Making the most of Punta Arenas
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
Large ships anchor offshore and tender to Puerto del Estrecho's pier in the city centre; smaller ships can dock directly.
Punta Arenas' downtown is approximately 1-2 kilometers from the port, easily reached on foot or by a short taxi ride.
A printable map is available to take with you.
For an introduction to Punta Arenas, head to the Cerro La Cruz promontory for breathtaking views over orderly streets, colourful tin roofs and the strait beyond.
Punta Arenas' central Plaza Muñoz Gamero is a great starting point, with a statue of Ferdinand Magellan and historic buildings around it.
Notable attractions include the Museo Salesiano de Mayonino Borgatello, established by an order of Italian missionaries, and the Centro Cultural Braun-Menendèz in the mansion of one of the city's most prosperous families. The museum gives an extraordinary, eclectic introduction to virtually every aspect of the region, through a collection amassed by the missionaries on extensive local travels and made up of all sorts of artefacts, from ceramics to rare animal species. The Centro Cultural is just as engaging, giving an intimate glimpse into the life of a prosperous Punto Arenas…
Founded where forest meets steppe, Punta Arenas has 110,000 people, is capital of the Magellanic and Antarctic Region XII, and is Patagonia's most important city.
Getting around
Downtown Punta Arenas is compact enough for walking, while plentiful taxis can be hailed in the street. Travel anywhere within city limits costs no more than $9; always agree the fare with the driver before entering the car.
Punta Arenas makes an easy day-trip base for the pinguineros, the nearby penguin settlements, and Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, the perfect introduction to Chilean Antarctica.
Nearby places
This is the departure point for many Antarctica tours. Operators offer conventional city tours and penguin-colony trips, along with short visits and multiday, all-inclusive trekking excursions in Torres del Paine National Park.
Food and shopping
Shops line the main downtown streets, especially Magallanes, which runs beside Plaza Munoz Gamero in the town centre. On port days, weather permitting, locals sell their wares at a craft fair in the Plaza. Zona Franca, a duty-free shopping area, is on Av. Manuel Bulnes at the town's northern edge near Museo Del Recuerdo.
Money
Credit Card acceptance is considerably lower in small towns and communities, so take cash in the local Chilean peso when visiting them. 1 USD = 712 CLP. This can prevent unpleasant surprises.
Staying connected
Chile's official language is Spanish.
Punta Arenas' cruise terminal has several computer stations, costing from $1 to $2 for 30 minutes depending on the time of day.
131 is Ambulance service; 132, Fire Brigade; 133, Carabineros (Chilean police); 135, Drug Enforcement; 136, Andean Mountain Rescue Squad; and 137, Sea Rescue.
Opening Hours and
From 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., business and trade establishments in Chile generally open to the public Monday through Friday, with a 60 minute lunch break at 1 p.m. Saturday's timetable is 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., while malls operate Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.