← Patagonian International Marathon·1 night

Punta Arenas: A Night on the Strait

A night in the regional capital on the Strait of Magellan, with a flat central plaza and a short walk before the flight home.

Duration1 night
TransitRoad journey of about 3 hours from Puerto Natales
DepartsPuerto Natales

After the Patagonian International Marathon: Punta Arenas

The Route: Puerto Natales → Punta Arenas → Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ) Logistics: Coach, shared transfer or taxi, about 3 hours by road. Marathon Month: September Duration: 1 night

Puerto Natales ──(about 3 hrs by road)──> Punta Arenas ──(short transfer)──> Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ)

Punta Arenas (PUQ) is the main alternative to the small Puerto Natales airport, about three hours by road from town. A night in the city turns a transit stop into a short stay, and it avoids a tight drive on the morning of a flight.

September in Punta Arenas: late winter on the Strait of Magellan. Expect cold, wind and short days. Dress for rain and for the possibility of snow, and check the forecast before walking far.

Night One: Punta Arenas

Coaches run between Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, and shared transfers and taxis also make the journey. Check current timetables and fares with the operators, because schedules are thinner in winter. A direct drive takes around three hours, and the road is open and exposed to wind.

The centre of the city is flat and compact. The Plaza Muñoz Gamero, the main square, is surrounded by the grand houses of the 19th-century wool and shipping fortunes. A slow circuit takes about 15 minutes. The waterfront promenade on the Strait is level and paved, and gives wide views of the water in clear weather. The city's old municipal cemetery, with its lines of clipped cypress and the tombs of early settlers, is a flat, easy walk of about 30 minutes inside the grounds. Check opening hours before you go.

Where to stay. Hotel José Nogueira occupies the historic Sara Braun mansion on the Plaza Muñoz Gamero. Hotel Cabo de Hornos, at Plaza Muñoz Gamero 1025, is across the square. Both are in the flat centre, a short taxi from the airport. Book ahead and ask about breakfast times if your flight is early.

Where to eat. The seafood of the region, especially king crab and fish from the Strait, is the draw. La Luna, at O'Higgins 1017, is a well-known restaurant for seafood, with chupe de centolla (a hot king crab stew served in a clay bowl) as its signature dish. Check opening hours and book a table, because kitchens often close early in winter.

Getting to Punta Arenas Airport (PUQ)

The airport is about 20 km from the city centre. Taxis and airport transfers run from the centre, and the trip takes around 20 to 30 minutes. Allow extra time in winter in case of wind or ice. Book a taxi through your hotel for an early flight.