Fuerte Bulnes – Strait of Magellan, Chile
Fuerte Bulnes sits on a windswept promontory overlooking the Strait of Magellan, about 60 kilometers south of Punta Arenas. Established in 1843, the fort was the first Chilean settlement in the region and marked the country’s effort to assert sovereignty over this strategic maritime passage.
The site includes reconstructed wooden buildings that illustrate what life was like for the small military colony stationed at the edge of the continent. From the hilltop, visitors can see sweeping views across the strait toward the distant mountains of Tierra del Fuego.
Today Fuerte Bulnes preserves an important chapter in the exploration and settlement of Patagonia.
