How to arrive to Puerto Natales?

Puerto Natales was founded in 1911 and is the Capital of the Ultima Esperanza Province, is located in the extreme south of Patagonia.

You can arrive to Puerto Natales:

By air, from Santiago to Punta Arenas, the flight takes 4 hours and then it's a 3 hours drive from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales (in summer Sky Airlines a chilean company flight to Puerto Natales from Santiago).

By land, from Argentina, passing through the Dorotea & Casas Viejas borders.

By sea, from Puerto Montt by ferry. The journey takes 72 hours and along the way you'll stop at Puerto Edén (Where the last Kaweskar canoers still exist).

Lodging In Chile.

Lodging in Chile falls under a variety of different categories, with a wide range of prices and levels of comfort. Visitors should feel free to inspect lodging carefully before committing to stay.

Hotels in Chile are classified by the familiar system of 1-5 star. Hotels provide services similar to those in North America or Europe.

Apart-hotels are hotel rooms with kitchenettes and other added amenities, ideal for families.

Hosterías are home-style lodges, usually with a restaurant and frequently providing other tourist services. These can be among the most charming and most confortable of all lodgind options, combining local flavor with modern amenities.

Cabañas or cabins are an excellent option for a families groups, typically providing beds for 4-8 people.

Hospedajes and Residenciales are all budget lodging options, and the different between them are not always clear. Rooms most often hold 2 or more beds, though single travelers usually will not have to share with strangers. Baths are usually shared, and breakfast is often included. Ask about access to kitchen and laundry facilities.

Campgrounds can be a great value and lots of fun, often providing the same services as a hospedaje at a considerably lower price . National Park campgrounds typically provide fewer services, at a higher cost, but the setting usually makes up for it. Travelers are recommended to purchase all camping equipment before arrival.

Refugios are wilderness huts, ranging from staffed shelters with restaurants and hot showers (as in the case in Torres del Paine) to simple hovels in the mountains, providing only the most basic of shelter. If backpacking in remote areas, you should almost always carry a tent, even if a refugio appears on your route.

Willd camping is the term we use for camping in non-designated sites. In the desert north and in many parts of Patagonia, there are plenty of spots to camp for free, though visitors should respect private property; it may be best to offer to pay local landowners to camp on their land. In Central Chile and the Lake Region, free roadside camping is hard to come by, though there are countless spots to camp on beaches, in national parks, and in other wilderness or near-wilderness areas in the Andes. Those traveling in a private vehicle will find it much easier to find sites than those using public transport. 

Porvenir City, in Chilean Tierra del Fuego.

Porvenir is a small town in the Patagonia, located specifically  in the middle of the island of Tierra del Fuego, in southern South America (the island that belongs to Chile and Argentina), located at the bottom of the bay of the same name (in the mouth of the sea of the Strait of Magallanes)).

It is possible to get there by plane (Aerovias Dap, a regional company) or by sea by ferry Crux Australis (Austral Broom, a regional company). It takes 2 hours and a half. It can also be reached by sea in the northern part of the island, in the narrowest part of the Strait of Magellan (that takes 20 minutes). This segment is longer, getting there from Río Grande (Argentina) by crossing the border of San Sebastián.

Porvenir was founded on June 20, 1894 during the height of the search for gold in Tierra del Fuego, Porvenir is now the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Chile, being the most important city in the Chilean side of the island .

Its population reaches the 9,000 people. Today its people live mainly from fishing industry, textile and livestock, which had a great importance for a long time, but less important nowadays.

Some important people who lived in Porvenir, the fisrt name to say is one of the pioneers of Latin American cinema: Jose Bhor, who made several films in the small town; and the Nazi Walter Rauff who was manager of a fishery at the entry of Porvenir.

In terms of culture and typical food of the zone, a character is known as: “Ovejero” (similar to “Gaucho”, a traditional kind of man in the zone) and the famous “Asado al palo” (a lamb that is roasted by breaking through it a large piece of wood and putting it directly to fire)

There are two major events in Porvenir: The Biggest Roast of Tierra del Fuego is made every year during February, that is an an excellent opportunity to taste local cuisine, and assist to the rally called “Carrera de la Hermandad” (brotherhood race). These 2 events are the meeting point for people from Chile and Argentina.

Porvenir has a beautiful seaside, where people can enjoy the beauty of flamingos and black-necked swans. Full of beauty as well, sunrises and sunsets call to be photographed.

PS: traveling between Punta Arenas and Porvenir is so amazing due to the beauty of the “Estrecho de Magallanes” (Magallanes Strait).

Visit Chile.

El país delgado y angosto separado del resto de América del Sur por los sublimes Andes, siglos de aislamiento han moldeado la sociedad chilena, separándola un tanto de sus símiles de América del Sur tanto el lo social como en lo que respecta a su biodiversidad. La mayoría de los viajeros comienza su viaje en Santiago, la capital nacional. Ubicada en el centro de Chile donde se concentra más del 70% de la población, la concentración se extiende también a lo gubernamental y económico. País de contraste posee una diversidad de culturas y escenario, que pocos países comparten. En el Norte domina el desierto y el altiplano, los grandes observatorios astronómicos y las playas aptas para los deportes acuáticos, las enormes mineras y los fantasmas de las salitreras, los mezclas de culturas reflejadas en festejos cristianos llenos de paganismo y los restos arqueológicos de culturas ancestrales. Del Centro se puede decir que Chile solo se mira al ombligo como dicen los provincianos y eso queda demostrado en el gran desarrollo de Santiago y las costeras ciudades de Valparaíso y Viña del Mar, pero el centro es mucho más que eso y los demuestran los hermosos parajes del Valle Central y sus conocidos viñedos. En el Sur el contraste lo hacen los hermosos parajes que producen los Lagos y sublime dominio de sus Volcanes, la ancestral cultura mapuche y la inmigración alemana le dan el sentido a la peculiaridad de sus construcciones y exquisito de sus comidas. La Patagonia es conocida por su hostilidad la de sus secas Pampas con casi nula vegetación y las extremas lluvias de sus islas, sus gigantescos Parques y pequeñas ciudades, la Pesca Deportiva y el Andinismo. El Chile insular esta compuesto por la archiconocida Isla de Pascua y el Archipiélago Juan Fernández conocido mundialmente por Robinson Crusoe. Por esto y mucho más que deberás descubrir cuando lo experimentes, visita Chile. Y la mejor opción es hacerlo con Chile Travel Way.

http://youtu.be/45UusK4nYRg 

Visit Chile.

