Getting Sorted in Punta Arenas
First things first. The tourist office (SERNATUR) in Punta Arenas is fantastic. Wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true! So visit them first to find out what there is to do and the prices the different tour operators charge. We spent a bit too much time with the guys there and ended up using their database and information a fair bit. See our section on Useful Information on page 47 for the website details. There’s a duty free zone not too far from the centre. Electronics seem to be more expensive here than in the normal shops. The prices are good, however, for camping equipment. Although it’s easy to catch a bus there from the city centre, we recommend walking along the beach front in at least one direction. There is an interesting cemetery too because of the huge mausoleums built years ago by the area’s wealthy families. José Menéndez, an important pioneering businessman, has one of the most imposing mausoleums. It is a smaller copy of the Victor Manuel monument in Rome. The cemetery also contains a memorial to the fallen indigenous people of the region. Palacio Braun is a historic house/museum worth visiting. Sunday’s entry is free and the rest of the time they charge CHP$1000. If you’re stuck for foreign language books you could try Tomislav Libros on Roca 886. It’s a poor selection of second hand books…but if you can’t find someone to swap with, it is an option. CHP$1000 to CHP$1500 is standard and they don’t do book swaps. The Guru Team |
