Punta Arenas

Situated on the northern bank of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas is a clean, modern city with an unusual history based on maritime trade, sheep ranching, and more recent petroleum extraction. Prior to the opening of the Panama Canal Punta Arenas was major sea port for all shipping coming from Europe to the western side of the Americas. This is the most common departure point for maritime cruises to Tierra del Fuego, the Patagonian fiords and glaciers and Antarctica. Just north are Puerto Natales and Parque Nacional Torres del Paine.