PATAGONIA

City of Punta Arenas

Capital of the region of Magallanes, the city of Punta Arenas is located on the banks of the straight of Magallanes on Brunswick peninsula. Anciently called Punta Arenosa, a literal translation of the English name "Sandy Point" named by J. Byron in the 17th Century.
Punta Arenas as it is called now is characterized for having a variety of species as ostriches, owls, mandolas, lake and sea birds, wild ducks, swallows, sea - gulls, and so on.
In the environs of the city one can visit:
The Bulnes Fort and the Starvation Port, located at 60 Km. to the south of Punta Arenas. Both forts formed the first Spanish colony on the coast of the Straight of Magallanes.

Currently, the Bulnes fort is an historic reconstruction of the small fort where Chile settled the first Patagonian town and took possession of the same.

On the coast remains of old ships that shipwrecked are seen.

Punta Dungenes

In the last point of Continental Chile toward the east and is located 272 kilometers northwest of Punta Arenas. Here on the Straight of Magallanes, the first city called "Name of Jesus" was founded. There is an old beacon, famous for all sailors all over the world, besides a cemetery for beacon masters.

Ciudad de Puerto Natales

Capital of the province of Ultima Esperanza, the Puerto Natales city was founded in 1911 and it is located 250 kilometers away from Punta Arenas. The city has a good tour infra - structure due to the fact of being the center for the picnics to Torres del Paine National Park, Bernardo O'Higgins and Milodon Cave.

On the route from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales it is interesting to visit:

The small country town of El Ovejero and the picturesque little town of Villa Tehuelches, seat of the cattle - raising cooperative "Cacique Mulato".

Going past the Bombalot cattle track, the valley of Penitente River is traversed and then Morro Chico, a sport fishing site and of interest to archeologists.

Porvenir City

Capital of the province of Tierra de Fuego, the small town of Porvenir which has 6.386 inhabitants, mostly Yugoslav descendants.

Leaving Porvenir one can go over the island of Tierra del Fuego, a place discovered by Hernando Magallanes, who gave it this name due to the bonfires of the "onas" Indians who would light its coasts.

It is interesting to visit:

· The Costanera Boulevard, on whose banks are pink flamingoes and black neck swans.
· Caleta Josefina ranch.
· The Marine Weirs formed by stones of different sizes that are covered by high tides and on descending they leave kingfishes and basses trapped all along.
· The beaver valley , a beautiful place covered with impressive woods.
· Lake Blanco, with abundant trout of the brownie type. This place is surrounded by tress and facing the mountain range summits.
· The Darwin Mountain range.

Puerto Williams

A small port with 1,800 inhabitants, naval quarter of the Chilean Grand Army. It has a museum in which the history and the natural resources of the primitive inhabitants of the zone of Beagle Channel are exhibited. In its woods there are beautiful waterfalls, lakes and rivers for good fishing.

Capital of the Chilean Antarctic province and a naval quarter.
It is interesting to visit the Martin Gusinde museum (named in honor of the known anthropologist and priest) which holds the history of the Yaganse and picture samples of the natural resources.