This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel.
Punta Arenas, Chile, is a little city that is sometimes confronted with very strong winds, so dress appropriately! Every year it draws a huge amount of tourists for having the airport closest to the popular hiking spot, Torres Del Paine. The hostels in Punta Arenas, Chile, take advantage of this, and might charge relatively high prices.
Finding accommodation in this little industrial city should not be a big problem. The Punta Arenas, Chile hostels are scattered throughout and all offer a nice place to stay. When comparing the hostels in Punta Arenas, Chile, make sure you take into account their location and the facilities that are included. Also, plan your activities on beforehand, so you don't spend too many nights there, and you won't end up getting bored.
You don't have to go far from the main street to find affordable accommodation (to backpacker's standards), but it is relatively scarce. Quality-wise there is not much to worry about. The hostels in Punta Arenas, Chile, offer a comfy bed and in general a clean place to stay, as do most hostels in Chile. The owners are always very kind and eager to help and they know their city inside out, so they'll try their hardest to make you get the most out of your stay in Punta Arenas.
Besides the much-hyped penguin tour, there is not much to do. There is the main street with shops that offer you everything you need. Following that street, you'll pass a very nice old cemetery and eventually end up in the Zona Franca, where you can buy all sorts of things up to just over a thousand dollars tax free. If you don't want to spend any money, you can simply stroll along the shore, enjoy the huge colony of cormorants, and perhaps even spot a dolphin. Punta Arenas is a quiet city that's worth visiting, but don't stay too long.
Written by local expertz for Punta Arenas
Margaret
