Punta Arenas

Founded on 18 December 1848 on the shores of the Straits of Magellan, Punta Arenas is the capital of the region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, located in the Brunswick peninsula. In Spanish, Punta means “tip” and Arenas “sands”.

Its population of nearly 130,000 inhabitants makes it the most densely populated and most cosmopolitan city of Chilean Patagonia, comprising mainly descendants of the original European settlers – Croats make up 50% of the population, and the rest are a mixture of Germans, British, Spaniards, French, Italians and Swiss.

Magellanic hospitality still permeates the local culture – perhaps nourished by the inhospitality of a climate that regularly sees rain and sun at the same time – and the city is remarkably relaxed and friendly.

Port elements provide the main activity for the city, followed by farming, especially sheep, and then canneries. Tourist activity is increasing now thanks to improved options of travel to Antarctica by plane and by ship.