Fuerte Bulnes
A timber fort thrown up in 1843 to claim the Strait of Magellan days before another country could.
Updated 30 August 2026
In 1843 the Chilean government sent the schooner Ancud from Chiloe with a small party under John Williams to take possession of the Strait of Magellan, which no state had formally claimed and which Britain and France were both interested in; they raised the flag and built a stockade at Punta Santa Ana, naming it for President Manuel Bulnes. A French vessel arrived shortly after with the same intention and found Chile already there. The site was cold, exposed and impossible to farm, and the settlement moved north to found Punta Arenas in 1848. The fort was reconstructed in the 1940s and stands in a park with the strait in front.
What's there
- A timber stockade - reconstructed on the 1843 site.
- A claim made just in time - a French ship arrived shortly after.
- Abandoned by 1848 - the ground too exposed to live on.
- The Strait of Magellan in front - the reason the fort exists.
When to go
November to March. Half a day.
Good to know
What stands is a 1940s reconstruction, not original fabric. The wind here is punishing and the site is fully exposed - which is exactly why the settlement failed. Facilities are a visitor centre and cafe.
Nearby
Punta Arenas is north; Faro San Isidro is further south down the road.
Key facts
Source: Wikidata, item Q2362268, read on 18 October 2026.
What to pack for Fuerte Bulnes
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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