Which area is Punta Arenas?

Want to travel to Chilean Patagonia? If you don't know where to stay in Punta Arenas, here's our selection of the best areas to sleep!

At the southern edges of the South American continent, Punta Arenas is a metropolis with its 130,000 inhabitants . At the same time disappointing, rustic and dynamic, it is an excellent starting point for visiting the Patagonian region. Founded in 1848 by José de los Santos Mardones, the city experienced a strong development from 1890, when many Europeans came to look for gold.

Sleep in Punta Arenas allows you to easily get to the nearby national parks, such as the Magallane National Reserve or Torres del Paine Park. You can also take a boat to observe whales or go on a cruise to Ushuaia . The city itself has very good tourist and hotel infrastructures.

Its colourful houses, beautiful historical houses and museums help make it a stage of choice in your journey. It is easy to find where to stay in Punta Arenas, especially around its central square. There is also a good choice of restaurants and bars. Here is our selection of the best areas to sleep during your stay!

The historic centre

Plaza de Armas or Plaza Muñoz Gamero, represents the central point of the historic city. It concentrates the majority of places of interest and accommodation in Punta Arenas. Travellers enjoy sleeping in this neighborhood because they can move on foot. Monuments, museums, restaurants, travel agencies: everything is easily accessible.

While staying in the historic centre, you will first discover the main square. Surrounded by centenary conifers, you can admire an imposing bronze statue of Fernand de Magellan and an old kiosk of 1910. At its northern end there are two special French neoclassical hotels built between 1895 and 1905: the Palacio Braun-Menéndez and Casa Sara Braun . Materials, furniture and decoration were imported from Europe. Today, the old house of Sara Braun was transformed into a hotel.

In the basement, the restaurant-bar La Taberna is the perfect place to sip a pisco sour Chile's iconic drink! The palace Braun-Menéndez houses the Magallanes Regional Museum. The Palacio José Montes, the Résidence Blanchard and the bank building Tarapacá are among the other must-sees in the area.

The Croatian quarter

The gold rush of the 1890s saw many Croats set up in Punta Arenas. Located in the east of the central square, the Croatian quarter now retains the typical architecture of the houses of their country of origin. To immerse yourself in the history of these immigrants, go to coffee Los Inmigrantes ! There are many memories of the first Croatian inhabitants.

Finding accommodation in Punta Arenas in this part of the city also allows you to be close to the port. One of the most charming pedestrian streets, the Calle Presidente Roca , leads you to the shipyard, facing the Strait of Magellan. Observe the ballet of cruise ships that accost and let yourself be carried in the legends of sailors! The passengers from the South Pole leave here their ships, direction the bars of the port, the time to share their adventures with their companions crossing.

A municipal and artisanal market sells seafood, fish and other fresh foods, as well as crafts. On the top floor of the building, restaurants offer local specialities with panoramic views of the Strait of Magellan. In the evening, the port district is also the place to play at the casino!

North of the Plaza de Armas

Another option to stay in Punta Arenas is to get away from the historic heart to the north. You will thus enjoy a quiet location, while having a wide choice of restaurants and tourist attractions. Among them is municipal cemetery recognized as one of the most fascinating in Latin America. After crossing the monumental gate, cypress-lined avenues lead you to the mausoleums and chapels built for the rich families of the region. Luxurious ornaments, made of marble and bronze surround the sumptuous buildings where the city's illustrious characters lie.

By staying in this neighborhood, you will also be in the immediate vicinity of Salesiano Regional Museum . Founded by the Order of the Salesians, he exhibits an impressive collection of ethnographic objects belonging to the native populations of Patagonia, such as Onas and Yagans. By pushing further north, you will reach the free area of Punta Arenas: more than 100 stores offer free taxes. An ideal place for shopping at a lower cost!