PARQUE DEL ESTRECHO DE MAGALLANES - FUERTE BULNES

Parque del Estrecho de Magallanes and Fuerte Bulnes are emblematic sites that embody much of the history of the discovery and colonization of southern Chile. What's more, the natural beauty of this remote area is particularly striking! Fuerte Bulnes is a reconstruction of the first settlements of the European colony in 1843, when the Chilean government of President Manuel Bulnes decided to send a mission to take possession of the Strait of Magellan and establish its sovereignty. Exploring the site, it's easy to imagine how the first settlers in the 19th century had to cope with the vagaries of this particularly inhospitable and savage land! The harsh climatic conditions and isolation, as well as the shortage of food and water, eventually led the inhabitants to abandon the site six years later, settling where the town of Punta Arenas stands today. For almost a hundred years, the ruins of the fort were abandoned until a reconstruction project led to its reopening as a historic site in 1943. The site was declared a national monument in 1968. Today, there's a cafeteria, visitor center, interactive museum and research center dedicated to successive generations of Strait inhabitants. It's an ideal place to recharge your batteries while immersing yourself in one of the country's most famous historical episodes.