Things to do in  Punta Arenas

Reigning supreme over the Magellan Strait, Fort Bulnes (Fuerte Bulnes has been reconstructed to look exactly as it did when it was first built in the 19th century. As well as offering panoramic vistas of Punta Arenas from its watchtower, the fortress encompasses a museum that explores the colonial history of southern Chile.

The Nao Victoria Museum in Punta Arenas invites visitors to explore replicas of world-famous ships, including Magellan’s Nao Victoria, Shackleton’s James Caird lifeboat, and the HMS Beagle, which a young Darwin called home for five years. Replicas of antique weapons, sailing instruments, and important documents are also displayed.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.