Frequently Asked Questions
The Weather in Punta Arenas
The weather in Punta Arenas and throughout Chilean Patagonia is a great enigma and part of its attraction. In the same day you can experience the four seasons, with important climatic variations, with rain, sun, cold, heat and wind gusts of up to 100 km/hr.
During the summer, the weather in Punta Arenas and its surroundings tends to have sunny, windy days with maximum temperatures between 13 and 20°C and minimum temperatures that drop to 5°C. During this time the days are very long, with natural light up to 18 hours.
During the winter, on the other hand, the opposite occurs. Daylight hours are reduced to 8 hours with low temperatures, whose maximums reach 8°C and minimums between 1 and -5°C.
This is why you should come to Chilean Patagonia prepared for all climates, dressing in layers and wearing comfortable, waterproof shoes.
We can take care of your transfer to our hotel in Punta Arenas from your point of arrival in the region: Punta Arenas airport, Puerto Natales or wherever you are. Enjoy and disconnect from the very first moment of your vacation in Chilean Patagonia.
- How to get to Punta Arenas by air?
Punta Arenas has an international airport, located 20 km north of the city, so you can check frequencies from Santiago de Chile, Concepción, Puerto Montt and Balmaceda. Between Santiago and Punta Arenas, the flight takes approximately 3 hours and a half on a direct trip, and 4 hours 45 minutes with a stopover in Puerto Montt. - How to get to Punta Arenas by sea?
First you will arrive in Puerto Natales on the Navimag Ferry navigation. You will enjoy a journey from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales, among the beautiful fjords of the Chilean Patagonia for 4 days and 3 nights. When you disembark, you must take route 9 North and travel 247 kms. approximately until you reach the city of Punta Arenas. - How to get to Punta Arenas by land?
You will have to travel approximately 3,100 km from Santiago or 2,300 km from Puerto Montt. The entrance to Punta Arenas is on the Argentine side, through Route 255 that connects with Route 9 North Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales, crossing into Chile through the border crossing Monte Aymond (Paso Integración Austral) which is located near the Argentine city of Rio Gallegos and 192 km from Punta Arenas. - How to get to Punta Arenas from El Calafate by land?
You can get to Punta Arenas from El Calafate, crossing the Dorotea or Casas Viejas border crossings and then take Route 9 North, traveling approximately 247 kms. until you reach Punta Arenas.
From Punta Arenas you can start an unforgettable adventure to the Eighth Wonder of the World, Torres del Paine. In our Cabo de Hornos Hotel, we offer you several alternatives to visit the park and enjoy its native Patagonian landscape, which combines a majestic mountain range composed of the Torres del Paine, the Cuernos del Paine and the Paine Massif; lakes and lagoons of intense turquoise colors where Lago Grey, Lago Pehoé and Laguna Amarga stand out; glaciers and abundant local flora and fauna.
- How to get to Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas?
Drive along Route 9 North, which connects Punta Arenas with Puerto Natales in a stretch of 247 kms. As you approach the city, you must continue along the same route to Torres del Paine National Park. You will find 2 alternatives to enter the park: one of them is through the Sarmiento (112 kms.) or Laguna Amarga (129 kms.) gateways, and the other is through route Y-290, the same route that takes you to the Mylodon Cave, entering the park through the Serrano gateway (80 kms.), which offers a shorter route. - How to get to Torres del Paine from Puerto Natales?
From Puerto Natales you must take route 9 to Torres del Paine National Park. You will find 2 alternatives to enter the park: one of them is through the Sarmiento (112 kms.) or Laguna Amarga (129 kms.) gateways, and the other is through route Y-290, the same route that takes you to the Mylodon Cave, entering the park through the Serrano gateway (80 kms.), which offers a shorter route.
El Calafate is one of the most touristic cities in Argentina. Located on the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field in the Province of Santa Cruz, it is known as the access to Los Glaciares National Park, where you can see the Perito Moreno Glacier.
To get from Punta Arenas to El Calafate you can do it by land: in your own vehicle, in the available tours or transfer to Puerto Natales where you will find regular buses with daily frequencies.
- How to get from Punta Arenas to El Calafate??
You can get to El Calafate from Punta Arenas by land, taking Route 9 North to Puerto Natales and then crossing through the Dorotea or Casas Viejas border crossings in a 496 km trip. - How to get from Puerto Natales to El Calafate?
From Puerto Natales you can reach El Calafate by land, traveling along the RN 40 route (National Route 40) in a 270 km stretch, crossing the border posts of Cerro Castillo and Cancha Carrera, in a journey of approximately 5 hours.
Chilean Patagonia presents a climatic diversity where you can experience the four seasons in the same day, combining low temperatures and constant winds with sunny moments.
That is why we recommend dressing in layers following the following indications:
Clothing
- Casual clothing
- First layers (top and bottom)
- Second layer (fleece)
- Third waterproof layer (jacket)
- Waterproof pants
- Comfortable and waterproof shoes
- Waterproof gloves
- Hat
Equipment
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Refillable water bottle
- Trekking poles
- Backpack
After a long day of excursions, the best thing to do is to rest and eat in Punta Arenas. Here you can enjoy the typical food of the Chilean Patagonia, in a variety of restaurants with unique atmospheres and the most diverse preparations, using the best ingredients of the region.
Products such as Magellan lamb, which in its most traditional version is prepared roasted on a stick, or the exquisite and sought-after spider crab, are just some of the main ingredients of the local cuisine. For the most exotic palates, there are unusual meat options to taste, such as ostrich, wild boar, beaver and caiquén.
In Punta Arenas you will also be surprised by the variety of handmade gourmet products, organic and unique flavors and textures such as jams, oils, sweets and chocolates, many of them prepared with the main fruit of the Chilean Patagonia, the Calafate. This same product is also present in the best craft beers, which you can enjoy in the specialized locals of the city.
What you cannot miss is the emblematic Kiosko Roca, elected one of the "best picadas in Chile" the years 2012 and 2017, where the characteristic bread with chorizo and cheese is prepared, accompanied by milk with banana.
We definitely recommend you to eat in Punta Arenas and taste the gastronomy of this corner of the world, with the flavors and aromas of the southern cuisine, a culinary experience you will always remember.
