Puerto Bories

The Frigorifico Bories was built between 1912 and 1915 by the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego, the company that dominated Patagonian sheep, and it was an entire industrial complex on the shore: slaughterhouse, cold stores, tannery, tallow works, its own power plant and workers' housing, in English-influenced brick and corrugated iron, built to process hundreds of thousands of sheep a season for export to Britain. It closed in 1971. Part of the complex was restored as a hotel and museum, with the machinery left in place in some halls, and the rest stands empty. It is a national monument.

What you actually see

• A complete industrial complex - slaughterhouse, tannery, tallow works and power plant.
• Built 1912 to 1915 - for the Patagonian sheep export trade.
• Closed in 1971 - and left standing.
• Machinery in place - in the restored halls, now hotel and museum.

When to go

October to April. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Much of the complex is a private hotel and not all of it is open to visitors. The museum has limited hours. Unrestored sections are fenced. The wind off the fjord is severe.

Nearby

The town of Puerto Natales is a few kilometres down the fjord; the Paine massif is inland to the north.