Sights in Southern Patagonia
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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.
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Cueva del Milodón
In the 1890s German pioneer Hermann Eberhard discovered the partial remains of an enormous ground sloth in a cave 25km northwest of Puerto Natales. The slow-moving, herbivorous milodón, which stood nearly 4m tall, was supposedly the motivating factor behind Bruce Chatwin’s book In Patagonia. The 30m-high Cueva del Milodón pays homage to its former inhabitant with a life-size plastic replica of the animal. It’s not exactly tasteful, but still worth a stop, whether to appreciate the grand setting and ruminate over its wild past or to take an easy walk up to a lookout point. Camping (no fires) and picnicking are possible. In February the cave hosts a cinema festival.
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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.
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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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Eberhard Ranch
Surrounded by tranquil fjords and looming mountains, the original homestead and estancia in the region, Eberhard Ranch, is impossibly scenic and gives a taste of the area outside of the internationalized outdoor-sports mecca of Puerto Natales. At the ranch you can see gauchos at work. It is not a tourist show, but real work, which includes the slaughter of sheep - so it is not for the faint of heart. To arrange a visit contact Estancia Travel.
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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.
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Eberhard Ranch
Surrounded by tranquil fjords and looming mountains, the original homestead and estancia (estate) in the region, Eberhard Ranch, is impossibly scenic and gives a taste of the workaday area. You can see the gauchos as they work - it's not a tourist show, but real work, which includes the slaughter of sheep (you've been warned!) To arrange a visit contact Estancia Travel in Puerto Natales.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Museo Histórico
OK for a crash course in local history, the museum is a quick visit. There are natural history items (mostly stuffed animals), archaeological artifacts, such as stone and whalebone arrowheads and spear points, plus a Yaghan canoe, Tehuelche bolas and historical photographs of Puerto Natales’ development.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Museo Histórico
Puerto Natales' museum has natural history items (mostly stuffed animals), archaeological artefacts such as stone and whalebone arrowheads and spear points, plus a Yahgan canoe, Tehuelche bolas and historical photographs of the town's development.
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Museo HistÓrico
This museum has natural history items (mostly stuffed animals), archaeological artifacts, such as stone and whalebone arrowheads and spear points, plus a Yahgan canoe, Tehuelche bolas and historical photographs of Puerto Natales' development.
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Reserva Forestal Magallanes
This reserve, 8km from town, offers great hiking and mountain biking through dense lenga and coihue. A steady slog takes you to the top of Mt Fenton, where views are spectacular and winds impressively strong.
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Casa Braun-Menéndez
Facing the Plaza Muñoz Gamero’s north side is the Club de la Unión, which houses the former Palacio Sara Braun, now known as the Casa Braun-Menéndez.
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