Chile is a long and narrow country, separated from the rest of America by the Andes Mountain Chain. Its people and its biodiversity were probably molded by this by this separation. This country is full of contrasts in cultural and wildlife among it, contrast that not all countries in the continent have.

Most travelers begin their journey in Santiago, the national capital located in central part of Chile which has more than 70% of the population and where the governmental and economic activities are concentrated.

In the north of the country the landscape of the desert and the highlands in conjunction with astronomical observatories and beaches for water sports are the main attraction for tourist. There are big mines and old niter industries, and some important archaeological remains. It is also interesting to observe the fusion of cultures in the local festivities, all of them with paganism characteristics.

The central area is known for the provinces to focus all the attention of the country in terms of local development In cities like Santiago and coastal cities such as Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. but these places are notable for the beautiful landscapes of the Central Valley  (Valle Central) and its famous vineyards .

And in the south there is a beautiful contrast: “La Región de Los Lagos” and its volcanoes and Mapuche culture. Both the architecture and cuisine has been influenced by the Mapuche culture and German traditions, because of the German immigration to the area.

Patagonia is known for its warm human environment, its lands with no vegetation and frequent extreme rainfall in the place and its islands,  its big parks and small towns, fishing and mountain climbing.

Finally, insular Chile there are the world famous Easter Island  (Isla de Pascua) and Juan Fernandez Archipelago, known because of the famous Robinson Crusoe

City Tour Punta Arenas.

Itinerario

Consiste en la visita por los principales atractivos de Punta Arenas, el casco histórico de la ciudad que l a componen la plaza de armas y sus alrededores donde se encuentran los principales palacios y edificios históricos, también se visita el museo salesiano o en su defecto el regional, el mirador del cerro de la cruz (el principal de la ciudad), el cementerio municipal y sus hermosos mausoleos, el humedal y el recorrido por la costanera con una hermosa vista del majestuoso Estrecho de Magallanes, para el posterior regreso al hotel.

Duración:      3 horas estimadas

Incluye:         Guía Español/Ingles

No incluye:    Propina

                       Comidas

                       Seguros de Viaje

Precios	1 Persona	2 Personas	3 a 5 Personas	Mas de 5 personas
Pesos	70.000	35.000	25.000	15.000
Dólares	145.00	70.00	51.00	30.00
Euros	130.00	65.00	45.00	28.00

Punta Arenas

 

 

I have written this article for you to use it as a guide or source of information if you want to visit a charming place, full of European element everywhere, a cosmopolitan city… that is Punta Arenas.

Punta Arenas is probably one of the cities with more history of Chile, history that can be noticed in its architecture and streets. Everyone who visits Punta Arenas must to start in the square called “Plaza de Armas” or “Muñoz Gamero” where there is the monument to Hernando de Magallanes. Around that monument, you can see the palaces of the pioneers of Patagonia: José Menendez, Sara Braun, Mauricio Braun, Juan Bianchard, and José Montes. There are some business houses of the earliest times of the city such as one that belonged to the “Sociedad Exploradora Tierra del Fuego” (Tierra del Fuego Exploring Society). “Plaza de Armas”, the Regional Museum (that belonged to the Braun Menendez family) and palaces… you cannot miss them!

What about a roasted lamb or a spider crab? If you want to taste this typical and delicious food of the south of Chile, you must know first that it is recommendable to do it in spring or summer because they are newly come in those seasons rather than in winter or fall. I suggest these good restaurants:  Punto Viejo, Sabores, La Tasca, Jekus, the many times visited and famous Solitos Bar, and my favorite one “La Luna”. If you want to eat a good sandwich the most recommendable place is “Lomit’s”. If you want pizza, just go to Dino’s Pizza, where the best pizzas of Punta Arenas are made in.

Now, there are two places that you must know in your visit: the Museo Salesiano  or Marggiorino Bogatello (The Salesian Museum) which contains the most representative elements of the local culture. I also suggest visiting the Cementerio Municipal (municipal cemetery). You could thing that it is not a good idea, but I bet you want to hear the stories that are waiting to be told.

Who said coffee break? If you need a moment to stop your walking, eat something sweet or just internet, the best place to go is “Coffenet”… Maybe you want a hot chocolate. Get one at “Chocolatta”.  Have you ever heard about “choripanes”? I bet you have not. So go to the well-kwon Kiosco Rocca and taste them.

If you do not want to spend a lot of money in food, stop in “Café del Centro” where you will meet the owner, a very kind man. Finally, I also suggest the “History Coffee”.

At the end of the day, the bar “Santino” offers you a good atmosphere, delicious and “Cerveza Imperial” one of the best beers of Chile, and special dishes. But if you are looking for a more stylish place, the “Sky Bar” at the Casino is the best option. Taste there the “Calafate sour”, enjoy the beautiful view to the “Estrecho de Magallanes” (Magallanes Strait).

There are most places that I would like to suggest to you, but they will be recommended in another future article.