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Punta Arenas

Chile travel guide

What to see in Punta Arenas

On the Strait of Magellan, gateway to penguins and to Antarctica.

Updated 19 October 2026 · How we make our guides

  • 5 must-see places
  • Best time: from October to April
  • Typical food: Magellanic lamb
Photo: W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0

Punta Arenas highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

  1. Magdalena Island

    A colony of Magellanic penguins in summer.

  2. Plaza de Armas

    With the Magellan monument.

  3. Municipal cemetery

    One of the most beautiful in South America.

  4. Nao Victoria Museum

    Replicas of historic ships.

  5. Strait of Magellan

    Boat trips and wildlife spotting.

Day trips from Punta Arenas

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to Punta Arenas

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Punta Arenas are from October to April. If you can, avoid from June to August (southern winter: lots of things closed).

  1. Jan no warnings
  2. Feb no warnings
  3. Mar no warnings
  4. Apr no warnings
  5. May with warnings
  6. Jun with strong warnings
  7. Jul with strong warnings
  8. Aug with strong warnings
  9. Sep with warnings
  10. Oct no warnings
  11. Nov no warnings
  12. Dec no warnings
  • from May to September

    Southern winter: lots of things closed

    From May to September many places to stay, excursions and trails close (El Chaltén is almost empty).

    What to do: If you go in winter, focus on Ushuaia and El Calafate (Perito Moreno is open all year).

  • from May to September

    Southern winter in Patagonia

    From May to September it’s cold, the days are short and many trails and places to stay close in and around Torres del Paine.

    What to do: For Patagonia, October to April is better.

Typical food of Punta Arenas

The dish you have to try there and how to make it at home, to whet your appetite before the trip (or to go back to Punta Arenas from your kitchen).

Magellanic lamb
Photo: Liuvaa · CC BY-SA 3.0

Magellanic lamb

Patagonian lamb roasted “al palo”, splayed on a cross beside the fire for hours. In Punta Arenas it’s served at estancia barbecues and in the city’s restaurants.

  • Serves 6
  • 3 h

Ingredients

  • 1 shoulder and 1 leg of lamb (about 3 kg)
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • Rosemary and oregano
  • 100 ml oil
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Coarse salt

How to make it at home

  1. Crush the garlic with the herbs, oil, lemon and salt.
  2. Rub it over the lamb and leave it to rest for at least 2 hours.
  3. Roast it in the oven at 160 °C for about 2½ hours (or over embers, well away from the fire), basting it with its juices.
  4. Turn up to 220 °C for the last 15 minutes so the skin browns.
  5. Serve with potatoes and Chilean salad (tomato and onion).

The trick: When it’s roasted “al palo”, the lamb goes ribs-side towards the fire first.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the picada (local eatery). The dishes you can’t miss are in the Chile guide.

Frequently asked questions about Punta Arenas

What to see in Punta Arenas?

Magdalena Island, Plaza de Armas, Municipal cemetery, Nao Victoria Museum and Strait of Magellan.

What to see in Punta Arenas in one day?

Don’t miss Magdalena Island, Plaza de Armas, Municipal cemetery, Nao Victoria Museum and Strait of Magellan. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

What’s the best time to travel to Punta Arenas?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to Punta Arenas are from October to April. If you can, avoid from June to August (southern winter: lots of things closed).

What day trips can you take from Punta Arenas?

Penguins.

What is the typical food of Punta Arenas?

Magellanic lamb. Patagonian lamb roasted “al palo”, splayed on a cross beside the fire for hours. In Punta Arenas it’s served at estancia barbecues and in the city’s restaurants.

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Guide reviewed 19 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.