Getting Around Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is a compact, walkable city built around its main square, Plaza de Armas, where the monument to Hernando de Magallanes stands. Many of the city's principal public buildings — including the town hall and the Union Club — are clustered around this square, so a good deal of what a visitor wants to see lies within easy reach on foot. The one thing to plan for is the weather: the city can get really windy, so dress accordingly if you intend to explore on foot.
For anything beyond the centre, visitors have a few straightforward options: a taxi, a minibus, or a colectivo (a shared route taxi).
Rail, Metro and Tram
Punta Arenas has no rail, metro or tram network. Getting around the city and its surroundings is done by road, on foot, or by ferry across the strait.
Buses and Public Transport
The city has a public bus system called Movigas, which runs a small number of lines. These lines start out from downtown and head to the suburbs, which means they are not especially useful for getting around the central parts of the city where most points of interest are. If your plans are concentrated in the centre, walking will usually serve you better than the bus.
For longer journeys, minibuses and colectivos fill the gap left by the fixed bus lines.
Taxis and Colectivos
Taxis are readily available in Punta Arenas and fares are affordable, making them a practical choice for trips across town or out to the airport. Alongside conventional taxis, the city also has colectivos — route taxis that run along set routes and pick up multiple passengers. For lengthier trips outside the city, a taxi, a minibus or a colectivo are the options to ask for.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport (airport code PUQ) sits north of the city and is the main airport of Chilean Patagonia. Because of the region's remoteness, flying is the principal way visitors reach Punta Arenas.
The airport handles both civilian and military aircraft and is served by LATAM Chile, Aerovías DAP, JetSmart and Sky Airline. There are flights from Santiago de Chile — generally your best option for connecting from the rest of the world — as well as from smaller airports in southern Chile and Argentina and from the Falkland Islands. Charter flights to Antarctica also operate from here.
Once you land, the practical way into town is by road; taxis are readily available at the airport and fares are affordable. If you would rather not drive yourself, a taxi or a pre-arranged transfer is the simplest option, and the same applies in reverse when you head back for your departure.
Getting Around by Car
For attractions outside the city, consider renting a car. Popular tourist sights beyond Punta Arenas can also be reached on an organised tour, which saves you the trouble of navigating unfamiliar roads and border formalities.
It is worth knowing that Punta Arenas has no road connection to the rest of Chile north of Patagonia, since road construction is impossible across the icefields. Any long-distance driving therefore involves crossing through Argentina.
Arriving by Bus or Ferry
Despite being a regional capital, Punta Arenas has no centralised bus station. Instead, bookings are made at the offices of the individual bus companies. Terminal Bus-Sur on Avenida Cristóbal Colón serves the regional company Bus-Sur, and the termini of other major bus companies are nearby. Frequent buses run from Puerto Natales, while services from further afield are much less frequent. There are also buses from Ushuaia, a long trip that includes a ferry crossing. Important operators include Bus Sur, Buses Pacheco, Buses Fernández and Turibus; Turibus and Quielen Bus also run departures from Osorno that cross through Argentina.
By sea, a ferry operated by Transbordadora Austral Broom sails a few times a week from Porvenir in Tierra del Fuego across the strait, carrying both cars and foot passengers. The same company also sails from Puerto Williams and Magdalena Island. Cruise ships visit often, especially in the austral summer from December to March, mostly departing from Ushuaia but with some sailings from as far away as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Valparaíso.