Best of Punta Arenas

One of the largest cities in Patagonia, Punta Arenas spreads along the edge of the Strait of Magellan and has a fascinating history of trade, fishing, farming and — more recently — outdoor tourism. The walkable city center has scenic plazas and opulent mansions from the 1800s, some of which house museums and upscale guesthouses. Often the first port of call for visitors to Patagonia, Punta Arenas makes a great base for trips into the surrounding wilderness. It’s also the point of embarkation for cruises to Antarctica and other parts of South America. 

Cruises to Isla Magdalena take you to one of the largest Magellanic penguin colonies in South America: over 120,000 penguins nest here every year. Nearby, on Isla Marta, you can spy hundreds of sea lions along with abundant bird life. For more active adventures, there’s kayaking and horseback riding, as well as mountain-biking along forested and mountain trails. You can also sail around Cape Froward, where you can see glaciers, whales, dolphins and penguins.