Punta Arenas is the major southernmost city of Chile. During the days of maritime discovery of the South American continent and Antarctica, this was a major port. Today, thousands of visitors flock to its shores as a starting point for their Patagonia sojourn. Better yet, some visit this place to see penguins in the wild and enjoy delectable seafood. If you want to know how to spend 2 days in Punta Arenas, Chile, read on to learn more.
How to reach Punta Arenas?
Since you are looking up how to spend a couple of days in Punta Arenas in Chile, I assume that it is to combine it with a Patagonia or Antarctica trip. Now, the most convenient way to reach Punta Arenas is by catching a flight from Santiago, Chile. It is around 3.5 hours from Santiago, and Latam Airlines has a daily direct flight.
Note that there are no direct flights from Argentina to Punta Arenas. Flights from Buenos Aires, Argentina, fly through Santiago, Chile to reach Punta Arenas. Additionally, flights from Ushuaia, Argentina, get routed through Bueno Aires and Santiago before reaching Punta Arenas!
Thus, the Patagonia region is not connected by direct flights between the two countries. However, if you travel between the countries, you can take a bus between the major cities of Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia.
How to get around Punta Arenas?
The best and easiest way to get around the city of Punta Arenas is by walking. The city is not very big, and almost everything is within walking distance. Make sure to pack a pair of comfortable city-hopping shoes (my pick was a pair of sturdy boots) and start exploring on foot!
If you’re going to venture outside the city, you can get an Uber. They are fairly inexpensive, and fast. Plus, you can go to places not accessible by bus routes.
Another option is to get a rental car. However, you need to figure out if renting a car makes sense for your trip to Patagonia. Be sure to read this post I put together highlighting the pros and cons of renting a car in Patagonia.
If your Punta Arenas trip is concentrated within the city or some nearby spots, you don’t need a bus. However, if you travel to another city after Punta Arenas, you can catch a bus. Read about the best ways to do that below.
Why spend 2 days in Punta Arenas?
In case you are wondering if you actually need to spend 2 days in Punta Arenas before your action-packed Patagonia trip, allow me to convince you. You need to account for 2 days here because of these reasons.
It is the perfect base to fly into and start your Patagonia trip
When you start your travel plans to Patagonia, you will quickly realize that it is a fairly remote part of the world. Therefore, there are not a lot of flights that go to that region. In fact, there are only two airports to reach Chilean Patagonia: Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales. Of the two, Punta Arenas is the more accessible one, in terms of flight options and budget.
Get acclimated to the local time before your intense hikes start
Flying to Chilean Patagonia from North America or Europe generally takes a couple of days. This is because flights go to Santiago first, and from there, you will need to take another flight to Punta Arenas.
After all that time traveling, I highly recommend you spend at least a couple of days recovering from the jetlag and get acclimated to longer summer days. This is assuming that you will be traveling from the northern hemisphere during the summertime in Patagonia (Oct-Mar). Plus, since you will be likely taking long hikes in the mountains later, rest up in Punta Arenas.
It’s located close to Puerto Natales
The most popular location to visit in Chilean Patagonia is Torres del Paine National Park, located in the backyard of Puerto Natales. The closest city to Puerto Natales is Punta Arenas, making it the perfect place to stay for 2 days before you embark on your trekking adventure.
Easy to rent a car if desired
Another bonus point of staying in Punta Arenas? Getting a rental car is way easier than in Puerto Natales. Puerto Natales is a smaller town, and things get booked quickly. Therefore, if you are looking for a rental car, and don’t find one there, chances are, you will find one in Punta Arenas.
Additionally, car rental agencies may close down for holidays such as Christmas or New Year’s Eve. But, you should be able to find ones that are open in Punta Arenas.
Penguins!!
In case you are still not convinced about staying at Punta Arenas, allow me to settle the debate – PENGUINS! Yes, you can see penguins from Punta Arenas. Read about where you can see them, and how to get there below.
The maritime history of Punta Arenas is great
Maritime history buffs will enjoy exploring the museums and locations around Punta Arenas. From the days of Magellan to the times of Ernest Shackleton, Punta Arenas was an important landmark for southern exploration that captivated those yearning to explore this region.
How to spend 2 days in Punta Arenas
Day 1 in Punta Arenas
Day 1 Morning – Fly into Punta Arenas, check in and explore Punta Arenas
On your first day, you will arrive in Punta Arenas either early morning or late evening as most flight timings are scheduled that way. If you arrive in the morning, follow this itinerary. If arriving later in the evening, check into your hotel and do these things the next day.
Assuming you arrive in the morning, drop your bags off at your hotel, and head outside to start exploring this maritime-history-rich city. First head over to Plaza Armas Punta Arenas, a charming garden square right in the middle of the city. There, you will see a memorial to Ferdinand Magellan, whose contributions to making this remote place on earth will become obvious as you spend more time in Patagonia.
Grab lunch at the nearby restaurant Restaurante Ventisca for insanely delicious varieties of fish and a cappuccino to wake up better from your early morning flight.
