Fort Bulnes & Port Famine
Where it all began
Overview
Join a historic tour to Fort Bulnes & Port Famine.
In 1584, the Spanish navigator Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa founded the first settlement in Southern Patagonia to proclaim the region in the name of the Spanish crown. Gamboa's colony "Ciudad de Rey Don Felipe" (King Philip City) turned out to be a disaster and did not last for long. About 300 people died of starvation, diseases or were killed in conflicts with the natives. The place soon became know as Puerto del Hambre (Port Famine).
In 1843, the Chilean government sent out an expedition to build the first Chilean settlement in Patagonia, Fort Bulnes, very close to Gamboa's original settlement. The reason was quite similar, hence to emphasize the Chilean authority over these Southern lands, and, even more important, over the Strait of Magellan that was the only reasonable seaway between the Atlantic and the Pacific ocean until the Panama Canal was opened in 1914.
Today, the rebuild wooded fort and a hand full of cannons overlook the Strait of Magellan from a beautiful peninsula.
Detailed Itinerary
Every day at 9:00 a.m., pick up from your hotels or departure from our down town office. Travel time South is about one hour. For most of the time, the road follows the coastline of the Strait of Magellan. Visit Port Famine & Fort Bulnes. Return to Punta Arenas at about 1:00 p.m.
What's included?
Tour Includes
- Transfer from/ to your hotel or our down town office
- English speaking tour guide
Additional Costs
- Entrance fee (CLP 1,000 per person, about USD 3.- pp*)
- Optional tips to your tour guide and/ or your driver
Departure Dates & Prices
Regular Departures
Our half-day tour to Fort Bulnes departs every day from September 01, 2011 through May 31, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. and ourside that time frame on demand.
Price for Regular Departures
CLP 12,000 per person (about USD 26.- pp*)
* USD value is merely a reference that is based on the exchange rate on June 07, 2011, USD 1,00 = CLP 466.90.
Special Departures
Besides our daily tours at 09:00 a.m., we may also offer private, guided tours at other times of the day, for example for cruise ship passengers who are visiting Punta Arenas.
Please contact us for further details.
