Making the most of Puerto Williams
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
As ships are moored in this port, you will be tendered ashore.
A US$400 million port project is under way that will open Puerto Williams up for more cruise ship traffic, making it a more competitive Antarctic travel hub.
Printable map to take along.
Puerto Williams, the southernmost town of Chile with a population of less than 2,500 residents.
The town is basically a base for the Chilean Armada so the houses etc all have the same look and feel.
Port Williams is located on Isla Navarino along the southern shore of the Beagle Channel. Puerto Williams, originally known as Puerto Luisa was founded as a radio station in 1953 and then later developed into a naval base. It is a small town that offers sailing, kayaking, and hiking. Port Williams is the most populated town in the south of Chile. It is elongated in shape and quite unique in comparison to the rest of Chile. This unique shape allows for a varied climate and vegetation. Port Williams is a very mountainous town.
There are a few attractions in town if simple glacier gazing isn’t enough. Check out the Martín Gusinde Anthropological Museum, with exhibits about the indigenous Yamana (Yahgan) and Selknam peoples who once inhabited the region, and Omora Ethnobotanical Park, with hiking trails, picnic spots, and plenty of fierce, sub-Antarctic scenery.
Nearby places
About 3km southeast of Puerto Williams on the main road, at the La Virgen cascade, is a medium-level hiking trail with an exhilarating, sweeping panorama of the Beagle Channel, the Dientes de Navarino mountain range, and Puerto Williams. The hike takes 3 hours round-trip.
Money
Credit Card acceptance is considerably reduced in small towns and communities, for which reason when visiting these it is recommended you take with you cash in local currency: the Chilean peso. 1 USD = 712 CLP. This will prevent any unpleasant surprises.
Staying connected
Spanish is Chile's official language
Chile has so-called cyber-cafes, stores offering Internet access. The cost of accessing the world info network varies from town to town. In Santiago, an hour online costs 4 dollars, while in Calama it costs 6 dollars, approximately. On the other hand, the main hotels and lodging places frequently offer Internet access to their guests, in many instances at no extra charge.
Ambulance service: 131 Fire Brigade: 132 Carabineros (Chilean police): 133 Drug Enforcement: 135 Andean Mountain Rescue Squad: 136 Sea Rescue: 137
Opening Hours and
Business and trade establishments in Chile are generally open to the public from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a 60 minute lunch break at 1 p.m. Saturday timetable is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In malls, the timetable is Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.