WHAT IS PATAGONIA?

Patagonia refers to an extensive territory in the southern region of the austral cone of America, where the Tehuelche or Aonikenk people inhabited.

The first encounter between the white man and the indigenous peoples occurred in the year 1520 when Ferdinand Magellan, the discoverer of the strait that bears his name, spotted some strong and tall indigenous people whom he baptized as Patagones, due to their large footprints, thus giving rise to the name Patagonia.

These people were the Aonikenk, whose average height was 1.80 meters. Known for their great stature, these inhabitants were nomadic hunters who entered as the ice of the last glaciation was retreating. They occupied the steppes from the Santa Cruz River in Argentina, to the north, to the Strait of Magellan, to the south.

WHAT IS THE CLIMATE LIKE?

Extremely variable, this is its main characteristic. Days fluctuate between wind and total calm, warm and cold air, a little rain, a little sun, all in one day. Summer extends from December to March, winds are frequent and sometimes very intense, days are long, with up to 18 hours of daylight in December. Temperatures vary greatly depending on the area but there are no extremes, resulting in average annual temperatures between 3°C and 7°C.

During the summer months, December to March, average temperatures range between 6°C and 12°C. Our mid-season, spring and autumn, correspond to the months of September to December and March to June, respectively. The weather is slightly colder than summer but without temperatures below 0°C. Winter extends from June to August and is characterized by dark days, little sun, and little wind. Temperatures hover around 0°C. The average for the coldest month varies between -1°C to 1°C, with around 7 hours of daylight in June.

IS IT WINDY IN PATAGONIA?

Patagonia is an area of constant wind, especially during spring and summer, but for short periods of time. It doesn’t pose any risk.

DO ESTABLISHMENTS ACCEPT CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS?

Most commercial and tourist establishments accept international credit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Diners, and American Express; Visa Electron and Maestro debit cards. In some rural areas, where there are communication difficulties, they do not accept credit or debit cards.

DO TOURISTS PAY ANY KIND OF TAX?

When paying in dollars, tourists are exempt from paying tax for accommodation services. For other products or services, they must pay 19% VAT (Value Added Tax).

WHAT ARE THE TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITIES?

Calls can be made to anywhere in the world from Call Centers of different telephone carriers. Most hotels and lodgings have national and international direct dial systems.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION

BY AIR: Punta Arenas can be accessed by air from the cities of Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Balmaceda, landing at the Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport, located 20 km north of the Patagonian capital. From the airport to the city center, you can reach via the northern road, Route 9, in an estimated time of 25 to 30 minutes.

From the same airport, authorized buses, minibusses, and taxis depart daily to take passengers to the city or other locations, if required.

There are also regular regional flights to the cities of Porvenir and Puerto Williams from Punta Arenas.

BY LAND: Most vehicles from other regions of Chile travel through the routes of Argentina using various connections, finally arriving at Route 255, Monte Aymond – Austral Integration Border Crossing. After crossing this border crossing, you travel 193 km (approximately 2 hours) through routes 255 and 9 respectively until you reach Punta Arenas.

BY SEA: The only existing maritime connection to Punta Arenas is through a ferry that departs from two places: from the city of Puerto Montt or from Puerto Yungay. This journey will take us to the city of Puerto Natales. Then we must take Route 9 to reach the city of Punta Arenas.