Torres del Paine & Los Glaciares Vacation Tours
Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas is the capital of the Magellan region and of Chilean Antarctica. Punta Arenas was originally called Punta Arenosa, which translates literally to Sandy Point. The name was given to this small town by a couple that founded it during a British expedition led by John Bryon during the 17th century. It is and always has been the principal commercial center for services, communications, and culture in the southern part of the South American continent.
It was established on December 18th of 1848, when the governor of the Magellan territory, Coronal Jose de los Santos Mardones, founded the city. It was originally located 60 km north of Fort Bulnes, which was the first Chilean settlement in Patagonia.