Punta Arenas
Travelers come to this windswept port on the Strait of Magellan for penguin boat trips, the open Patagonian steppe and as a base for the far south.
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Punta Arenas is a port city on the Strait of Magellan, in the Magallanes region of southern Chile. It is the largest city in the far south of the country and the main base for travelers heading into Patagonia. The city grew from a penal colony founded in 1848 and later from sheep farming. The municipal cemetery, lined with tall cypress trees, is a quiet stop for visitors interested in the city's early settlers.
Most trips here are built around what lies beyond the city. Boats leave for Isla Magdalena, where Magellanic penguins nest in season, and the road north leads to Torres del Paine National Park, several hours away by car. Punta Arenas suits travelers who plan a few days in the far south and want a city base for tours, supplies and rental cars. Summer, roughly December to February, has the longest days, but the wind is strong at any time of year. Give the city two or three days, and add more if you go into the park.
Punta Arenas in five
- Book the bus to Puerto NatalesThe bus to Puerto Natales takes about 3.5 hours and is the usual route to Torres del Paine. Book seats ahead for weekends and peak season.Getting around
- Pack a windproof shellWind off the Strait of Magellan is strong in every season. A fleece alone is not enough for the boat or the seafront.Clothing
- Take a boat to Isla MagdalenaMagellanic penguins nest on this island in the Strait. The boat leaves from Punta Arenas and takes about 2 hours, so book a seat ahead.Tours and tickets
- Carry pesos for small purchasesCards work at most hotels and larger shops. Keep Chilean pesos in cash for small cafés and some taxis.Money and costs
- Check Torres del Paine rules with CONAFThe park charges an entry fee, and CONAF, Chile's national forest agency, sets the camping and trekking rules. Check conaf.cl before you book a campsite.
Things to do in Punta Arenas
See all attractions in Punta Arenas
Need to know
- Currency
- Chilean peso (CLP)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check the foreign ministry site Read more
- Emergency
- 133 police, 131 ambulance, 132 fire
- Tipping
- About 10% at restaurants is customary; check whether the bill includes it
- Time
- UTC-3 year-round, no daylight saving change
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain18 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Mild days, long lightJanuaryRain
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild days, long light
- FebruaryRain16 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Long days, busyFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, busy
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Warm, long daysMarchRain
Best
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, long days
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Cooling, fewer crowdsAprilRain
Best
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 82 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cooling, fewer crowds
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Autumn colorMayPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- JuneRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low1°Cold, quietJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh4°Low0°Winter, short daysJulyPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 51 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Winter, short days
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh5°Low1°Coldest, short daysAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 53 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Coldest, short days
- SeptemberCloudy11 rainy daysHigh7°Low2°Cold, short daysSeptemberCloudy
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, short days
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh9°Low4°Spring startsOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Spring, windyNovemberRain
Good
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, windy
- DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Spring, long daysDecemberRain
Best
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, long days
Average daily high and low in Punta Arenas, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Punta Arenas
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 70%
- Wind
- 37 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 95%
Punta Arenas
05:43 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today10°4°95%Monday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Tue12°6°51%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Wed11°5°69%Wednesday: Rain. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Thu11°4°29%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 29%.
- Fri13°6°16%Friday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sat13°8°71%Saturday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Sun13°6°67%Sunday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 67%.
Updated 02:47 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 990.8 CLP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Puerto Natalesabout 3.5 hours by busGateway to Torres del Paine, better as an overnight stay than a day trip.
- Isla Magdalenaabout 2 hours by boatA Magellanic penguin colony in the Strait, reached by boat.
- Fuerte Bulnesabout 1 hour by roadHistoric fort on the Strait, a short drive north of the city.
Before you go to Punta Arenas
Rules for Punta Arenas, checked
- Chile sets visa rules by nationality. Check the foreign ministry site before you fly, as the list can change.Source
- Chile restricts fresh food, plants and animal products at the border. Declare them on arrival, and check the Agriculture Service (SAG) list first.Source
- Torres del Paine and other Patagonian parks charge entry and set camping rules. Check CONAF's official site before you go.Source
Plan around Punta Arenas
Entry rules, cities and regions for a longer trip
Read the guideGetting aroundBuses from Punta Arenas and the route to the park gateway
Read the guideMoney and cardsPaying in pesos and where cash still counts
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa and what to check before you fly
Read the guideWhere to stayBases in town and the trade-offs of each
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData for maps and bookings when you are off Wi-Fi
Read the guidePunta Arenas FAQ
Is Punta Arenas worth visiting?
Yes, for one to two days. Take the penguin boat to Isla Magdalena, visit the Museo Regional de Magallanes and walk the seafront along the Strait.
How many days do you need in Punta Arenas?
Two days covers the city and the penguin boat. Add days for Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine, which you reach from Puerto Natales.
How do you get from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine?
Take a bus to Puerto Natales, about 3.5 hours, then a second bus or transfer into the park. Book the first bus early in peak season.
Do I need a visa for Chile?
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities enter visa-free for short stays, but some need a visa, so check the foreign ministry site before you fly.
Can I see penguins from Punta Arenas?
Yes. Boats run from the city to Isla Magdalena, where Magellanic penguins nest. Trips run in the warmer months, so check dates with the operator before you go.