Punta Arenas

From the gold rush to sheep farming

In the 19th century, during the gold rush, Punta Arenas was a port with an excellent location, in addition to abundant access to water and wood, for ships heading to California. Initially, Punta Arenas lived off its natural resources, such as coal, gold, wood, guano, and seal or guanaco skins. However, the economy soared toward the end of the 19th century, when it was decided to invest in sheep farming, which boosted trade and attracted immigrants from different countries. The climate in Punta Arenas has cold winters and cool summers, with common snow blizzards.

The penguins of Magdalena Island

You can visit the Naval and Maritime Museum or the Regional Museum of Magallanes in Punta Arenas. Take a walk on Magdalena Island, where about 60,000 pairs of Magellanic penguins gather each year, or go tax-free shopping in its Free Trade Zone.