Punta Arenas

Photo: Penarc / commons.wikimedia.org unter GNU Free Documentation License

Punta Arenas lies on the Strait of Magellan and is a starting point for cruises through the channels of Patagonia. Two roles of the port are important for travellers: some arrive for a stop in the city, while others begin a multi-day voyage here to Ushuaia or an Antarctic expedition. The arrangements therefore depend on whether you are boarding at the quay, disembarking, or arriving for a fly-cruise programme.

Routes through Patagonia and towards Antarctica

The Fjords of Tierra del Fuego sea route connects Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, passing through the Patagonian channels. Australis lists the voyage as four nights and offers departures from both cities.

A second option is the Antarctica Express Air-Cruise. On the Punta Arenas itinerary, travellers first fly to King George Island in the South Shetland Islands, where they transfer to the expedition ship. On the return journey to Ushuaia, the route passes Cape Horn and Puerto Williams, weather permitting. The Punta Arenas itinerary ends in Ushuaia. In the opposite direction, the air-cruise begins in Ushuaia and ends in Punta Arenas; after the Antarctic ship voyage, the return flight from King George Island takes travellers there.

Muelle Prat and getting there

Australis embarkation is listed at Muelle Prat (EPA), Avenida Costanera del Estrecho de Magallanes 1398. Check-in is between 1 and 5 p.m. on the day of departure, with boarding scheduled for 6 p.m. According to the operator, Muelle Prat is about a 15-minute walk or a five-minute drive from the central Plaza de Armas. Allow enough time for check-in and baggage drop-off, and follow the address confirmed for your ship.

According to the operator, Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport is about a 20-minute drive from Muelle Prat. Punta Arenas has air connections with Santiago, Puerto Montt and Balmaceda, among other destinations; the operator lists flight times of approximately three and a half, two and a half, and one and a half hours, respectively. Taxis operate in the city, and public buses stop within walking distance of the quay; private transfers can also be arranged. For the transfer between the airport and the quay, arrange a ride to the specific terminal.

On the Australis voyage from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia, disembarkation at the destination is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. In the opposite direction, the voyage ends with disembarkation in Punta Arenas at 12:30 p.m. Plan connecting flights, hotels and baggage arrangements around these times; other cruise lines have their own schedules.

A short shore visit in the city centre

If your ship calls at Punta Arenas, the compact city centre around Plaza de Armas makes a convenient focus for your visit. It is within walking distance of Muelle Prat. This keeps your outing close to the port, so there is no need to plan a long overland journey for a short stay. For embarkation, however, the quay is a clear starting point: choose your route based on the terminal address in your travel documents, not just the place name Punta Arenas.

Arriving for the Antarctica Air-Cruise

On the itinerary that begins in Punta Arenas, travellers are taken to their hotel and must check in at Explorers House before 2 p.m. The following day, they fly to King George Island in about two hours and transfer there to the expedition ship. This route ends in Ushuaia; plan your onward travel according to the travel documents for that destination.

The reverse itinerary begins in Ushuaia and ends in Punta Arenas. After the ship voyage, travellers fly from King George Island to Punta Arenas, stay overnight at a hotel there, and travel to the airport the next morning after breakfast.