![]() GRADUAL REOPENING OF PROTECTED AREAS |
Stay informed about the latest reopening dates for national parks and their sanitary protocols for visiting via the official Conaf website |
In Cerro Sombrero, you’ll find the Patagonian steppe in all its splendor. The history of this small town is intertwined with that of the oil industry: in 1945, oil was discovered in the Manantiales area. This became the first oilfield in Tierra del Fuego and is now a National Historical Monument.
To house the oil workers and their families, from 1958 to 1961, ENAP constructed what was then called the “Company Town,” capital of the area’s oil industry, located on the Cerro Sombrero Plateau and an equal distance from the various oil wells. In 1962, Cerro Sombrero was opened to the public, spurring the interest of new inhabitants.
Various hostels and lodging options are available in Cerro Sombrero. A few options can be found at
Cerro Sombrero is located 136 miles from Punta Arenas. To get there, you’ll need to cross the Strait of Magellan at the Primera Angostura sector (Punta Delgada), a trip of around 20 minutes. Cerro Sombrero is also located around 76 miles from Porvenir.
Buses travel daily from Punta Arenas to Cerro Sombrero. Find more information by contacting Pullman Norte Buses.
There are also buses that travel between Cerro Sombrero and Porvenir. Find more information by contacting Río Side Buses.
To get to Cerro Sombrero, you’ll need to cross the Strait of Magellan at Punta Delgada, which is located 106 miles from Punta Arenas along Route CH-225. The voyage across the strait takes around 20 minutes.
You can also cross the Strait of Magellan at Tres Puentes, located around 3 miles from Punta Arenas. The crossing takes around 2 hours. When you reach Porvenir, you’ll need to drive 76 miles to Cerro Sombrero.
The nearest airport is in Punta Arenas. Dap Airlines offers flights to Porvenir, a trip of just 12 minutes.
The prolific bird life found in this park includes carancho, kestrel, queltehue, caiquén, ibis, eaglet, black eagle with nest, peregrine falcon and ñandú.
This remote park protects several fox species, sea leopards, dolphins, whales, sea lions, elephant seals, austral dolphins and Chilean dolphins, in addition to 49 bird species.
Immense plains, fjords, channels and unexplored mountains make up this unique territory and biosphere reserve that has been part of the ancestral route of Selknam and Yaghan people.
You can find the visitor’s center at the municipal offices.
Phone
Día del Ovejero
During the final two weeks of February, the townspeople host the “Shepherd’s Days,” a one-of-a-kind festival in the region that celebrates rural life.
Copyright 2018 Ruta de los Parques de la Patagonia