Things to do in Punta Arenas
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Isla Magdalena
Isla Magdalena has thriving Magellanic penguin colonies. Five-hour tours on the Melinka ferry land for an hour at the island and depart the port on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from December through February. Confirm times in advance. Book tickets through Turismo Comapa ([tel] 200-200; www.comapa.com; Magallanes 990) and bring a picnic.
reviewed
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La Luna
This local favorite, known for fresh seafood dishes and a lively, colorful atmosphere, is becoming a little too touristy – but non-Spanish-speaking travelers will appreciate the multilingual staff when trying to decide between scallops stewed in garlicky sauce and chupe de centolla (crab casserole).
reviewed
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La Marmita
Unbeatable for its ambience as well as its tasty fare, Marmita has fresh salads and hearty, home-cooked creations.
reviewed
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Cementerio Municipal
Among South America’s most fascinating cemeteries, Cementerio Municipal contains a mix of humble immigrant graves and flashy tombs under topiary cypresses. In death as in life, Punta Arenas’ first families flaunted their wealth – wool baron José Menéndez’ extravagant tomb is, according to Bruce Chatwin, a scale replica of Rome’s Vittorio Emanuele monument. But the headstones also tell the stories of Anglo, German, Scandinavian and Yugoslav immigrants. There’s also a monument to the Selk’nam (Ona) and a map posted inside the main entrance gate.
reviewed
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Torres del Paine Circuit
14 days (Punta Arenas)
A classic trek around the dramatic Towers of Paine.
Not LP reviewed
from USD$3,560 -
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Museo Regional Braun-Menéndez
This opulent mansion testifies to the wealth and power of pioneer sheep farmers in the late 19th century. One of Mauricio Braun’s sons donated the house to the state against other family members’ wishes. The well-maintained interior is divided into two sections: one half is a regional historical museum (booklets with English descriptions are available); the other half displays the original exquisite French-nouveau family furnishings, from intricate wooden inlaid floors to Chinese vases.
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Turismo Comapa
If you have the time, a more atmospheric alternative to Seno Otway is the thriving Magellanic penguin colonies of Monumento Natural Los Pingüinos on Isla Magdalena. Five-hour tours on the Barcaza Melinka (adult/child CH$25,000) land for an hour at the island and depart the port on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, December through February. Confirm times in advance. Book tickets through Turismo Comapa and bring a picnic.
reviewed
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Castillo Milward
Fans of Bruce Chatwin's famous travel memoir In Patagonia will want to check out Charley Milward's house, known as Castillo Milward (Milward's Castle). This is the house belonging to Chatwin's enigmatic relative who originally inspired the writer to journey to Patagonia. Explorer Ernest Shackleton also stayed here in 1914 while planning to rescue the crew of the Endurance, which was crushed by ice in Antarctica.
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Palacio Mauricio Braun
This opulent mansion houses a museum that testifies to the wealth and power of pioneer sheep farmers in the late 19th century. One of Mauricio Braun's sons donated the house to the state, against other family members' wishes. Divided into sections, one part is a regional historical display, while the other displays the family's original French nouveau furnishings and details, from intricate wooden inlay floors to Chinese vases.
reviewed
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Museo Naval Y Marítimo
Punta Arenas’ naval and maritime museum has varied exhibits on model ships, naval history, the unprecedented visit of 27 US warships to Punta Arenas in 1908, and a fine account of the Chilean mission that rescued British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s crew from Antarctica. The most imaginative display is a replica ship complete with bridge, maps, charts and radio room.
reviewed
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Museo del Recuerdo
Pioneer days are made real again at the Patagonian Institute’s Museo del Recuerdo, part of the Universidad de Magallanes. On display are a collection of antique farm and industrial machinery, a typical pioneer house and shearing shed, and a wooden-wheeled shepherds’ trailer. The library has historical maps and a series of historical and scientific publications.
