Punta Arenas may seem at first glance like a small town with little to do when you arrive outside of the tourist season. However, the locals are very welcoming. My friend introduced me to his friends and family and for every “nice to meet you” an invitation for dinner followed. We were also invited to one family dinner with typical regional food, followed by music on the accordion and guitar along with polka dancing. The whole family enjoyed living their traditions and everyone wanted to include the “foreigner”.
What to do?
As it is outside of the tourist season it is a little bit harder to find organized tours. I went on a half day trip with Payne Agencia de Turismo (street José Menéndez) to Fuerte Bulnes ($10,000), which is a reconstruction of the original fort.
A must is to visit is the Punta Arenas cemetery. You need to look for the “Indiecito – The little Indian” while you are there. If you keep to the left side after you enter the cemetery you can find the memorial for “El Indio Desconocido – The Unknown Indian”. For the locals he is referred to as an unofficial saint and numerous plaques of acknowledgment bare witness to this.
A Day Trip from Punta Arenas
A full day trip takes you to Torres del Paine for $30,000, the entrance fee to the park is paid separately with different prices for Chileans or foreigners living in Chile (I believe it was $3,000) and tourists ($8,000).
The tour starts in Punta Arenas at 5am and brings you back at around 10pm.
The first stop is at Milodon cave. On the way to the cave you pass a strange looking rock, known as the Devil’s Seat.
The tour continues onto different look-outs in the park and finishes off at “Lago Grey”. During our trip through the park we saw lots of guanacos, some condors and even one curious fox! It is a lot to absorb in one day, but it was absolutely stunning! The pictures speak for themselves!
Getting around
Most people travel through town in “collectivos” taxi with different numbers that go along certain routes. The price varies between $350 and $450 per ride. You just flag down the driver and ask him where to stop.
Where to eat?
Cofrima 1 (corner Lautaro Navarro and Bahmaceda)
This little buffet restaurant is located above the Unimarc supermarket. There is a set menu for $2,790 and consists of soup, main dish (e.g. beans + noodles, chicken or fish and chips), side salad, dessert and a drink. Try to come before 2pm otherwise it is really crowded with locals during the week.
There is also a Cofrima 2 (Av. España 01375), which has excellent pizzas! According to the chef, the recipe for the sauce is from Italy!
