Based on our experience touring the area, we recommend this itinerary to visit Punta Arenas in 2 days, including the main excursions.
You have arrived in the far south of Chile! An area isolated from the rest of the country, and from where the distance is almost the same to go to cities in the north of Chile such as Puerto Montt or Santiago, or to Antarctica.
Located on the shores of the imposing and respected Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas is often used as a city of arrival and departure to visit Torres del Paine, due to its good flight connectivity with other cities in Chile.
This itinerary of Punta Arenas in 2 days is designed to get to know the main attractions of the area, but taking into account that at Torres del Paine you will spend days outside this itinerary, either because you will do the famous W or O trekking circuits of several days, or because you will visit it from Puerto Natales.
However, if you want to add a day trip from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine, see our article on things to do in Punta Arenas in 3 days.
Table of Contents
Punta Arenas in 2 days, recommended itinerary
Day 1: Penguin watching excursion to Magdalena Island or Tierra del Fuego plus a walk along the waterfront.
Day 2: excursion to Fort Bulnes, tour the city centre and cemetery
Day 1: Penguin watching excursion and walk along the Punta Arenas waterfront
One of the main excursions to do in Punta Arenas in 2 days is the observation of marine fauna, especially penguins. Thanks to its location in the extreme south of Chile, there are two types of penguins to be seen:
- One of the most popular excursions in Punta Arenas is sailing through the Strait of Magellan towards the Magdalenas and Marta Islands, where you will find an important colony of Magellanic penguins and sea lions. Penguins come to the island during the summer season to nest, raise their young and then migrate. You will see these cute animals all over the island.
- The other type of penguin that can be seen on an excursion from Punta Arenas is the famous king penguin, whose characteristic feature is its large size and yellowish chest. The Bahía Inútil area on the island of Tierra del Fuego is the ideal place to see them during the summer. Please note that this is a full day excursion.
If you choose the first option, i.e. Magdalena Island and Marta, you have time during the afternoon to see other parts of Punta Arenas, as the excursion is a half-day trip.
In this case, we recommend walking along the Punta Arenas waterfront observing monuments such as the crew members of the Goleta Ancud, the first ship that arrived at this point with Chilean settlers, seeing the old clock of the port and culminating in watching the sunset over the Strait of Magellan at the Loreto pier, which was used as a harbour quay in ancient times.
To round off the day, we recommend dinner at the restaurant La Luna, where seafood and fish are its speciality. A good seafood soup and spider crab are ideal dishes to savour the local gastronomy.
Day 2: excursion to Fort Bulnes, tour the city centre and cemetery
From a historical point of view, we recommend a midday excursion to Fort Bulnes. This fortress began to be built in the mid-19th century, by decision of the Chilean government, in order to establish sovereignty over this remote territory of which little was known.
Located even further south in Chile than Punta Arenas, there are now reconstructed remains of what was once this fortification, which was populated by the first Chilean settlers who arrived, but due to the intense Patagonian cold and wind, it became totally uninhabited over the years.
On the current tour, you visit the reconstructed spaces of the fortress, the visitor centre with valuable information about the settlement and living conditions in this redoubt. Moreover, the site is perfect for short walks and to contemplate the sea and the nearby islands.
Once back in the city, we recommend eating at the Punta Arenas municipal market, a place with a lot of local life and gastronomic establishments where you can try local dishes, mainly based on fish and seafood.
In the afternoon, there are two visits to make. One is to the cemetery, yes just as you read it. The Sara Braun Cemetery is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. The tombstones of wealthy people, mainly from earlier times, are surrounded by green lawns with cypress trees.
To end the day, there is nothing better than climbing a small flight of stairs to reach the top of the Cerro de la Cruz, the best vantage point for watching the sunset with views of the city of Punta Arenas and the Strait of Magellan in the background.
If you want to see the sights of downtown Punta Arenas with a guide, we recommend this guided tour of downtown Punta Arenas.
On the second day we recommend you to dine at Estilo Magallánico, oriented to Patagonian meat.
Where to stay in Punta Arenas
The entire southern tip of Chile is an expensive area to stay in. Based on our experience in the area, we recommend these three options, all of which are within budget.
- Hostel Entre Vientos: for backpackers and people on a budget. Excellent location, in the centre and very well treated by the staff.
- Hotel Ilaia: for those who want to spend a little more. No frills, modern building with simple rooms.
- Hotel José Nogueira: for those who want to relax to the fullest and have the budget to do so. A paradise in an old mansion surrounded by a garden. Excellent attention and service.
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