Punta Arenas is a walking city
Downtown Punta Arenas is compact and mostly flat, apart from the climb to the hill. So leave the car behind and take your time. Hotel Almasur Punta Arenas (Armando Sanhueza 965) and Hotel Almasur Express (Juez Waldo Seguel 530) are connected hotels, about 200 metres from the main square: in 2 or 3 minutes you are in the heart of the city.
Look up at the façades. Stone and brick houses, mansions and early 20th-century buildings tell the story of a time when Punta Arenas was one of the busiest ports in the far south, before the Panama Canal existed.
Plaza Muñoz Gamero and Palacio Sara Braun
The Ferdinand Magellan monument
Plaza Muñoz Gamero is the city’s main square. In the middle stands the monument to Ferdinand Magellan, surrounded by bronze figures representing the region’s Indigenous peoples. One of them has a shiny foot from so much touching: local legend says that if you touch the Indigenous figure’s foot, you will come back to Punta Arenas. Don’t skip it.
Palacio Sara Braun
About 150 metres from the hotel, facing the square, is Palacio Sara Braun. Today it houses the Club de la Unión and keeps furniture and rooms from Magallanes’ golden age. Its basement is home to La Taberna, a bar we cover in our guide to eating and drinking.
Cerro de la Cruz lookout
One of the best views of the city, free and a 10-minute walk from Almasur. Climb the stairs on Fagnano street. At the top you will see colourful rooftops, ships and the Strait. On clear days you can spot Tierra del Fuego across the water.
Almasur recommends: go at sunset. The low light paints the rooftops and the sea turns silver. The visit takes about 30 minutes.
Museums and memory
Naval and Maritime Museum
About 300 metres away (a 4-minute walk). It tells the story of navigation in the far south and of expeditions to Antarctica.
Maggiorino Borgatello Salesian Museum
About 1.1 km away (13 to 15 minutes on foot, 3 by car). Its collections cover the Fuegian peoples, regional history and Patagonian wildlife. The reference entry fee is CLP 7,000 and it is cash only; check the price before you go.
Sara Braun Municipal Cemetery
About 1.3 km away (15 to 18 minutes on foot). It is a park of clipped cypress avenues, declared a National Monument in 2012. Look for the grave of the Indio Desconocido (Unknown Indian), covered in plaques and offerings from people making wishes.
Nao Victoria Museum
About 7.5 km north, on the shore of the Strait (10 to 12 minutes by car). It displays full-size replicas of the Nao Victoria, HMS Beagle and the schooner Ancud. You can step on deck and imagine those voyages.
Notice: Magallanes Regional Museum
The Magallanes Regional Museum, in the Braun-Menéndez Palace, is temporarily closed for conservation and restoration work. You can still admire the façade from the street; ask at reception whether a reopening date has been announced.
The waterfront and the Strait of Magellan
This is where the Pacific and the Atlantic meet. The first ships to sail around the world came through this passage. Magellan crossed it in 1520 and it took him 38 days; today you can cross it in an afternoon. Walk along the costanera and watch the water: it changes colour several times a day. Cargo ships, sailboats and sometimes whales go by. To see them up close, read our guide to nature trips.
Suggested route: one day in Punta Arenas
| Time | What to do |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Breakfast at the hotel |
| 10:00 | Historic centre and main square |
| 12:00 | Waterfront along the Strait |
| 14:00 | Lunch: king crab or spit-roasted lamb |
| 16:00 | Cerro de la Cruz lookout |
| 19:00 | Sunset by the sea |
For photos: in summer the best light is between 20:00 and 22:00, when the sky turns pink over the water.
Tips from the Almasur team
- Dress in layers: T-shirt, fleece and windbreaker. You can get four seasons in one day here.
- Carry Chilean pesos in cash for museums and kiosks.
- If you get tired, pop back to the hotel halfway: everything is close.
- Staying longer? See things to do in Punta Arenas and how to reach Torres del Paine.
More practical info in our Punta Arenas travel tips. We’ll be waiting for you when you get back.