reviewed
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Instituto de la Patagonia
The Patagonian Institute houses the Museo del Recuerdo, with a collection of antique farm and industrial machinery imported from Europe, a typical pioneer house and shearing shed (both reconstructed), and a wooden-wheeled trailer that served as shelter for shepherds. The library also has a display of historical maps, and a series of historical and scientific publications.
reviewed
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Plaza Muñoz Gamero
Punta Arenas' main square, Plaza Muñoz Gamero is landscaped with exotic pine trees and surrounded by opulent mansions. Note the monument commemorating the 400th anniversary of Magellan's voyage. (Rub - or kiss - the toe of the Ona statue for luck.) Facing the north side of the plaza is the Club de la Unión, the former Sara Braun mansion.
reviewed
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Barcaza Melinka Tours
Five-hour tours on the Barcaza Melinka land for an hour at the thriving Magellanic penguin colonies on Isla Magdalena. They depart from the port on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from December through February. Book tickets through Turismo Comapa at Magallanes 990 and bring a picnic - snacks on the ferry leave something to be desired.
reviewed
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Mirador Cerro la Cruz
Worth the few minutes' walk from the plaza and up a series of steps is Mirador Cerro la Cruz, a lookout over the city and the water. It's a great place to shoot some photos, as the view takes in the city's wide streets and tall buildings (there are at least one or two), with the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego in the distance.
reviewed
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Museo Regional Salesiano
Especially influential in settling the region, the Salesian order collected outstanding ethnographic artifacts, but their museum touts their role as peacemakers between the Yaghan and Ona and settlers. The best materials are on indigenous groups and the mountaineer priest Alberto de Agostini.
reviewed
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La Taberna
This dark and elegant subterranean bar, with polished wood fixtures and cozy nooks reminiscent of an old-fashioned ship, is a classic old-boys’ club. The rooms fill with cigar smoke later in the evening, but the opportunity to sip pisco sours in the classy Sara Braun Mansion shouldn’t be missed.
reviewed
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Zona Franca
The duty-free zone is a large, polished conglomeration of shops that is worth checking out if you’re looking for electronics, outdoor gear, computer accessories or camera equipment. Colectivos (shared taxis) shuttle back and forth from downtown along Av Bulnes throughout the day.
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Bories
Punta Arenas is a great place to shop and stock up on everything, from electronics to hiking and camping gear. Bories is the main clothes shopping strip, with stores that sell casual street clothes and hardcore expedition gear. Some of the stores can be rather expensive.
reviewed
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Monumento Natural Los Pingüinos
One of two Magellanic penguin colonies near Punta Arenas, Monumento Natural Los Pingüinos has about 50,000 breeding pairs and is accessible only by boat to Isla Magdalena in the Strait of Magellan. Admission to the island is included in the price of the ferry trip.
reviewed
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Damiana Elena
This elegant restaurant is located in a romantic old house, off the beaten path in a residential neighborhood. The detour is worth it for the warm, sophisticated ambience and first-rate Chilean cuisine: highlights include the salmon ceviche and the grilled tilapia.
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Club de la Unión
Facing the north side of the Plaza Muñoz Gamero is the Club de la Unión, the former Sara Braun mansion, some rooms of which are open for public visits.
Just east is the former Sociedad Menéndez Behety, now housing the Turismo Comapa offices.
reviewed
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Ski Club Andino
Ski Club Andino runs a quaint restaurant at the Reserva Forestal Magallanes chairlift and rents ski equipment. It is skiing - and therefore better than nothing - but not the kind of terrain that would warrant a specific ski trip to Punta Arenas.
reviewed
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Remezón
Take a cue from locals and start with a tart pisco sour. Then dive into the chef’s game and seafood innovations: oysters and clams au gratin in their shells or salmon smoked with black tea, to name a few. Service is unpretentious and welcoming.
reviewed
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Sabores
Lacking pretension, this cozy second-story restaurant serves up hearty Chilean fare, grilled fish, pasta and seafood stews to a full house. Skip the house wine but don’t miss the machas a la parmesana (razor clams baked in parmesan.)
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