We start the navigation through magellan strait observing the amazing sunrise by tierra del fuego and fuerte bulnes first settlement of punta arenas. Punta arenas isnt the sleepy hamlet i had expected. Am thinking a half day tourn from punta arenas to see isla magdalena to see the penguins. Once we have all met up, we will head to the port in punta arenas where we board the. It is in chile, and overlooks the strait of magellan. The tender pier is at the puerto del estrecho, in the city center. Observe humpback whales, magellan penguins, sea elephants, sea lions, toninas, austral dolphins, cormorants, albatros and a great diversity of sea. Whale watching in may francisco coloane see park mar 08, 2020. As there is no land route towards that area, we hired a sea tour at an agency. The 15 best things to do in punta arenas 2020 with photos. The rusty hull of this 1899 ship serves as a tribute to explorers of the bottom of the world. Its an excellent place to sea kayak, and humpback whales, minke whales, and southern right whales call this area home.
In 5 days we will navigate by the fjords of the patagonia from punta arenas to ushuaia in estella australis cruise. Come and discover punta arenas with our best tour packages. Visitors just need to let themselves be carried away by the typical special offers. Punta arenas lies on the strait of magellan between the pacific and atlantic oceans and is the southernmost large city in the world. Discover shipwreck of the lord lonsdale in punta arenas, chile. Whales in the surroundings of punta arenas welcome chile. Set at the bottom of the americas, it is downright stingy with good weather the sun shines through sidelong rain. Best way to get to ushuaia bus or plane mar 09, 2020. Cross the waters of the mythical strait for approximately 2 hours. It is essential to go on a guided tour if they want to see the humpback whales dwelling in this area. In chilean waters, this baleen whale was the third. Possibly also visiting chiloe before the australis cruise, but i dont. Punta arenas is the regional capital of the magallanes y antartica region located in chilean patagonia.
Its history and economic growth is based on maritime commerce, oil extraction, and sheep breeding. Select from our best shopping destinations in punta arenas without breaking the bank. The city of punta arenas is the starting point for an outing leading to francisco coloane sea park. But whats really getting us excited is the prospect of whale watching. The island is located in the centre of the strait of magellan, north of punta arenas and it hosts one of the largest magellan penguin colonies in chile, exceeding 150,000 specimens. Humpback whales are present in a special corner of the chilean fjords called francisco coloane marine park, which can only be accessed by boat from punta arenas. The city was officially renamed as magallanes in 1927, but in 1938 it was changed back to punta arenas. There are trips from 17 days long, aboard vessels of differing levels of comfort. Search for real estate and find the latest listings of puntarenas houses for sale. The area we invite you to join us on a visit to chile s first protected marine environment on the brunswick peninsula in southern chile. While it is true that the season goes from december to march, the start and end of the whale watching is subject to change every year. Punta arenas, chile overlooking the strait of magellan, this isolated city in southern patagonia bustles with windswept trekkers en route to glacierfilled torres del paine national park or an antarctic cruise.
We will be in chile next february, beginning with easter island and a few days touring wine country and possibly the coast up by santiago as in that will be our startend spot. If you have a little extra time during your trip, you might want to check out plaza munoz gamero and museo regional magallanes. Located on the strait of magellan, it has long been a stop for european adventurers and traders and, as a result, is a true melting pot of cultures. Then, we will have time to enjoy the box lunch, before returning to the city of punta arenas. Punta arenas travel southern patagonia, chile lonely planet.
See humpback whales in francisco coloane marine park on a naturefilled day trip from punta arenas. Touring cerveza austral in punta arenas mar 05, 2020. Whale watching in patagonia, punta arenas civitatis. Punta arenas is known as the southernmost city on earth. Bus sur pickup time at puq traveling to puerto natales mar 18, 2020.
Whalesound was born in 1994 when a group of scientists discovered a feeding site that gathers humpback whales and their calves every summer in the area of carlos iii island and seno ballena. For this purpose, whaling companies were formed in valdivia, chiloe and punta arenas. We will pick you up at your hotel in punta arenas to begin our trip by land to bahia carrera, 50 km to the south of the city. The 10 best things to do in punta arenas updated 2020. This study confirms the diet of the humpback whale within the magellan strait.
