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 moor in this port, passengers are tendered ashore.
A US$400 million port project is in progress, intended to bring more cruise traffic to Puerto Williams and strengthen its competitiveness as an Antarctic travel hub.
Take a printable map with you.
Puerto Williams is Chile's southernmost town, with fewer than 2,500 residents.
Essentially a Chilean Armada base, the town's houses and other buildings share the same look and feel.
On Isla Navarino's southern Beagle Channel shore, Port Williams began as Puerto Luisa, founded as a radio station in 1953 before later becoming a naval base. This small, elongated and unusually shaped town offers sailing, kayaking and hiking. Compared with the rest of Chile, it is quite unique and the most populated town in the south; its shape produces varied climate and vegetation, and it is very mountainous.
If simple glacier gazing is not enough, the town has a few attractions. Martín Gusinde Anthropological Museum exhibits cover the indigenous Yamana (Yahgan) and Selknam peoples who once inhabited the region. Omora Ethnobotanical Park has hiking trails, picnic spots and plenty of fierce sub-Antarctic scenery.
Nearby places
At La Virgen cascade, about 3km southeast of Puerto Williams on the main road, a medium-level hike offers an exhilarating, sweeping panorama over the Beagle Channel, Dientes de Navarino mountain range and Puerto Williams. Allow 3 hours for the round-trip.
Money
Credit Card acceptance is considerably reduced in small towns and communities, so bring cash in local Chilean peso currency to prevent unpleasant surprises. 1 USD = 712 CLP.
Staying connected
Chile's official language is Spanish.
Chile has cyber-cafes, stores that provide Internet access. The price of using the world info network varies by town: an hour online is approximately 4 dollars in Santiago and 6 dollars in Calama. Main hotels and lodging places often give guests Internet access, frequently at no extra charge.
For emergencies, use 131 for Ambulance, 132 for Fire Brigade, 133 for Carabineros (Chilean police), 135 for Drug Enforcement, 136 for Andean Mountain Rescue Squad, and 137 for Sea Rescue.
Opening Hours and
In Chile, business and trade establishments generally open to the public Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a 60 minute lunch break at 1 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mall hours are Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.