Things to do in Punta Arenas: Wind, Penguins, and the Edge of the World

There’s a certain kind of charm to Punta Arenas—the kind you don’t quite expect. It’s not flashy or postcard-perfect, but it has this gritty, windswept soul that grows on you fast. Sitting at the very bottom of Chile, it is bigger than most of the towns in Patagonia, which more things to do in Punta Arenas and brings a better restaurant scene/grocery stores. The visit to see the Penguins on Magdalena Island makes it a necessary stop on any Patagonia trip. It feels more like the edge of the world than just another city.

Walk along the Strait of Magellan and Explore Old Town

We spent our first hour here walking along the waterfront, where the Strait of Magellan crashes against the shore, and rusted shipwrecks sit just offshore like forgotten relics. The path along the water is beautiful and long enough for a nice but cold run.

Next wander around the town and make your way to the memorial to Ferdinand Magellan in the city square. There is a legend has it that if you kiss the foot of the statue, you’ll come back to Patagonia someday. So, of course, we kissed the toe.

After walking around town, we were ready for some warmth and a beer. We ducked into Rústico Restobar, which was exactly the kind of cozy, wood-paneled hideout we were craving. Cold craft beer, friendly locals, and a wood stove made it the perfect place to thaw out. They had a great cocktail menu, which was a nice surprise.

And just when we thought the day couldn’t end on a better note, we wandered over to Marzolo Gelato e Café—because, yes, even in Patagonia, you eat gelato. The flavors were surprisingly inventive (the Calafate berry one was a favorite), and the vibe was all soft lighting and sweet smells. I love gelato, and this was by far the best we had tried in Patagonia. It’s not a bad way to wrap up a day at the edge of the world.

Tour to Isla Magdelena to see the Penguins, Dolphins & Sea Lions (Best things to do in Punta Arenas)

No trip to Puenta Areans is complete without a boat trip to Isla Magdalena and Isla Marta to see the penguins. It is the best things to do in Punta Arenas.

The penguins are on Isla Magdalena from October to March each year. We visited Isla Magdalena at the end of the season in March when the penguins started heading back to sea. Watching them psych themselves up to plunge into the waves was hilarious, adorable, and oddly moving.

We booked our Punta Arenas Penguins tour with Solo Expediciones, which I would absolutely recommend. It starts very early at 6:30am; we returned mid day but just napped and took the rest of the day easy.

If you want the full story, I wrote a full post about it Patagonia Penguin Tour. It’s a must-do if you’re in Punta Arenas during the right season.

Nao Victoria Museum

For our last day in Punta Arenas, we headed to the Museo Nao Victoria, a quirky outdoor with life-sized replicas of historic ships. It is just a bit outside the center of town, but one of the best things to do in Punta Arenas to learn about the history of the area.

The star of the show is the Nao Victoria, an exact replica of one of Magellan’s ships—the first vessel to ever circumnavigate the globe. Standing on the deck, hearing the creak of wood and the wind howling around us, it was weirdly easy to imagine what it must’ve felt like to sail into the unknown.

There are other ships, too—the James Caird from Shackleton’s Antarctic voyage, the HMS Beagle (Darwin’s ride), and even a replica of the Goleta Ancud, the ship that claimed Patagonia for Chile.

You can buy the tickets at the museum when you arrive – it was something around 10 dollars per person. No need to prebook.

They have poster boards explaining the three exhibitions and the famous people on each boat. After seeing the famous FitzRoy Moutain a few days before, it was cool to learn about Robert Fitzroy, Captain of the HMS Beagle (Darwin’s ride).

If you’re even slightly into history or boats or exploration (or just like climbing on cool stuff), it’s worth a stop. Plus, it was practically empty when we went, which made it even better. They have free coffee as well to warm you up. The museum is entirely outside, so dress warmly.

Recommended time in Punta Arenas

2 or 3 days is plenty of time in Punta Arenas. The penguins make it a necessary stop on any Patagonia Trip. There are enough things to do in Punta Arenas to keep you busy for 2-3 days. There are buses from Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine, El Chalten or El Calafate Regularly.

Where to stay in Punta Arenas

If you took the bus to Punta Arenas, the town is very walkable but make sure you get a hostel or hotel in town:

• Almasur Punta Arenas – Best Budget Hotel – This budget hotel is a great value and location. The breakfast is good as well offering fresh fruit.
• Hostal Micalvi – Best Hostel – Great Breakfast and good location in town.
• Alojamiento en Punta Arenas – Best Budget with a kitchen – If you have a car, this one a little farther out of town is perfect for the super budget. It is simple but has everything that you need. Patagonia is expensive so having a kitchen to cook helps with the costs a lot. We stayed here to bring down the costs at the end of our trip.
• There are also a few homes on HomeExchange in Punta Arenas. This is our favorite platform for home sharing and helped us so much in expensive Patagonia. We used it in El Calafate on this trip but you can use it throughout Patagonia.