Top Things to do in Punta Arenas
Top Restaurants in Punta Arenas
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10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Punta Arenas That You Shouldn't Miss
Overlooking the Strait of Magellan, this isolated city in southern Patagonia bustles with windswept trekkers en route to glacier-filled Torres del Paine National Park or an Antarctic cruise. Before transiting, take note of the mansion-lined main square, Plaza Muñoz Gamero; the City Cemetery, with its elaborate tombs; and the Sara Braun Palace and Braun Menendez Residence, a preserved slice of the city's wealthy pioneer past. Daily flights connect the city with Santiago and Ushuaia.
Restaurants in Punta Arenas
1. Mount Tarn
2. Parque del Estrecho de Magallanes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 839 reviews
The Magallan's Strait Park is a protected area of almost 250 hectares. The primary objective is the conservation and divulgation of the natural and historical heritage within it. The places of interest within the Park are: - Museum 'Of the Strait' (Interpretation Center): The landscape’s centinel, with its 1.600 square meters which include cafeteria, souvenir shop, panoramic terrace and an interpretive-multimedial display. - Fort Bulnes NHM Site: Two kilometers beyond the Interpretation Center and covering an area of 4 hectares, lies the reconstruction of the first chilean settlement of the territory. - Coastal Trail: Low to medium difficulty pedestrian-only trail extending for about one mile that runs through the woods and rocky parts around the Fort. - Wind Forest Trail: Low difficulty pedestrian-only trail extending almost 300 meters (330 yards) leads to the famous Del Estrecho lookout.
Reviewed By manuelaE3038WG - Montevideo, Uruguay
Great experience: high quality museum, picturesque fort and nice walk. It is also very well managed. We went with our rented motorhome and got assistance all the way to make sure we could drive smoothly
3. Plaza Munoz Gamero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 657 reviews
The central plaza of Punta Arenas, where local vendors sell homemade crafts.
Reviewed By 716sachink - Plainview, United States
The Plaza Muñoz Gamero, also known as the Plaza de Armas, is the main public space in Punta Arenas. The square was declared a Typical Zone in 1991, by the Council of National Monuments. In the center there is a bronze sculpture that was inaugurated in 1920 and that represents the navigator Hernando de Magallanes. It is a busy square with lots of locals and tourists. Most travelers in Punta Arenas will visit this square. Certainly very highly recommended to walk around the square and taking some pics.
4. Ruta 9
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 154 reviews
We have a help desk located in the arrival sector of Punta Arenas main airport, We provide free shuttle to the downtown area of Punta Arenas, we provide tourist information, Hotel, Hostels accommodations, local excursions, transfer to Puerto Natales and the National park Torres Del Paine
Reviewed By 716sachink - Plainview, United States
Drove on this fantastic route to & fro between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales. The road is well maintained and the drive was smooth. The surrounding scenery is absolutely picturesque. Certainly would very highly recommend driving on this route.
5. Cementerio Municipal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,556 reviews
Reviewed By Mahal2013 - Berwick, Australia
this without doubt is one of the best cemetery I have been too. I really enjoyed exploring graves and mausoleums walking along the manicured cypress trees. Wide variety of tombs and lots of history as well as great photo opportunities. Well worth spending an hour or so wandering around. In fact, I have a spare 30mins now, I think I will go back!
6. Centro Cultural Braun-Menendez
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 304 reviews
Reviewed By KatrienS955 - Ghent, Belgium
This is a great little museum showcasing on one side the house itself, and on the other side the original inhabitants and the history of the town and the Noruega, Braun and Menendez start and production and sheep empire. The house was build by this clan, which through intermarriage combined the 3 wealthiest families of the region. The house was build with materials from Europe, and must have as such cost a fortune. The house is not that large. It is in pretty good state of repair, has nice stained glass ceilings and some extravagantly decorated rooms. Also part of the cellar, or servants quarter are open. The other part gives a good overview of the founding of Punta Arenas and it being a prisoners colony. It also gives a good overview on a touch screen about the 5 tribes that originally inhabited this area as well as Tuera de Fuego nearby. On display are some of the artefacts that remain from these tribes that were completely wiped out on the Chilean side (and very nearly completely on the Argentinian side). In the current there is a nice garden, they were renovating part of the outside of the mansion.
7. Reserva nacional Magallanes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 124 reviews
Reviewed By S3391SOelenas
The reserve is near Punta Arenas and you can get there by public transport. Just go to the small bus station in Chiloé with Carrera Pinto where the local buses departs (estación municipal). It only costs 300 pesos and takes less then half an hour (as per 2020). The route is "el Andino" and is an orange minibus. The timetable can be found in their Facebook or in the station. I took it on Sunday and actually stopped at the entrance of the park so there was no need to be dropped at the junction of Y-570 with Y-580 as other reviews mention, so check with the driver. Entrance to the park is 5000 pesos for foreigners, but it's worth it. I did the longest hike they offered called circuito las Lengas which is about 10km in addition to Mirador de las Minas. Highly recommended. The hike for people with reduced mobility is interesting as well as it have signs with info of the park and local vegetation and animals.
8. Museo Regional De Magallanes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 135 reviews
Reviewed By marcoslO4927EZ - Sao Paulo, Brazil
This is a very interesting museum, especially for those who like everything related to sea travel and exploration.
9. Nao Victoria Museo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,040 reviews
The Nao Victoria Museum is a private museum. fee cost $ 4000 It aims to provide a real experience in replicas of the most important ships in the Magallanes Region. There are four open replicas to visit in the Museum: Nao Victoria, the only fleet commanded by Ferdinand Magellan completed the first circumnavigation of the globe. James Caird, originally a lifeboat Endurance that sailed from Elephant Island to South Georgia during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton 1916. Goleta Ancud, the ship, under the command of Manuel Bulnes, President of Chile, took the sovereignty of the Magellan Strait to Chile with the construction of Fuerte Bulnes. HMS Beagle, the famous British Navy brig, under the command of Captain Fitz Roy raised cartography work of Magallanes Region. Aboard the boat mythical young Charles Darwin began writing his theory of evolution. surround sound, and many replicas of ancient weapons that can be used by visitors to take pictures
Reviewed By RMJ42 - Santa Rosa, United States
We were on a tour in the rain and did not have enough time to visit this very interesting site. They have a Magellan vessel, a Darwin vessel and Shackleton vessel, all full size with interesting descriptions in Spanish and English. You could spend a lot of time just exploring the ships and getting a history lesson as you read.
10. Museo Salesiano / Magiorinno Borgatello
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 413 reviews
Reviewed By jenabaintheworld - Washington DC, United States
Good collection of historical artifacts from Patagonia, from early human history to fauna to culture to economic development. This was created by the Salesian mission-- linked to the Catholic church. The museum is now called Museo Maggiorino Borgatello. Well worth a short visit.
