Day 26 – Punta Arenas, Chile

Viking Octantis docked in Punta Arenas, Chile, early this morning. Founded as a penal colony in 1848, the city grew by virtue of its location on the Strait of Magellan. Punta Arenas is the southernmost large city in the world and is the gateway to some of Patagonia's most spectacular sights.

When I opened the blinds, I did not see the city, however. Instead, I was staring at the Seabourn Pursuit, the same ship that has been "in pursuit" of us for the last few days.

Viking Octantis on the Left and Seabourn Pursuit on the Right Rear

Although I was feeling better today, I had already decided to play it safe and cancel my excursion, “Strait of Magellan Park.” Tim went on the excursion, and this was the description:

Explore the majestic scenery of the Strait of Magellan and learn about the history of its early settlements. Stop at the Cerro de la Cruz observation deck for panoramic views of Punta Arenas and the nearby island of Tierra del Fuego. Take a scenic drive along the Strait of Magellan, admiring the spectacular scenery before arriving at Magellan Strait Park and Fort Bulnes, the first Chilean settlement in the area. Visit the fort and learn about the lives of these early adventurers during a guided tour to see the reconstructed wood palisades, the church and the chaplain’s quarters, along with the jail, powder magazine, post office and stables. Enjoy the striking views from Punta Santa Ana, and imagine how explorers from yesteryear felt when they arrived at this beautiful yet harsh location. At the park’s visitors center, enjoy free time and refreshments before returning to your ship.

I did leave my room today and went to breakfast and lunch in the World Café, where I thanked Nagesh and Thompson for their kindness last night. It turns out that port days are good days for doing laundry, and I managed to do two loads with no one else around. I do hate to be around people when I’m coughing.

Tim returned from his excursion in the afternoon and shared these photos with me.

Beautiful View of the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego

Fort Bulnes

Model of Ferdinand Magellan's Ship the Trinidad

Tonight, I watched another interesting lecture by Specialist Loreen entitled “Patagonia’s Indigenous People.” The area where we are sailing was settled by primitive hunter-gatherers thousands of years ago, and she focused on three of these indigenous groups, the Mapuche, the Tehuelche, and the Yamana.

Indigenous Peoples of Patagonia