Day 1 Afternoon – Mirador Cerro de la Cruz, Costanera
After lunch, meander over (and by meander, I really mean be ready to climb some steps) to Mirador De Los Soñadores. This place is on a hill and you can see the colorful houses of Punta Arenas and the Strait of Magellan (see, you can already understand why Magellan was an important part of Punta Arenas history) in the background.
Next, climb up to Mirador Cerro de la Cruz. From here, you can catch panoramic views of the bay, particularly atop the observation deck. This was my favorite spot in Punta Arenas. Steps away, you will find a signpost showing distances to many different cities in the world. Tourist trap-ey, but cute.
Next, head down to the Punta Arenas waterfront, aka, the Strait of Magellan, to see remnants of the old city. Walk along the water to Muelle Prat (or Prat Pier) and the Reloj del Puerto de Punta Arenas, a beautiful old clock near the harbor. On the water, you can see cruise ships docked.
Continue walking along the promenade to Costanera, where you will see the ruins of an old pier. A few steps beyond, you will find the dramatic architecture of Monumento A Tripulantes Goleta Ancud, built to pay homage to the 23 sailors who were on the boat that entered the Strait of Magellan.
As dinner time gets close, check out the Punta Arenas sign, click a few pictures there, and walk over to Monumento al Ovejero, a cool installation, showcasing the life of a shepherd (or gaucho) in Patagonia. Grab a sumptuous dinner of king crab at the fancy Sotito’s Restaurant.
Day 2 in Punta Arenas
Day 2 Morning – Penguin tour
On day 2, wake up bright and early for an epic day of watching Magellanic penguins in their natural habitats! These penguins live on Isla Magdalena, an island in the middle of the Strait of Magellan, and tours operate daily to this location.
We had the absolute best time visiting these little penguins in their home! We opted for the tour company Solo Expediciones. They are located in the heart of Punta Arenas (the address is José Nogueira 1255, 6201110 Punta Arenas, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena, Chile). Their tour starts around 6:30 am for registration at their office in Punta Arenas city. Then, we were whisked away on a bus to the outskirts of Punta Arenas to the docks from where we caught a catamaran to the island.
Note: I highly recommend booking this tour in advance. In Patagonia, you won’t have to book many day tours in advance other than this one (especially, if you love penguins! And let’s face it. Who doesn’t?). The one other day tour you need to book in advance is if you go glacier trekking in El Calafate, Argentina)
Also known as Monumento Natural los Punguinos, this island is a nature preserve, and visitors are allowed one hour to land and explore. That one hour was plenty of time for us to gawk, point at, and take hundreds of photos with the 2-foot-tall penguins. There is a dedicated walkway you have to follow and stay within the marked passage so as not to encroach upon the penguins’ territories. We also saw other birds, including plenty of seagulls and seagull babies!
Needless to say, this was an absolute highlight of our trip! Make sure to book tickets in advance as they tend to sell out fast.
Day 2 Afternoon – Museum hopping, travel to Puerto Natales
In the afternoon, you need to take the bus or drive to Puerto Natales. But before that, you should check out some interesting points in and around Punta Arenas.
If you are a history lover, stop by Palacio Sara Braun, an impressive architectural mansion that is now a museum. Alternatively, visit the Museo Maggiorino Borgatello, a museum showcasing the archaeology, ethnology, history, and wildlife of southern Patagonia.
If you take a bus to Puerto Natales, head to the bus stop at Cristobal Colon Av (next to the intersection of Hernando de Magallanes) and catch the Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales bus line.
Additionally, if you are driving, drop by the Museo Nao Victoria, a curious and equally cool museum housing replicas of ships that are significant in Patagonian maritime history including a replica of the Nao Victoria that was part of Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet and the first ship to circumnavigate the globe. You can even walk inside and explore these ships and imagine life in those years. Pretty cool!
Behind the museum, is a kitschy Chile Sign where you have to take the mandatory tourist photo. But, be sure to observe the puffins and seagulls on the water beside the sign.
Once you’ve had your fill of museums, continue on with your Patagonia trip by starting your 2.5-hour drive (or 3-hour bus ride) to Puerto Natales.
If you are considering renting a car and driving around Patagonia, be sure to read this comprehensive post I put together highlighting the pros and cons of renting a car in Patagonia.
When to visit Punta Arenas, Chile?
The best time to visit Punta Arenas in Chile is during the summer season. Since it is located in the southern hemisphere, the summer season runs from October to March, peaking in December.
The holiday season in December brings a lot of crowds from all over the world, and with Patagonia becoming more popular as a travel destination, there can be a lot of people. With crowds come increased prices for hotels, competition in bookings at Torres del Paine National Park, and rental car/bus reservations.
Therefore, to avoid these conditions, skip the holiday time, and visit Punta Arenas in November to early December, or late January to February.
Is Punta Arenas safe?
Punta Arenas is very safe. There are few residents, and during peak travel seasons, most people you encounter are tourists. Obviously, always be aware of your surroundings, and do not take unnecessary risks while traveling in a foreign country.
With that being said though, I found Punta Arenas, and as an extension, the Patagonia region, very safe.
