PUNTA ARENAS

Punta Arenas

Region de Magallanes,
Chilean Patagonia

An elegant metropolis on the shores of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas stands out by its easy definition. It is a strange combination of magnificence and charm, witness of the making of the wool industry mansions and the restoration of ports, contrasted with the chain of waste lashed by the wind and an urban expansion out of control. Located at the end of America, this city is totally stingy with good weather, since the sun only glances out of the corner of its eye through the rain.

The hospitality of the Magellan people dominates local culture, undaunted or maybe cultivated because of the inhospitality of nature. The city is surprisingly relaxed and friendly. A recent prosperity, fed by the boom of the petrochemical industry and the growth of the population, has polished the bad reputation of the city’s colonists. It would be nice to see the city focusing on its restoration, but the free duty trade and the mega malls outside the city negotiate its future.

The easy connections to Tierra del Fuego (Fire Land), Torres del Paine and Argentina, as well as the great services for travelers, make Punta Arenas a convenient base to travel. A growing volume of cruise passengers and people who practice trekking have effectively replaced the explorers from the past, the seamen and the sailors.