Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego are part of administrative region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica (Region XII) where Punta Arenas is the capital. This immense region starts north in the remote village of Puerto Éden, located in the Fjords near the northern boundary of Ice Field South (the largest continuous area of permanent ice in the southern hemisphere outside Antarctica, with 13.000 km2 of land surface and ranging 350 km from north to south), and spreads south to Chilean Tierra del Fuego. It also includes the Chilean territory in Antarctica. The Region of Magallanes thus covers all Austral Chile, with a rough climate, areas of small population, mountains, lakes and glaciers. Puerto Éden is in the northern boundary of the region. The southern tip of Ice Field south is part of Torres del Paine National Park, probably the most brilliant jewel of this region. This national park covers 1814 km2 of wonderful landscapes. The Grey Glacier is located inside the park and it is one of many glaciers in Ice Field South. The Region of Magallanes includes the towns of Puerto Natales, the best base to explore the region and Torres del Paine, and Punta Arenas, the capital and the largest town in Austral Chile, located on Magellan Strait. In Chilean Tierra del Fuego the main towns are Porvenir, facing Punta Arenas across Magellan Strait, and Puerto Williams in Navarino Island, on Beagle Channel. The island of Tierra del Fuego is divided in equal halves between Chile and Argentina and it is hardly inhabited. The nearby islands feature mountains and canals between them, being Cape Horn the highlight as the southern most point in America.

Magellan Strait is the strait that permits navigation from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific without passing south of the rough Cape Horn. Its name was given after the great Portuguese commander and navigator, Fernão Magalhães (Magellan), who discovered the strait while sailing for the first time around the world in 1520. Punta Arenas is the most important port in this Austral region of South America and an excellent scale for ships passing nearby. Across the strait, the small port of Porvenir has ferryboat connections to Punta Arenas. Porvenir is a small town of 6,000 inhabitants, but the most relevant in Chilean Tierra del Fuego. Navigating along Magellan Strait, through Punta Arenas and Fuerte Bulnes, we reach the immense Alberto D'Agostini National Park, in the Pacific Ocean, some 80 nautical miles from Punta Arenas. It is another wonder of nature with several glaciers falling over the Fjords.

Punta Arenas is the capital of the Region of Magallanes (XII) and the largest town in Austral Chile with a population of 115,000 inhabitants. The Government of Chile sent an expedition of settlers to the region in 1843. After leaving Fuerte Bulnes, they founded Punta Arenas in 1848. Currently, Punta Arenas plays the most important role in Patagonia, both Chilean and Argentinean. It is the largest town and port of the region, located on the northern shore of Magellan Strait, 3000 km south of Santiago. The main interests in Punta Arenas are the central square with an elegant bronze statue of Magellan, the Cathedral, Sara Braun Palace (Sara Braun was married to the Portuguese José Nogueira, one of Punta Arenas's most notable citizens, pioneer of sheep breeding in the late 19th century) and the Salesian Museum of Borgatello, which presents a good description of the region and its people. Cerro La Cruz is a great spot to enjoy delightful panoramas over the colourful rooftops of Punta Arenas and Magellan Strait.

Otway Penguin Reservation is a protected area in Seno Otway (a canal that starts in the Pacific Ocean) 65 km north of Punta Arenas, northwest of Brunswick Peninsula. Between October and March, some 6000 penguins gather here for breeding. For the visitor of this colony, the spectacle of nature is unique and the penguins are quite sociable as they're used to see humans. Sometimes they let visitors get very close and seem to be posing for cameras. The access to Otway Reservation is located on the road from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales.

Puerto Natales is a town of 15,000 inhabitants, located in Seno (Canal) Ultima Esperanza, 250 km north of Punta Arenas. Puerto Natales was founded in 1911 performing as main activities agriculture and more recently tourism. Indeed Puerto Natales is one of the most important tourist centres in Patagonia, serving as a base to several activities in the region, mostly related to eco-tourism and the contact with nature. Around Puerto Natales, the most popular activities include a visit to the wonderful Torres del Paine National Park, a journey to Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, in the Fjords north of Puerto Edén, and enjoy the beauty of Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers, or even a long drive to Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, featuring its famous Perito Moreno Glacier. From Puerto Natales leaves the cruise on board "Puerto Edén" cargo ship that navigates along the Chilean Fjords for 4 days, to Puerto Montt. The town itself is small and picturesque, with wooden houses, handcraft shops, small family companies that organise expeditions and a very nice seaside with a beautiful bay overlooking the mountains around and Canal Ultima Esperanza. Pub Ameríndia is an obvious meeting point in town, by the seaside. It has a friendly ambience where world travellers meet.

Torres del Paine National Park is the largest National Park in the region and very likely the most awesome in Chile. Take a look at the Park's description in Torres del Paine National Park.

	Get there?

By plane from Santiago to Punta Arenas. From Punta Arenas there are bus connections to Puerto Natales and Ushuaia in Argentina. By boat one can reach Porvenir across Magellan Strait. The boat, on the 4 days Navimag cruise, is the best terrestrial way to reach the rest of the country. The destination is Puerto Montt. There are several minibus companies who provide transportation to the Otway Reserve.
Punta Arenas stays 250 km away from Puerto Natales, 3090 km from Santiago, 653 km from Ushuaia and 264 km from Rio Gallegos.