Things to do in Punta Arenas

The Palacio Sara Braun is an architectural masterpiece and one of the most instantly recognizable landmarks of Punta Arenas. This magnificent and luxurious mansion dates back to 1895 and was declared a national monument in 1973. Marvel at its European-influenced architecture and peek inside rooms adorned with artwork and period furniture.

Visit Plaza Muñoz Gamero to browse museums, shop for handicrafts and see some of Punta Arenas’ finest works of architecture. This square marks the city’s historical heart and symbolizes the heritage of the hardworking people of Chile’s Magallanes province. It owes its attractiveness to the wealthy entrepreneurs who erected the imposing residences and business premises. Plaza Muñoz Gamero takes its name from the former city governor Benjamin Muñoz Gamero.

Punta Arenas Cemetery (officially Cementerio Municipal Sara Braun) is the burial site for many of the city’s richest and most famous figures. It’s also filled with graves of sailors and immigrants who left their marks on local history. Walk along the paved lanes of this architecturally impressive cemetery. Resembling a small village, Punta Arenas Cemetery is one of the city’s most poignant attractions.

Look for the Monumento al Ovejero (Sheepdog Monument), an important monument and artistic feature of Punta Arenas. It depicts a rural worker engaged in the harsh activities that contributed to the wealthy livestock industry of southern Chile. Designed by Chilean sculptor Gérman Montero Carvallo, the monument was inaugurated during the 1944 centennial celebrations of Chile’s occupation of the Strait of Magellan.

The Santuario María Auxiliadora is a grand parish church with a colorful and impressive interior. Inside, find a series of religious icons, paintings and stained-glass windows. Learn about the culture, plants and animals of Patagonia at an adjacent museum. The church dates to 1911 and honors the Virgin Mary for her help in protecting the indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego’s Dawson Island.