The World's Southernmost City

Chile Travel and News | By Raul Silva M.

 

A view of Puerto Williams
Photo: elmagallanico.com

As of March 2019, the Port and Naval Base of Puerto Williams ceased to be considered a town and is now recognized as a city. This change stems from a redefinition by the INE (National Statistics Institute of Chile), which classifies urban centers with more than 5,000 inhabitants, or those with the status of regional or provincial capital, as "cities." It's worth noting that Puerto Williams, with just under 3,000 residents, is the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province.

This reclassification means Puerto Williams, due to its new status and coordinates at 54° 56' S, 67° 37' W, will officially be regarded as the southernmost city in the world. Ten kilometers to the north is the Argentine city of Ushuaia, which previously held that title. This designation is significant for the Chilean city and, broadly, for the Magallanes and Antarctic Region, as tourism is one of the pillars of both the regional and national economy.

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Puerto Williams is a small industrial port and naval base, founded in 1953. It is the capital of the Chilean Antarctic Province and is located on the northern shore of Navarino Island, at the southern tip of the South American continent. Despite its small population of about 3,000 people, Puerto Williams is considered the southernmost town in the world, with a latitude of 54° 56' 00" S, south of the nearby Argentine tourist city of Ushuaia. 

Unlike the rest of the country, this part of Chile is the only one that borders Argentina on the North and given it is also a Naval Base, there is a significant presence of uniformed personnel. Apart from its singular location in the Globe, other attractions of Puerto Williams lie in its spectacular nature, made up of forests and a mountain range crossed by paths of great beauty, through which we can discover the animal and plant diversity while enjoying the richness of its landscape, dominated by the Beagle Channel, so called in commemoration of the brig that brought the naturalist Charles Darwin in the early nineteenth century.

Another emblematic, world-renowned place within the commune is the legendary Cape Horn, one of the great icons of navigation which marks the end of the American continent.

Puerto Williams is located in such a remote area of the World (more than 3500 km. South of Santiago, the Chilean capital) that according to a recent comparative study, its waters are the purest on the planet, according to what was said by the US scientist Guido Verbeck, of the University of North Texas.

• How to Get There

Puerto Williams is located on the north shore of Isla Navarino, separated from Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego by the Beagle Channel. The distance from Punta Arenas, the main regional city is of 303 nautical miles (561 km.) You can reach Williams:

• By plane: Aerovías DAP operates regular flights from Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo International Airport in Punta Arenas — daily during the high season and three times a week in the low season.

• By sea: Every Thursday, a ferry departs from the Tres Puentes Terminal in Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams. The journey takes approximately 31 hours. It's important to note that schedules may vary due to weather or logistical conditions. Therefore, it's recommended to check the updated timetable and make reservations in advance through TABSA's official website: www.tabsa.cl

Puerto Williams, Google Map.

 

Important places in Puerto Williams and surroundings:

• Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum 

Museum and Stirling House to the left

Named in honor of the Austrian priest and scientist who lived among the Selknam and Yaghan peoples, Martin Gusinde conducted one of the most comprehensive ethnographic studies of the native groups that inhabited Tierra del Fuego and the surrounding islands between 1918 and 1924. The museum was established in 1974, renovated in 2007, and reopened in 2008. As the southernmost museum in the world, it also showcases the region’s wildlife and natural resources.

Located on the museum grounds is the Casa Stirling (Stirling House), considered the oldest house built by Europeans on Tierra del Fuego Island. Constructed in England between 1869 and 1871, it was declared a National Historic Monument in 2003.

 

• Nuestra Señora del Carmen Church

This local Catholic church is dedicated to the Patron Saint of Chile and is one of the most iconic buildings in Puerto Williams. Inside, you'll also find the image of the "Virgen de los Loberos" (Patroness of Sea Lion Hunters), revered by those who once braved the sea in their fragile boats.

• Prow of the steam tugboat "Yelcho"

In Puerto Williams, next to the secondary school (Liceo), you can see the preserved prow of the Escampavía Yelcho, a steam tugboat of the Chilean Navy. In 1916, this vessel carried out the heroic rescue of Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition at Elephant Island, in the Chilean Antarctic Territory. See Wikipedia article here.

• Dientes de Navarino Trekking Circuit  

Image: Lakutaia
Patagonia & Cape Horn

This five-day trek takes you through breathtaking natural scenery and deep tranquility—lakes, forests, and remote landscapes far from the crowded trails of more popular routes. It's no coincidence that this is known as the southernmost trekking circuit in the world.

While not extremely technical, the trek is recommended for those in good physical condition. The journey begins in Puerto Williams and heads toward Cerro La Bandera, continuing through rugged peaks over 1,100 meters high. Along the way, you'll pass frozen lakes, dense forests, bogs, and snow-capped summits. Looking north, you’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Beagle Channel, while to the south, the landscape stretches across Navarino Island toward Cape Horn. 

• Lake Windhond Circuit

The Lake Windhond tourist circuit is located in the southern part of Navarino Island and serves as a lesser-known alternative to the famous Dientes de Navarino Circuit. The trail to Lake Windhond begins south of Puerto Williams and follows a well-marked and maintained path through forests, small valleys, and lagoons.

This circuit can be combined with the Dientes de Navarino trek, with the entire journey taking approximately seven days. The area is renowned for its stunning scenery, including glacier views and the chance to spot dolphins, sea lions, and whales during the ferry ride from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams.

Lake Windhond is also a popular spot for sport fishing—made even more special by its location in one of the most remote places on Earth. As with the Dientes de Navarino Circuit, hikers must register with Carabineros de Chile (the national militarized police force) before starting the route.

