Puerto Williams, the southernmost city of the world
The city of Puerto Williams is located on Navarino Island and belongs to the Cape Horn commune in Chile. It counts approximately 2,000 inhabitants, half of whom are part of the Chilean Navy. The other half consists of civilians who primarily work in the fishing industry (centolla or king crab), tourism and government services. Puerto Williams is also noteworthy for the presence of the Yagan community, the southernmost indigenous people on the planet, who have inhabited these lands since ancient times.
On Navarino Island, apart from Puerto Williams, we find three more inhabited areas: Puerto Eugenia and Puerto Navarino are located at the eastern and western ends of the northern coast of Navarino Island, while Puerto Toro forms, with only 20 inhabitants, the southernmost town on the planet.
Tourism in Ushuaia (Argentina) has always revolved around the slogan of being the southernmost city in the world. However, some changes in Chilean regulations in 2018 led to Puerto Williams earning the title of the city at the End of the World, as it is located 7 kilometers further south than its neighboring city Ushuaia.
What is the weather like in Puerto Williams?
Surprisingly, the weather in the southernmost city in the world is not as extreme as you might think. Being located on a small island (Navarino), the nearby ocean brings about a milder climate in winter, favoring both visitors and residents of Puerto Williams, when the average temperatures range from -1 to 4 degrees Celsius. Luckily, Navarino Island is not as windy as its neighboring island, Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego. During summer, we enjoy temperatures between 8 and 14 degrees Celsius and relatively low amounts of precipitation.
But with these temperatures it is possible to encounter snow year-round, including occasional episodes of snowfall during summer, both in the mountains and at sea level.
A magical place in TIERRA DEL FUEGO
Navarino Island is part of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, situated at the southernmost tip of South America. Administratively, it belongs to the Republic of Chile, specifically to the region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica, and the commune of Cape Horn, with its capital city being Puerto Williams.
On the northern coast of this Chilean island, you will find the Beagle Channel, where the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean meet, and across from it lies the Argentinian city Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. Traveling south of Navarino Island and crossing Nassau Bay, you would find the Wollaston Islands Archipelago and the legendary Cape Horn, an iconic landmark in the history of navigation, representing the southernmost interoceanic passage on the planet between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.
Navarino Island - a WILD paradise with its base in PUERTO WILLIAMS
We find ourselves in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, a paradise of immense natural, cultural, and historical value that is worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. The surroundings of this Chilean island are considered part of the Route of Parks of Patagonia, encompassing the two national parks Alberto de Agostini and Yendegaia to the northwest, and the islands of Cape Horn National Park to the south. On Navarino Island, and close to Puerto Williams, the Omora Park stands out.
What to do in Puerto Williams? Tourism in SOUTHERN CHILE
You will be in love with Puerto Williams. If you want to soak up what you can find in the city, we recommend that you ask the local travel agencies and visit the Tourist Information Office. They will provide you some information about the activities that you can do on your own and the tours that you could enjoy.
By the way: The best travel agency in Puerto Williams is Explora Isla Navarino 😜
Puerto Williams is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination in the south. The city offers essential amenities such as accommodation, dining, as well as supermarkets and shops. You will also find a hospital and various public institutions in the area.
All of this in a unique setting, allowing you to explore the tourist attractions of the southernmost region of Chilean Patagonia: Dientes de Navarino and Cerro Bandera, the ethnobotanical park Omora, Puerto Navarino and Puerto Toro, among others
Are you ready to live an incredible experience at the southern end of the world? We are waiting for you!
By the way: : We wrote this post with great care to enhance your experience on the island. If you found it helpful, we would be immensely grateful for any support you can offer in return (subscribe to our newsletter, give it a like, leave a comment, share it, etc.).
It does not require much effort and means the world to us.
10 Comments
thank you for making this article very useful and keep up the good work
We are happy to help you, here in Navarino island you are going to have your best adventure ever!