Punta Arenas is located 3,090 kilometers south of Santiago de Chile and is the largest settlement on the famous Straits of Magellan. This picturesque city is the most important urban center of the Magellan region and is located 260 kilometers from
Puerto Natales and 230km from
Ushuaia (the southernmost point of the world).
Punta Arenas is the gateway to the Southern Region, also dubbed as "the end of the world. The climate of the region is, by its geographical location, very hard over the winter, with temperatures just above 0 ° C and regular snowfalls. The arrival of spring and summer make it a much warmer city, with averages ranging from 14 to 20 degrees C. Sunny days are the most eagerly awaited by all locals. Commercial advancement, along with cultural and social development, has made Punta Arenas an important location over recent years.
Its unique location along the Straits of Magellan at the
Brunswick Peninsula gives it a unique atmosphere and there is a marine air which can be felt throughout its streets, hills and port.
Punta Arenas could be considered the southernmost continental city in the world and so draws many visitors. Its main attractions include
- The Museum Mayorino Borgatello
- The monument to "Shepherd"(ovejero) with his horse, his dog and sheep.
- The local cemetery
- The Patagonian Institute (research institute of history and resources of the region, with the Museum of Remembrance in their gardens).
- The Municipal Theater
- Munoz Gamero Square, with its sculpture in memory of the discovery of the Strait of Magellan, "Hernando de Magellanes" and splendid works that retain their tradition, like the Grand Hotel Cabo de Hornos, public buildings and management for local companies
But the major attractions of Punta Arenas in recent years, has a name: Zona Franca. There, visitors can purchase products from all over the world favored by the invalidity of tax levies, which makes Punta Arenas an ideal place togo shopping!
Here is some useful information for travelers to the region:
