Chile: Punto Arenas

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 Punto Arenas, Chile

We had a wakeup call at 6:15 am. The ship was already in Punto Arenas and we had a tour scheduled for 7:45 am to Magellans Strait Park. This is the southernmost area of Chilean Patagonia, on the Brunswick Peninsula. 

As luck would have it, this was the best tour we have booked through Oceania (not generally impressed with their tours). Our bus headed out along the waterfront, and porpoises were jumping in the channel between Punto Arenas and Tierra del Fuego.

Photo op at Cerritos de la Cruz.

Classic Chilean lighthouse

The weather was decent, and we stopped for photos after about 20 minutes at Cerro de la Cruz, a high spot with a good view of the area. Then back in the bus for about an hour until we arrived at Magellans Strait Park. We stopped at the gate for the guide to buy tickets, and someone came on board to count us all. 

Magellans Strait Park is where the original settlement of Fuerte Bulnes (Fort Bulnes) was established. It was burned to the ground twice by the native people who lived in the area. At that point the European settlers move to the Punto Arenas area. However, a remarkable reproduction exists on the original site. Before the last person to speak the native language died, her granddaughter recorded her. There was no written language, so it was extremely lucky this recording exists.

We enjoyed hiking in the Magellans Strait area. There’s a large platform from which to view the Straits, and plenty of hiking trails. The reproduction of the fort is interesting and gives a good feel for what life must have been like for the European settlers. 

The Strait of Magellan is a safer route than the Drake Passage to get from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. We still have the Drake Passage ahead of us to get to Antarctica, but I’m so glad we got to sail in this area and see the difference. 

A peek at the Strait of Magellan through the wind-shaped trees

On our balcony. This area contains the very southern end of the Andes Mountains—some peaks going right into the ocean.

We were dropped off at the dock after our tour, and immediately hopped on the shuttle bus into Punta Arenas to see a little of the town before we left. Overall it seems a little more prosperous than some of the coastal Chilean cities we’ve visited. Once the Panama Canal opened, Punta Arenas wasn’t as important as it had been, but then oil was discovered so it’s doing ok. We found what can only be described as shopping wagons near the town square. I bought a Patagonia knit hat from a gentleman whose wife knits them. We also found a delightful naval museum that opened just in time. Lots of displays about the Strait of Magellan and general Chilean navy information.

Replica of one of Magellan’s ships at the naval museum.

What do you think—a fit?

Giant ship’s helm

Where a bought my iconic Patagonian knit hat (with Pom Pom)

When we got back on the ship, I looked out our door and saw this tug gently pushing on our ship to keep it against the dock! The ship was tied up, but there must have been currents they were worried about. There was also a tug on the other end doing the same thing.

Loved this area and wish we could have explored more.