Amidst southern forests, ancient buildings, penguin colonies, and navigations through the Strait of Magellan, this city is the starting point for exploring some of the most stunning landscapes in the far south of Chile.
Located on the shores of the Strait of Magellan, from this city you can explore the main attractions of Tierra del Fuego. You’ll find everything from palaces and historical sites to nature reserves, islands inhabited by penguins, and expeditions to Antarctica.
If you are planning your next trip to Chilean Patagonia and are wondering what to see in Punta Arenas and its surroundings, here you will find ten destinations that showcase different facets of this area.
What to see in Punta Arenas and surroundings: 10 must-see places
1. Municipal Cemetery and Nao Victoria Museum
Two places allow you to get closer to the history of Punta Arenas without leaving the city. The Sara Braun Municipal Cemetery stands out for its cypress avenues, mausoleums, and sculptures, which reflect the families and communities that participated in the development of Magallanes.
10 minutes away you will find the Nao Victoria Museum, which exhibits full-scale replicas of historic ships, including the vessel with which Ferdinand Magellan began the first circumnavigation of the planet.
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2. Sara Braun Palace and Braun Menéndez Palace
The architecture of Punta Arenas preserves the traces of Magallanes’ economic boom era. Facing Muñoz Gamero Square is the Sara Braun Palace, a neoclassical residence declared a Historic Monument in 1981.
Also noteworthy is the Braun Menéndez Palace, built between 1903 and 1906. This former family residence houses the Regional Museum of Magallanes. Its facade and gardens remain part of the city’s architectural heritage.
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3. San Isidro Lighthouse
At the southern tip of the Brunswick Peninsula, the San Isidro Lighthouse is one of those places where the southern landscape shines in all its splendor. Built to guide ships sailing through the Strait of Magellan, today it is an attraction for those who enjoy hiking and nature.
To get there, you must continue south from Punta Arenas along Route 9, to the access point of the trail. From there, you can take a walk of approximately four hours round trip or arrange a boat trip to the bay where the lighthouse is located.
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4. Francisco Coloane Marine Park
Can you imagine observing humpback whales in the heart of Chilean Patagonia? In the Francisco Coloane Marine Park you can live this experience while navigating among fjords, glaciers, and mountains. It is Chile’s first protected marine area and one of the main feeding grounds for these cetaceans in the Southern Hemisphere.
Access is exclusively by sea, and excursions from Punta Arenas can last between 10 and 12 hours. To organize your visit, contact a tourism agency that operates this route. These services manage land transfer from the city to the boarding point and navigation to the sighting area. Before booking, verify that the company has its current registration in the Sernatur Tourist Services Search Engine.
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5. Pali Aike National Park
A landscape that seems straight out of another planet awaits you in Pali Aike National Park. Its lava fields, craters, caves, and volcanic cones form a scenery very different from the forests and glaciers usually associated with Chilean Patagonia.
Among its attractions are the Pali Aike Cave and the Morada del Diablo-Pozo del Diablo trail, a 7.4-kilometer route that allows you to explore its ancient volcanic formations. The park is located about 196 kilometers northwest of Punta Arenas. To visit, you must purchase your ticket in advance through Pases Parques Nacionales. The price for foreign adults is $6,000 Chilean pesos (US$6.10).
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6. Magdalena and Marta Islands
A navigation through the Strait of Magellan will take you to the Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, formed by Magdalena and Marta islands. The first hosts a significant colony of Magellanic penguins, which you can observe during a walk along the designated trail to the historic lighthouse.
The visit has a maximum duration of one hour, and you must maintain at least 2 meters distance from the penguins. On Marta Island, however, disembarkation is prohibited to protect the birds and sea lions that live there. The fauna is observed from the boat. From Punta Arenas, you can embark at Muelle Prat or Tres Puentes through authorized maritime excursions. The journey takes approximately two hours each way.
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7. Fuerte Bulnes and Puerto del Hambre
The history of the Chilean occupation of the Strait of Magellan can be explored at Parque del Estrecho. There you will find Fuerte Bulnes, a settlement founded in 1843 to establish sovereignty over this strategic maritime passage.
3 kilometers away are the ruins of Puerto del Hambre (Port Famine), where an attempt was made to establish the city of Rey Don Felipe during the 16th century. Both places offer insights into southern history and a natural environment with trails, viewpoints, and views of the Strait of Magellan. The park is located 52 kilometers south of Punta Arenas, via a paved road. You can purchase tickets directly on the official website of Parque del Estrecho.
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8. Magallanes National Reserve
If you’re looking for what to see in Punta Arenas and its surroundings, this reserve is an excellent alternative to connect with nature without straying too far from the urban center. Just 7 kilometers away, you’ll find nearly 13,500 hectares of lenga, ñirre, and coigüe forests, as well as beautiful views of the Brunswick Peninsula.
Among its trails, the Las Lengas circuit stands out, covering 9.3 kilometers and lasting 3 to 5 hours. If you prefer a shorter walk, the Los Ñirres trail is 1.1 kilometers long and takes about an hour. Tickets can be purchased through Pases Parques Nacionales.
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9. King Penguin Natural Reserve
In Tierra del Fuego you will find a unique experience: observing king penguins, the second largest penguin species in the world and one of the few colonies inhabiting South America. The King Penguin Natural Reserve protects this population, which arrived in Bahía Inútil in 2010, and offers interpretive tours to learn about them and their conservation.
Remember to respect established distances and follow the instructions of the reserve staff to avoid disturbing the animals. From Punta Arenas, you must cross the Strait of Magellan by ferry to Porvenir. Then, continue about 115 kilometers to Bahía Inútil. You can book your visit in advance through the official website of the King Penguin Natural Reserve.
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10. King George Island and Chilean Antarctica
Punta Arenas is also a gateway to the white continent. From this Patagonian city, expedition flights depart for King George Island, in the South Shetland Islands, where the Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva Base is located. The flight lasts approximately two hours and provides access to one of the most remote territories on the planet.
From there, expeditions can continue to the Antarctic Peninsula to explore glaciers, penguin colonies, and ice-covered landscapes. This experience requires advance planning and depends on weather conditions.
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