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| A view of Puerto Williams Photo: elmagallanico.com |
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.
- How to Get There
- 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
Important places in Puerto Williams and surroundings:
- Martin Gusinde Anthropological Museum
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| 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. |
| 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.
- 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. In fact, many consider it an extreme fishing adventure at the end of the world, due to the lake’s isolation, unpredictable weather, and rugged terrain. 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.
- "Micalvi" Yacht Club
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| 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
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Southern Pavilion: Designed for educational purposes, it includes classrooms, a library, and study areas for programs related to sustainable tourism and biocultural conservation.
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Central Pavilion: Houses administrative offices, a multifunctional auditorium, and a cafeteria.
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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
- 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.
- Cape Horn National Park
Although Puerto Williams lies outside Cape Horn National Park, it serves as a crucial gateway for those venturing into this awe-inspiring and remote region. Located at the southernmost tip of Chile, the park is the world’s southernmost national park and includes the remote Wollaston and Hermite archipelagos.
Covering over 63,000 hectares, Cape Horn National Park is part of the larger Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO in 2005. This biosphere reserve encompasses a much wider area, including the park itself, surrounding islands, and parts of Navarino Island, aiming to protect the region’s unique ecosystems while promoting sustainable development.
The park's landscape is defined by dramatic coastlines, windswept tundra, and untouched ecosystems. Its flora includes mosses, lichens, and small patches of native forest, with species such as the Magellanic coigüe and the evergreen canelo. Wildlife is abundant and includes Magellanic penguins, black-browed albatrosses, and marine mammals like sea lions and dolphins.
While most visitors reach the park via sea cruises from Punta Arenas or Ushuaia, it can also be accessed from Puerto Williams on a 12-hour boat journey. This makes the town a strategic base for exploring the raw beauty, striking landscapes, and exceptional biodiversity of this far-flung corner of the world.
Cape Horn National Park is a bucket-list destination for those seeking a profound encounter with nature at the edge of the world.
- Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve
The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, established by UNESCO in 2005, encompasses a vast and ecologically significant region at the southern tip of South America. It includes Cape Horn National Park, the surrounding islands, and parts of Navarino Island—home to Puerto Williams.
This remote reserve protects one of the last remaining temperate sub-Antarctic ecosystems on Earth. Its unique environment is shaped by fierce winds, frequent rains, and a rich variety of mosses, liverworts, and lichens, which thrive in the cool, humid conditions. In fact, the reserve is often called a “moss and lichen forest” due to its extraordinary diversity of non-vascular plants.
The Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve is not only vital for scientific research but also plays a crucial role in conserving biodiversity. It supports a range of endemic species and provides habitat for birds like the Magellanic woodpecker and the southern giant petrel. The reserve also emphasizes sustainable development and the preservation of the traditional culture of the Yaghan people.
As a model of harmony between conservation and human presence, the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve represents a global commitment to protecting the planet’s most pristine and fragile ecosystems.
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