Patagonia's Edge: Punta Arenas & Historic Strait Views

We were told there is absolutely nothing to see except penguins. Well, we wished to see just the penguins! Well, it was such an exciting thrilling experience! BUT…BUT…we found an extremely vibrant city with bustling bazaars and cafes and such an air of joyous atmosphere! Incredibly fun! And we found a Hindu temple which was closed but more than that we found three statues of Mahatma Gandhi, Rabindranath Tagore and Mother Theresa….one finds statues of Gandhi but of the other two! We loved the city for the cheerful and truly HAPPY air about it and loved it because it was so very unexpected!!! Actually, we loved Chile and we loved the people of Chile …wherever we went, whatever we did…be it Valparaiso, Attacama, Santiago or Patagonia! …and totally crime free, super efficient officials and flawless management! Friendly and helpful! If one could learn Spanish and settle down there! Would be Bliss!

Our tour guide was a young enthusiastic lady and we appreciate her but she should learn how to be a tour guide -- cuz we ended up asking all the questions instead of her explaining the whole thing to us. The lunch was not what we expected - it was in a place similar to an old school cafeteria. Am not sure why. There was not much to see in the park and one cannot read anything as nothing was in english.

We were fortunate to have the owner, Gerardo, as our guide for the day. There was a long delay with the tenders due to rough seas but Gerardo made sure we still got to see everything without feeling rushed. He was very knowledgeable on things in nature (pointing out different plants and their links/usage with early settlers), the history of the area and showed us unique local places that other tours don’t visit. The boat museum was a highlight. A wealth of knowledge and a man proud of his heritage.

Having a private guide and driver allowed us to gather so much more information about the region. We could tell how much our guide loved her home area.

Our guide Valentina was friendly and exuberant. Our driver Felipe was very competent and very nice. We enjoyed the tour

This was a great day out with Juan, who is the most passionate and entertaining guide. His knowledge of the history, flora and fauna of the area and his love of the area was captivating. Empanadas and red wine in a roadside cafe, in a hut in a howling gale in the edge of the continent was a memory I will keep forever. Additionally I felt absolutely confident that I would return in time for all aboard.

Interesting visit to Port Bulnes on the Straits of Magellan. Not too much to see in Punta Arenas. Nice atmosphere in the square with statue of Magellan. Very friendly guide, Christian and driver Filipe. Probably a bit expensive for what it was.

Great experience in Punta Arenas, Chile. Christen and Felipe did a wonderful job showing us around. We had a relaxed day with many surprises. Christen was very knowledgeable. He stayed with the group all through the tour. Explained history, flora, fauna and fun facts. Surprises included a fun empanada stop with some great wine and a beautiful chocolate shop. I highly recommend this tour if you are looking for a relaxed and fun day.

We had a fantastic day with Eduardo. He is a master storyteller with a great sense of humor. The pace was perfect and we saw everything we wanted to see, plus much more. There wasn’t enough people booked for the group tour, so he offered us a private tour for no additional cost. We appreciated that he didn’t cancel the tour which was well within his right. We highly recommend his services.

Our guide Gerardo was very knowledgable about Chili, Patagonia and the wildlife. We appreciated his company very much.