Magellanic penguins, elephant seals, sea lions, dolphins and albatross also inhabit these icy waters. Anyone know of any good whale watching excursions tour organisers in the area punta arenas or upto a few hours drive away. Its a strange combination of the ruddy and the grand, with elaborate woolboom mansions and port renovations alongside urban sprawl. Most tours of chilean patagonia are based out of punta arenas as this quaint, frigid, small city has southern chile s largest airport and is used to access torres del paine, flightcruises to antarctica, the straits of magellan and even several penguin colonies including the magdelena penguin colony and the king penguin colony. Search for the whales of the strait of magellan cocha inbound. Stella australis cruise punta arenas ushuaia 5 days. Sightings are pretty much guaranteed, and most people experience numerous whales breathing and jumping around them, and generally see around 3040. This stronghold was the first chilean construction on the strait of magellan. End september from punta arenas to bariloche and back apr 08, 2020. Located 75 kms south of punta arenas, cape san isidro is a mountainous landscape offering a great diversity of species and habitat including subantarctic native bee.
Punta arenas is the largest and most commercially important city in patagonian chile. The expedition is introduced through the strait of magellan, the southernmost region of the continent. Enjoy punta arenas and visit palacio sara braun, centro cultural braun menendez, and cathedral of punta arenas. Get impressed with whales watching at chilean patagonia. Aug 31, 2012 located near punta arenas in the south of chile, this 416 square mile 670 km area of ocean is chiles first aquatic reserve. The 10 best things to do in punta arenas 2020 with photos.
Pdf occurrence of sei whales balaenoptera borealis in the. Whale watching in patagonia punta arenas chile lonely. Let us show you what we fell in love with here at whale watching chile. Shipwreck of the lord lonsdale punta arenas, chile atlas. Admire majestic humpback whales in beautiful patagonia. Punta arenas, chile positioned some 1,300 miles south of santiago, punta arenas is the worlds second most southerly city, behind ushuaia, argentina. To help you plan your visit, here is our guide to the best places and shopping areas in punta arenas. The departure will be from the city of punta arenas at 6. Sands point although real english speakers might know this as sandy point is the largest settlement on the strait of magellan and the capital of chiles magallanes y antartica. But it is the largest town south of the 46th parallel well below the cities of australia and new zealand. Overlooking the strait of magellan, this port city flourished during the california gold rush, but seagoing traffic diminished here after the opening of the panama canal. Whale watching tour from punta arenas punta arenas, chile. Mar 19, 2014 i was in town for my flight to antarctica to join a weeklong expedition of the icy continent and was excited to explore the southernmost city in chile. And between punta arenas and wild expanse of drake passage lies a number of big and small islands with more than a few inlets.
End september from punta arenas to bariloche and back 08 april 2020 bus sur pickup time at puq traveling to puerto natales 18 march 2020 best way to get to ushuaia bus or plane 09 march 2020. Youll cruise through the strait of magellan and pass glaciers for an encounter with these majestic giants. Whale watching tour from punta arenas punta arenas. Once there, the humpback whales and other species may be observed from a close distance. A sprawling metropolis on the edge of the strait of magellan, punta arenas defies easy definition. Punta arenas is the beginning of this trip to the natural paradise of whales. While at the city of punta arenas, travelers may access francisco coloane sea park only through the sea. Punta arenas, which translates as sandy point, is a town shaped by the seaby trade and by exploration. The observation season begins in november and finishes in may, with its peak between january. In addition to being a port of call for south american cruises, this city of 100,000 is a departure point for expeditions to antarctica. Book your tickets online for the top things to do in punta arenas, chile on tripadvisor. Punta arenas formerly punta arenosa, sandy point is located on the brunswick peninsula and was founded in the 17th century by englishman j. Whaling was an important economic activity in chile from the 19th century to 1983, when the last whale was hunted in chilean waters.
We are a small company who accidentally discovered this hidden part of chile and we would like to show this magical place to you too. We offer a big variety of birding and nature expeditions, photography trips and trekking adventures with a wildlife and naturalist emphasis. The punta arenas taxfree zone is ideal to shop for bargains and tax exemptions. Patagonia birdwatching is a travel agency founded by local tour guides.