Punta Arenas
In the 19th century, during the gold rush, Punta Arenas was a port with an excellent location, in addition to its 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 until the end of the 19th century, when it was decided to invest in sheep cattle, which boosted trade and attracted immigrants from different countries. The climate in Punta Arenas is of cold winters and cool summers. Snow blizzards are common.
You can visit the Naval and Maritime Museum or the Regional Museum of Magellan in Punta Arenas. Take a walk on Magdalena Island, where about 60,000 pairs of Magellan penguins gather yearly, or go tax-free shopping in its Free Trade Zone.
