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| Punta Arenas | ||
| region | Magallanes y Antártica Chilena | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 123.403 (2017) | |
| height | 34 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Punta Arenas is extreme south Chile and is the capital of Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena. With 130,000 inhabitants, it is the southernmost city on earth.
The city is located on the Brunswick Peninsula, the southernmost mainland part of South America, on the west coast of the Strait of Magellan and is the most important commercial center of southern Patagonia, and it is also one of the starting points for Antarctic and to the Falkland Islands.
background
In 1843 the fortress was opened Fuerte Bulnes founded on the Brunswick Peninsula. But it was given up in 1848 and the population moved to today's Punta Arenas. It grew into an important base for international shipping, especially towards the end of the 19th century, until the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 reduced its importance somewhat.
getting there
By plane
Punta Arenas is an important air hub. The something outside in Bahia Catalina located airport 1 Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo is (with LAN and Silversky) from Santiago de Chile, Puerto Montt, Puerto Natales, Balmaceda (at Coyhaique) and (with the small airline DAP) Puerto Williams and Porvenir in Chile, Río Gallegos and Ushuaia in Argentina as well Stanley served in the Falkland Islands. There are also charter flights to smaller cities in the region.
By bus
There are bus connections to various regions in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. The routes to Puerto Natales to the Torres del Paine and to Ushuaia are particularly popular with travelers. Different companies compete on the routes. On the international routes mostly Chilean and Argentinian. To Puerto Natales, travel time 2-3 hours, there are several connections during the day, which often stop at the airport. To Ushuaia there are both direct connections and those via Rio Grande on Tierra del Fuego. These start in the morning and take the ferry across the Strait of Magellan at Punta Espora, the passengers have to get off. The border crossing near San Sebastian is only open during the day, which is why there are no night buses. The travel time Punta Arenas - Ushuaia is around 15 hours.
By boat
In the main season there is a ferry to and from once a week, otherwise about 1-2 times a month Puerto Williams (Travel time approx. 72 hours each). Once a day (except Monday) there is a connection to the 20 km away Porvenir.
In the street
From Argentina you can reach Punta Arenas via the Ruta Nacional 3which runs along the Strait of Magellan after the border crossing.
From Puerto Natales Punta Arenas can be reached from by road.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
- 1 Museo Naval y Marítimo. Here you can learn about the history of the city and the seafarers who passed by.
- 2 Museo Maggiorino Borgatello. Shows the story of the Salesian monk in Southern Patagonia.
- 3 Museo del Recuerdo, Av. Bulnes, km 4. Local history museum with old machines and other objects from the Wilhelminian era.
- 4 "Sara Braun" cemetery, Bulnes 29. With magnificent mausoleums from the early 20th century. In the cemetery there is a memorial stone in memory of Count Spee.
- 5 Museo Nao Victoria. In the museum there is a replica of the Nao Victoria, she was the first ship to explore this region.
- 6 Parque María Behety. With picnic and in winter ice skating.
- 7 Regional Museum of Magallanes, Magallanes 949. Tel.: 56 61 224 2049, Email: [email protected]. Located in an old manorial residence.
- Patagonia Museum
- 8 Hernando de Magellanes Monument
activities
- Ascent of the 9 Cerro La Cruz. From there you have a beautiful view of the city and the harbor.
- Winter sports on 1 Monte Fenton in the Reserva Nacional Magallanes.
- Multi-day hike to the Cabo Froward. Wild river crossings in totally remote and partly pathless nature lead to the Cruz de los Mares, which marks the southernmost point of mainland South America. There is information e.g. in the Hospedaje Independecia or in the English language Cabo_Froward article.
shop
- Zona Franca, north and outside of the city center. Large shopping area with various shops and a large shopping arcade. There is electronics, outdoors, groceries, spirits, clothing and jewelry here. Due to the elimination of taxes, many (but by far not all) items are cheaper here than in the city center.
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
- Hospedaje Independencia, Avenida Independencia 374. Very friendly owner, but tight hostel with a simple kitchen (wood stove). Wifi and laptops are available for use. Eduardo is very helpful with tour planning (e.g. Cabo Froward). Sheltered camping in the yard ($ 5,000 p.p.), or bed and breakfast in a hostel ($ 9,000 p.p.). In the low season without breakfast ($ 8,000 p.p.).
- Hospedaje Magallanes
trips
- Fuerte Bulnes. The fortress, founded in 1843, is the southernmost settlement on the South American mainland and was built almost entirely of wood. Admission is free. Two kilometers to the north are the ruins of Puerto del Hambre (Port of Hunger), the first short-lived settlement in the region, which was established in 1584. The place got its name from the fact that all but one survivor died of starvation. The navigator Thomas Cavendish tracked down the survivors in 1587 and named the place Port Famine. Today there are ruins that are difficult to see.
- Alberto de Agostini National Park. This extremely remote national park can only be reached by sea and comprises several hundred islands southwest of the mainland. The travel agency Arka Patagonia (Manuel Señoret 1597, Tel: 248167) offers the tour.
- Penguin colony, at Otway Sound. North of Punta Arenas, a road branches off from Ruta 9 to the penguin colony. The colony comprises around 60,000 Magellanic penguins who come to their colony from October to March to breed and raise their young. Various operators also offer tours from Punta Arenas (duration approx. 4 hours, e.g. at Patagonia Tours).
literature
Web links
- http://www.puntaarenas.cl/ - Official website of Punta Arenas
- https://southtraveler.de/punta-arenas-meine-tipps-fuer-die-suedlichste-grossstadt-der-welt/