• "Omora" Ethnobotanical Park

Parque Etnobotánico Omora is a 1,000-hectare private protected area located 4 km west of Puerto Williams on Navarino Island. Its name means “hummingbird” in Yaghan, the native language of the region’s original inhabitants.

The park preserves the world’s southernmost sub-Antarctic temperate forest and hosts an extraordinary diversity of plants, lichens, mosses, and animals. It also functions as a center for scientific research, environmental education, and biocultural conservation—integrating ethics, philosophy, and ecology.

Omora Park features a visitor center, laboratory, guest house, and interpretive trails where visitors can explore nature using specialized magnifying lenses. It is an ideal destination for those interested in discovering and appreciating the natural and cultural heritage of southern Chile.

But Omora is more than just a park. Since 2000, in collaboration with the New York Botanical Garden, scientists have been studying and working to preserve the area’s exceptional variety of mosses, lichens, and liverworts (a group of bryophytes). Though Cape Horn and its surroundings cover only 0.01% of the Earth's surface, they harbor 7% of the planet’s bryophyte diversity—small, ancient green plants of great scientific importance.

  

• "Micalvi" Yacht Club 

Club de Yates "Micalvi" (Micalvi Yacht  Club)
Image: Hostal Forjadores del Cabo de Hornos

The Micalvi was a vessel built in Europe in 1925, purchased by the Chilean Navy in 1928 to serve as a cargo ship. After a long and eventful life, it was grounded in 1961 and transformed into the mooring point that gave rise to today’s Micalvi Yacht Club. 

Small boats from all over the world dock here before taking on the challenge of sailing around Cape Horn or heading to the Antarctic Continent, making use of the natural terrace overlooking the Beagle Channel and the mountainous scenery of Navarino Island.

Club de Yates Micalvi is a unique and welcoming place, full of maritime character left by the hundreds of sailors who have passed through. They’ve left behind memories and tokens of their journeys—flags, photos, posters, and gifts—each marked with dates, dedications, and signatures, now decorating the ship’s walls.

Today, the club offers various marine services, including water and electricity supply, showers, Wi-Fi, diesel fuel, a resident boatswain, and garbage collection. Visitors can also enjoy land-based activities such as hiking and horseback riding. 

• Cape Horn International Center

Address: 310 O'Higgins Street, Puerto Williams, Magallanes Region, Chile.

The Cape Horn International Center is a world-class research facility dedicated to the study of sub-Antarctic ecosystems, education, and climate change, with a strong focus on biocultural conservation and a sustainable future. The center’s architectural design features three interconnected pavilions:

• Southern Pavilion: Designed for educational purposes, it includes classrooms, a library, and study areas for programs related to sustainable tourism and biocultural conservation.

• Central Pavilion: Houses administrative offices, a multifunctional auditorium, and a cafeteria.

• Northern Pavilion: Contains a public exhibition space, advanced research laboratories, and residential accommodations for visiting scientists.

These three structures are linked by a transparent public corridor that follows the natural contours of the site, offering access to outdoor classrooms and panoramic views of the Beagle Channel, the Darwin Range, and Tierra del Fuego.

• Angling around Puerto Williams

Navarino Island is home to several lakes and rivers ideal for fishing, set in one of the most remote and unspoiled regions on Earth. Guided tours are available by land or helicopter, offering access to breathtaking fishing spots. The main destinations are Lake Navarino and Lake Windhond, with the fishing season running from October to April.

• Cape Horn National Park

Although Puerto Williams lies outside Cape Horn National Park, it serves as a vital gateway for those venturing into this awe-inspiring and remote region. Located at the southern tip of Chile, the park is the world’s southernmost national park and includes the remote archipelagos of the Wollaston and Hermite Islands.

Covering more than 63,000 hectares, Parque Nacional Cabo de Hornos was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2005, underscoring its ecological importance. The park's landscape is defined by rugged coastlines, windswept vegetation, and pristine ecosystems. Flora includes mosses, lichens, and small patches of native trees such as the Magellanic coigüe and canelo. Wildlife features Magellanic penguins, albatrosses, and marine mammals like sea lions and dolphins.

In addition to sea cruises from Punta Arenas and Ushuaia, visitors can access the park via a 12-hour boat trip from Puerto Williams. This makes the town a key base for exploring the untouched wilderness, striking scenery, and unique wildlife of this remote corner of the world.

Cape Horn National Park is a must-visit for adventurers seeking a profound connection with nature and the extraordinary landscapes of the far south. 

• Puerto Toro: The Southernmost Settlement at the End of the World

Just 46 kilometers southeast of Puerto Williams, on the eastern coast of Navarino Island, lies Puerto Toro—a small Chilean settlement with a unique distinction: it is the southernmost permanently inhabited community on Earth, excluding Antarctic research stations. According to the 2025 census, it has only 22 residents, and life here unfolds amid constant winds, deep silence, and the vastness of the subantarctic wilderness.

Founded in 1892 during the Tierra del Fuego gold rush, Puerto Toro served as an operational base and local authority for gold prospectors in the area. Although the mining boom was short-lived, the village endured thanks to fishing—especially the prized southern king crab (centolla), which remains the heart of the local economy.

Visiting Puerto Toro is a unique experience for travelers drawn to remote and authentic destinations. Here, you can:

• Explore the tiny village, with its white-and-blue-painted chapel, the Sonia Bridge, and the humble fishermen’s houses.

• Walk through old trenches that still recall the tension of the near-war conflict between Chile and Argentina in 1978.

• Enjoy the stunning landscapes of subantarctic forests and observe daily life at the southern tip of the continent.

• Taste fresh king crab—one of the region’s greatest culinary treasures.

Getting to Puerto Toro is part of the adventure: from Puerto Williams, you can reach it on the weekly ferry, with a journey time of approximately 2.5 hours. 

Read more:

Puerto Williams and Pica received international certification