Punta Arenas Self-Guided Walking Tour, Punta Arenas, Chile

The capital of Chile’s Magallanes region, the southernmost city in the continental Americas and one of the southernmost cities in the world, Punta Arenas is a unique place. The city has a storied maritime history. Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, the Megellan Strait was the quickest way for ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and so became a crucial trade route. As the main settlement along the strait, Punta Arenas became a prosperous outpost for vessels sailing between the two oceans.

Over the years the city has attracted a mix of voyagers, merchants and explorers from all over the world. With its interesting mix of architectural styles, its desolate coastal landscapes and melting pot of different cultural influences, Punta Arenas is a striking place to visit in Patagonia. Check out this walking tour of the main sites of the city centre.

Start the tour at the Museo Nao Victoria. This is located around 7 km to the north of town, near to the main highway. From the city centre it takes around an hour to walk, or alternatively take a taxi or Uber.

This outdoor museum contains information about some of the pioneering maritime expeditions by European explorers to the region, as well as life-size replicas of the famous vessels that were used. The museum mainly focuses on two voyages - the Nao Victoria, which became the first ship to successfully circumnavigate the world and discovered the Strait of Magellan in the process, and the HMS Beagle which famously carried Charles Darwin on his voyage of discovery. It also contains information about Ernest Shackleton’s attempts to reach Antarctica aboard the Endurance and the Ancud, the Chilean ship that sailed to Patagonia to claim sovereignty over the region. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).