Fort Bulnes tour from Punta Arenas: Strait Park history

Walk the fort and museum, then follow trails through native Patagonian landscape

A five-hour tour from Punta Arenas to Fort Bulnes in Strait Park traces the region's discovery, Chilean settlement and the sailors who arrived in Patagonia. The driver picks you up at your hotel, and the route south passes native flora, regional birds and occasional marine wildlife. At the park you tour the Strait Museum and the fort site itself, then walk the interior trails before returning to the city.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Fort Bulnes and surroundings

• Pick up at hotel or meeting point
• Travel 52 km south to Fort Bulnes
• Observe landscapes, flora, birds, and marine fauna
• Enter park and pay tickets
• Tour museum of the strait and fort site
• Walk trails within the park
• Stop for photos at Chile's geographic center
• Return to Punta Arenas

The experience

Fort Bulnes sits 52 km south of Punta Arenas in what locals call Strait Park, Parque del Estrecho. The drive there is the first part of the day: you'll see native Patagonian plants, watch for birds, and on clear days catch sight of marine life. The landscape itself tells you why this remote spot mattered to the sailors and settlers whose story the park preserves.

Once you arrive, the tour moves through the Strait Museum and the reconstructed fort, then opens onto the park's network of walking trails. You set the pace on those paths. There's no fixed itinerary once you're inside the gates. The fort and museum together hold the region's settlement history: the expeditions that found this coast, the people who chose to stay, and the maritime feats that followed. The trails let you move through that landscape at your own speed, stopping where the views or the history catches you.

Hotel pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport to the meeting point. Park entry tickets are separate and you pay them on arrival. The whole day runs about five hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup.
• entry to Strait Park and the Strait Museum.
• access to the fort site and interior walking trails.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (9 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 14

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Turismo Viento del Sur

Is this one for you?The tour involves walking the fort grounds and trails at your own pace, so it suits anyone comfortable on their feet for stretches. Families with infants can bring a stroller on the park paths, and specialized infant seats are available if you need them in the vehicle.

Traveler reviews

4.00★★★★★★★★★★

36 verified traveler reviews

5 ★18

4 ★9

3 ★3

2 ★3

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3).

What is Fort Bulnes and why does it matter to Patagonia's history?

Fort Bulnes was a Chilean settlement established to claim the Strait of Magellan region. The park preserves the fort site and the Strait Museum, which documents the explorers, settlers and sailors who arrived in these lands and the feats they undertook to hold the territory.

What do you actually do during the five hours? Is it mostly driving or mostly at the park?

The drive south takes time, but once at Fort Bulnes you spend the bulk of the day at the park itself: touring the museum and fort, then walking the interior trails at whatever pace suits you. It's not a rushed stop-and-go itinerary.

What wildlife or landscape will I see on the drive down?

The route passes native Patagonian flora and regional bird species. Marine fauna appears if conditions allow. It's not guaranteed, but the coastline and open landscape make sightings possible on clear days.

Is there a stop at the geographic center of Chile that the itinerary mentions?

Yes, the route includes a stop at the marker that denotes Chile's geographic center, a notable landmark on the way to the park where you can take photographs.