Fuerte Bulnes
Fuerte Bulnes
4.5
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Best nearby
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5 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- IngridLummySao Paulo, SPVery interesting!I thought it was really cool to visit this place! It portrays the history of the place with the buildings of the time, and has several representations also with photos and descriptions. To get there we entered the Strait of Magellan Park, and we paid to enter, there is a different price for those who are residents of Chile. Entrance to the park already gives access to a guild visit in Spanish or English, depending on the time. The buildings are well preserved, and there are beautiful landscapes seen from there, as it is also possible to see the Strait of Magellan.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten February 17, 2024
- JFWhiteMoncton, CanadaOld FortVery cool old fort to visit here. They did an awesome job at reproducing what use to be an actual old fort here. There is a walking trail that leads from the fort back to the information center. There you will have nice views of the surrounding areas. Recommended!Visited March 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten April 2, 2024
- nick wLondon, United KingdomEnjoyable Visit As Much For The Coastal Walk As For The FortLocation is everything and although this may be a replica Fort the site is well worth visiting if not just for the Fort but also the excellent visitor centre and coastal walk. The visitor centre has an excellent shop and cafe with stunning views. However,these are as nothing compared to the great 40-60 minute (well signed) coastal walk from behind the Fort to the main view points. Well worth it.Visited May 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten May 10, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
73 reviews
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19
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Sachin K
New York City, NY
Dec 2019 • Family
A visit to Fort Bulnes gives a deeper insight into the ancient history of the region. It is located at a short driving distance from Punta Arenas. The guided tour in English of this fort was worth it and would certainly very highly recommend to anyone. One also gets spectacular views of the surroundings around this fort.
Written November 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AlpinerHut
Chantilly, VA
Mar 2020
The highlight of our visit to Parque del Estrecho de Magallanes (Strait of Magellan Park) was definitely Fuerte Bulnes (Fort Bulnes).
What's there today is a reconstruction, but this was the site of the first Chilean settlement in the territory.
Located on the Strait of Magellan about 62 kilometers south of Punta Arenas, Fort Bulnes was founded in 1843 at the behest of Chilean President Manuel Bulnes Prieto. The fort was intended to extend Chile's colonization of the region and to stake its claim to the Strait of Magellan.
Curiously, Fort Bulnes was established about a mile from Port Famine, site of a failed 1584 Spanish settlement. Fort Bulnes, too, failed, the victim of forbidding weather. Chile founded Punta Arenas to the north, people preferred it and soon the military was destroying the fort.
Fort Bulnes rebuilt from 1941 to 1943 in time for its centenary. The replica has a jail, church, post office and stables. In 1968, it became a National Monument.
TIPS:
* Keep your eyes out for the fort's dirt-and-grass "bricks."
* Make a quick stop at O'Higgins Lighthouse, just outside the fort's southeast wall (see my review, "Showing the way"), then walk down Forest of the Winds Trail to Mirador del Estrecho (see my review, "Wide-open view").
What's there today is a reconstruction, but this was the site of the first Chilean settlement in the territory.
Located on the Strait of Magellan about 62 kilometers south of Punta Arenas, Fort Bulnes was founded in 1843 at the behest of Chilean President Manuel Bulnes Prieto. The fort was intended to extend Chile's colonization of the region and to stake its claim to the Strait of Magellan.
Curiously, Fort Bulnes was established about a mile from Port Famine, site of a failed 1584 Spanish settlement. Fort Bulnes, too, failed, the victim of forbidding weather. Chile founded Punta Arenas to the north, people preferred it and soon the military was destroying the fort.
Fort Bulnes rebuilt from 1941 to 1943 in time for its centenary. The replica has a jail, church, post office and stables. In 1968, it became a National Monument.
TIPS:
* Keep your eyes out for the fort's dirt-and-grass "bricks."
* Make a quick stop at O'Higgins Lighthouse, just outside the fort's southeast wall (see my review, "Showing the way"), then walk down Forest of the Winds Trail to Mirador del Estrecho (see my review, "Wide-open view").
Written April 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mg D
Warsaw, Poland
Nov 2023 • Friends
Nice area with beautiful flora - the trees, flores, Beautiful views, we saw many cormorants. Sometimes you can see penguins. A place worth visiting, peace, quiet and nature
Written December 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sophie
Denver, CO
Jan 2020
We had a private guide that brought us here. It was interesting but not mind blowing. Everything is a replica of the original fort. Nothing is furnished. It's very windy and cold. The best thing were the monkey puzzler trees! They are really stunning and the largest we've ever seen. I was shocked at how much it cost to get in. About $24 pp. It includes a small museum that is very forgettable.
Written March 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JDB
Scottsdale, AZ
Nov 2021
I am reading the comments and seeing words such as: historical, ancient, fascinating, interesting. All the above are objectively incorrect.... The fort is a complete reconstruction of a fort that also objectively just was never that old (1840s) at a geographic site where literally, NOTHING happened. There was no battle, famine, event, nothing... Was installed there to set claim to deter Europeans from moving into the region and claiming ground to where they eventually just left. What's worse is that I paid $6.000 CLP. Joke's on me lol.
Written November 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ligia_LGC
Lisbon, Portugal
Dec 2024 • Solo
Transportation to the park where the fort is inserted arrives at 8h45; the park opens at 10h. Transport return only at 8pm ;(
Poor experience, poorly used place, one visits in less than 1 hour.
Poor experience, poorly used place, one visits in less than 1 hour.
Automatically translated
Written January 7, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cindy J
San Antonio, TX
Jan 2020
Settlement of the first immigrants to this area includes peat buildings, chapel, and cannons. Easy walk leads to viewpoint overlooking the sea.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Solange_Z771
Americana, SP
Dec 2018 • Solo
This is a very interesting look at the Magallanes history. The museum is small, modern and in a beautiful location. There are trails along the beach, and walks with guides, which will help understand how difficult life was back then.
It's a nice drive along Hwy 9. I made a few stops to enjoy the landscape, and animals.
It's a nice drive along Hwy 9. I made a few stops to enjoy the landscape, and animals.
Written December 23, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Applecool
Santiago, Chile
Sep 2019
South of Punta Arenas, closer to the southern tip of the mainland, well worth a visit to understand local history better. Part of an organised tour for around 4 hours through local agencies.
Written September 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alisdair t
Workington, UK
Feb 2019 • Couples
We came here on a small group tour, so we got all the info on the blace as we wandered around. Although this is recreated, it excactly depicts the buildings of the very first settlers from 1840. They were only here for 10 years before moving onto and settling in Puento Arenas, which was a more hispotable place.These buildings are relatively new, and its just a pity they were not furnished from the era. Great views along the coast from here, and plenty of hiking trails in the park. the visitor center is well worth a visit also
Written February 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Silvana L
Acireale, Italy
Buongiorno desisero sapere se si possono acquistare i biglietti di ingresso sul posto . Siamo un gruppo di dodici persone e vorremmo decidere la visita al fuerte bulnes solo dopo che arriviamo a punta arenas
Written December 29, 2022
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