Centro
Everything on footAround the Plaza Muñoz Gamero, with hostels, restaurants and tour offices.
City guide
Things to do in Punta Arenas
A windswept city on the Strait of Magellan, with grand wool-boom mansions, penguin colonies offshore and the end of the continent within reach. The gateway to Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Antarctica.
13
Hostels in the city
8.8
Average, from 5,177 reviews
2
Days to do it properly
Where the continent runs out
Punta Arenas is the largest city in southern Patagonia, facing Tierra del Fuego across the Strait of Magellan, the sea passage Ferdinand Magellan sailed through in 1520. Before the Panama Canal opened, ships passing between the Atlantic and Pacific stopped here, and the sheep-farming fortunes of the late 19th century built the mansions around the Plaza Muñoz Gamero and the remarkable cemetery.
Most travellers pass through on the way to Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine, but Punta Arenas deserves a couple of days of its own. Boats run to Isla Magdalena, home to tens of thousands of Magellanic penguins in summer, and further afield, a colony of king penguins lives on the shores of Tierra del Fuego. Fuerte Bulnes, a reconstructed fort to the south, stands near the end of the road on the mainland.
It is also the main departure point for flights and cruises to Antarctica. Give it two days, ideally in the penguin season, roughly October to March.
Where to base yourself
Stay in the centre, within walking distance of the Plaza Muñoz Gamero, the waterfront and the bus offices.
Waterfront
Views of the straitAlong the Costanera, close to the centre.
Near the cemetery
Quiet, residentialNorth of the centre, quieter and a short walk from the cemetery.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 5 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Punta Arenas
Isla Magdalena, a protected island in the strait, is home to a huge colony of Magellanic penguins from around October to March. Boat trips take you there for an hour among the burrows, weather permitting, as the strait can be rough and trips are often cancelled in strong wind. For king penguins, a long day trip crosses to Tierra del Fuego to the Parque Pingüino Rey colony at Bahía Inútil.
In the city, the Plaza Muñoz Gamero has the statue of Magellan, where touching the toe of the Indigenous figure at its base is said to guarantee your return. The Palacio Sara Braun and the regional museum in the Braun-Menéndez mansion show off the wool-boom wealth, and the Cementerio Municipal, with its cypress avenues and grand family tombs, is one of the most beautiful in South America.
The Nao Victoria museum has full-size replicas of Magellan's ship and other historic vessels, and Fuerte Bulnes, around 60km south, is a reconstructed 19th-century fort with views over the strait. In season, whale-watching trips visit the Francisco Coloane marine park.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The Cementerio Municipal is free and one of the city's highlights. The Plaza Muñoz Gamero, with its Magellan statue and mansions, and the waterfront along the strait are free to explore.
The Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint, up a stairway from the centre, gives a view over the city's colourful roofs to the strait and Tierra del Fuego.
Walk along the coastal road at sunset, but bring a windproof jacket: the wind off the strait is legendary.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Southern seafood is the speciality. King crab, or centolla, is served in many forms, from crab gratin to chowder, and the region's lamb, roasted on a cross over a fire, is a must.
Punta Arenas has its own long-established brewery, and craft beer is popular. Calafate berries flavour sours, ice cream and jams.
Restaurants range from fine dining in the old mansions to simple places serving set lunches, the best value meal. The city's duty-free zone, the Zona Franca, has supermarkets too.
Nightlife
Going out
Punta Arenas has a relaxed nightlife, with pubs, cocktail bars and breweries in the centre, busiest at weekends.
The city's bars are cosy places to escape the wind, and some have live music. Long summer evenings, with sunsets after 10pm in December, mean nights stretch out.
Most travellers keep it low-key before an early boat or bus.
Getting around
Getting around
The centre is walkable. Colectivos and taxis are cheap for further trips, and tours provide transport to the penguins and Fuerte Bulnes.
The airport is around 20km north of the city, with flights from Santiago, Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales, and the departure point for flights to Antarctica. Buses run to Puerto Natales, around three hours, and to Ushuaia and Río Gallegos in Argentina.
A ferry crosses the strait to Porvenir in Tierra del Fuego, and the shorter crossing at Primera Angostura links the road to Ushuaia.
Costs
What Punta Arenas costs
Punta Arenas is cheaper than Puerto Natales but expensive by Chilean standards. Dorm beds run from around €10 to €20.
Penguin tours are the main extra, with the king penguin trip to Tierra del Fuego much pricier than Isla Magdalena. Antarctica trips are a different scale of cost altogether.
Cards are widely accepted. The Zona Franca has duty-free shopping for outdoor gear and electronics.
Safety
Safety and scams
Punta Arenas is one of the safest cities in Chile. Take normal care with belongings at night and at the bus offices.
The wind is the biggest hazard: gusts can be strong enough to knock you over, especially near the waterfront in spring and summer. Hold on to railings and doors.
Boat trips are often cancelled in strong wind, so allow a spare day if the penguins are important to you. In an emergency, call 133 for police or 131 for an ambulance.
Worth leaving the city for
Penguins, forts and the end of the continent.
Fuerte Bulnes
A reconstructed fort at the southern tip of the mainland road.
Puerto Natales
The gateway to Torres del Paine.
What's on
What is on while you are there
The penguin season and the Patagonian winter festival.
October to March
Penguin season
Isla Magdalena
When the Magellanic penguins nest on the island.
July
Carnaval de Invierno
Punta Arenas
A winter carnival with parades and fireworks.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Punta Arenas, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
October to March is the season, with long days and penguins on Isla Magdalena. Winter is cold, dark and quiet, with some trips not running.
Jan
Summer, penguins, long days
Feb
Summer, penguins
Mar
Autumn begins, penguins leaving
Apr
Cooler, quieter
May
Winter approaching
Jun
Shortest days
Jul
Winter festival
Aug
Cold and quiet
Sep
Spring
Oct
Penguins arrive
Nov
Long days, good weather
Dec
Summer, very late sunsets
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Wind is constant, strongest in spring and summer.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Punta Arenas prices.
Treat these as a guide. Penguin tours and Antarctica trips cost extra.
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Punta Arenas questions
The ones we get asked most.
When can I see penguins in Punta Arenas?
Roughly October to March on Isla Magdalena. Boat trips depend on the weather and are often cancelled in strong wind.
Can I see king penguins near Punta Arenas?
Yes, at Parque Pingüino Rey on Tierra del Fuego, a long day trip including a ferry or a drive via Primera Angostura.
How many days do you need in Punta Arenas?
Two: one for the city and one for the penguins, plus a spare day in case boats are cancelled.
How do I get from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales?
By bus, around three hours, with several departures a day.
Can I go to Antarctica from Punta Arenas?
Yes. Flights and some cruises leave from Punta Arenas, though trips are expensive.
Is Punta Arenas worth visiting?
Yes, for the penguins, the history and the cemetery, ideally for a couple of days on the way to Torres del Paine.
Is Punta Arenas windy?
Very, especially in spring and summer. Bring a windproof jacket.
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