Punta Arenas

Travel Guide

Punta Arenas featuring a coastal town and a city
Punta Arenas featuring a statue or sculpture, general coastal views and outdoor art
Punta Arenas showing a church or cathedral and interior views as well as an individual male
Punta Arenas featuring outdoor art
Punta Arenas showing a park and military items as well as a large group of people

Home to colonial mansions, tree-lined squares and national parks, this remote Chilean city is also a gateway to the fascinating Tierra del Fuego. 

The isolated city of Punta Arenas faces the icy waters of the Strait of Magellan. Discover colonial palaces, superb museums, discounted shopping and curious sights, including an architecturally impressive cemetery. Punta Arenas is the capital of the Magallanes province in Chile’s remote southern Patagonia region. It started as a 19th-century pioneer city and today is a relaxed, windswept destination popular with adventurer seekers. 

Start your visit at the tree-shaded central square, Plaza Muñoz Gamero. Browse the stalls of a handicraft market and admire the elegant Cathedral of Punta Arenas. Framing the plaza are ostentatious mansions, including Palacio Sara Braun and Casa Braun-Menéndez, built by wealthy immigrants. The well-preserved rooms of these mansions offer a glimpse into the life of the city’s aristocracy. 

Discover the area’s pioneer past and sheep-farming heritage at the Museo Regional de Magallanes. Spot historical naval artifacts at Museo Naval y Maritimo. 

Visit Punta Arenas Cemetery, a short walk from the main square. Note the elaborate tombs of former city residents as you stroll along leafy paths. Nearby is the Monumento al Ovejero, a sculpture dedicated to sheep and cattle farming. 

Punta Arenas is a Free Trade Zone, great for finding bargain prices. Shop for tax-free clothes, electronics, perfumes, shoes and souvenirs at Zona Franca shopping complex. 

Explore the breathtaking Patagonia landscapes on daytrips. Go hiking and mountain biking through the forests of Reserva Forestal Magallanes. Camp, fish and trek in Reserva Nacional Laguna Parrillar. Visit Seno Otway Penguin Colony between September and April to spot thousands of Magellanic penguins. 

Reach Punta Arenas by flying from Santiago or take a multiday cruise from Puerto Montt, passing spectacular channels and fjords. Visit from October to April to benefit from sunnier days and limited rain. Enjoy a walk along the waterfront when the sun shines. From here, boats cross the Strait of Magellan to the barren wilderness of Tierra del Fuego. 

Hotel Cabo De Hornos
Hotel Cabo De Hornos
3.5 out of 5
Plaza Muñoz Gamero 1039, Punta Arenas, Magallanes
The price is CA $137 per night from Jul 14 to Jul 15
CA $137
CA $137 total
Jul 14 - Jul 15
Stay at this 3.5-star hotel in Punta Arenas. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and 24-hour room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (516 reviews)
Amazing Hotel, Great Location, amazing staff
"The hotel was spotless clean, the staff was friendly, polite and very helpful. The room was spacious, comfy bed, amazing bathroom!! Excellent locationas well. The breakfast was excellent, great selection of food, so good. I highly recommend this hotel for a pleasant stay in punta arenas."

Reviewed on Jul. 10, 2025

Hotel Cabo De Hornos
Hotel Almasur Punta Arenas
Hotel Almasur Punta Arenas
4 out of 5
Armando Sanhueza 965, Punta Arenas, Magallanes
The price is CA $78 per night from Jul 18 to Jul 19
CA $78
CA $78 total
Jul 18 - Jul 19
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Punta Arenas. Enjoy room service, a fitness center, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (675 reviews)
"Muy lindo hotel"

Reviewed on Jun. 15, 2025

Hotel Almasur Punta Arenas
Diego De Almagro Punta Arenas
Diego De Almagro Punta Arenas
3 out of 5
Avenida Colón 1290, Punta Arenas, Magallanes
The price is CA $134 per night from Jul 26 to Jul 27
CA $134
CA $134 total
Jul 26 - Jul 27
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in Punta Arenas. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a fitness center. Popular attractions Museo Naval y Maritimo ...
8/10 Very Good! (388 reviews)
"It's an old but always nice place to stay. Gym, pool, restaurant, infront of the ocean. Everything ok with that. They need to change the tvs. Carpet is a little old and smells a little. But generally pretty good"

Reviewed on May 21, 2025

Diego De Almagro Punta Arenas
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Apart Hotel Endurance
Apart Hotel Endurance
3 out of 5
21 de Mayo 1299, Punta Arenas, Magallanes y la antartica chilena
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Punta Arenas. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (101 reviews)
"This a great place to stay for a few days in Punta Arenas. It is close to the heart of the downtown but not so much that it is noisy. The little kitchenette is perfect for a meal in and the breakfast offerings were very sweet. The bed was also comfy and the room was very clean. Thanks to the staff ..."

Reviewed on Jun. 2, 2025

Apart Hotel Endurance
Magellanicus Rustic Suites
Magellanicus Rustic Suites
4 out of 5
1020 Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, Punta Arenas, Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Punta Arenas. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (35 reviews)
"Sara was a magnificent host. We actually stayed here twice; once at the start of our trip, and again at the end. Quick and easy communication, perfect separation for parents and adult children, walkable to everything. And... affordable. Thanks for a great stay, Sara!"

Reviewed on Mar. 19, 2025

Magellanicus Rustic Suites
Apart Hotel Quillango
Apart Hotel Quillango
3 out of 5
Avenida Republica 363, Punta Arenas, Magallanes
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Punta Arenas. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Popular attractions Maggiorino Borgatello Museum and Santuario ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (114 reviews)
"Clean, good, responsive management, safe parking"

Reviewed on Dec. 17, 2024

Apart Hotel Quillango
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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Things to do

Reviews of Punta Arenas

3.6
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
1
5 - Excellent 5%
4 - Good
10
4 - Good 48%
3 - Okay
10
3 - Okay 48%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

3/5 - Okay

GM

Not really memorable.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

We couldn’t really say Punta Arenas was great. Ok. Only here for flights to and from Santiago to begin/end our trip to Puerto Natales and glaciers. Isla de Magdalena sounded good to see penguins but we ran out of time for this excursion.

3/5 - Okay

Sam

The hotel is far from the street where all the restaurants and souvenir shops are. Punta Arenas is the point where we take boats to Magdalena Island, but not much to see in Punta Arenas, except for the view of the Magellan strait from the park.

Cities near Punta Arenas