for its unique features, which include a sculpture of St. Michael with a demon at his feet, carved from a single piece of wood.
Nature lovers in search of some of Chile's most prized birds love the natural wonder of Tres Puentes Wetland (Humedal Tres Puentes). More than 60 species of birds—including the Chiloé wigeon, white-tufted grebe, and the bubblegum-pink Chilean flamingo—reside in this unexpected gem located on the northern outskirts of Punta Arenas.
The islands of Chiloé are filled with historical treasures, but the Museo de Arte Moderno Chiloé (MAM) offers an alternative view of cultural life in the archipelago. As Chiloé Island’s only contemporary art museum, its mission is to promote and preserve contemporary art by hosting rotating exhibitions of Chilean and international art and by supporting artists through residencies.
Discover Chiloé’s wild side at Tantauco Park (Parque Tantauco) in the far south of the archipelago’s Greater Island of Chiloé (Isla Grande de Chiloé). It’s located at what’s considered the northern border of Chilean Patagonia. Thanks to the remarkable biodiversity of its Valdivian temperate rainforest, the park is a top ecotourism destination.
