interesting. A sample of the history of Magellan. Very attentive and friendly staff. just five minutes from the city ..
If you have an aversion to museums or think boats are not very interesting - then think again! Came across this place on Trip Advisor when researching where we could go on our shore day in Punta Arenas. Even the tour advisor on the cruise ship had never heard of it, but that is his loss. I had emailed some weeks beforehand to make sure it would be open on Christmas Eve - unlike other places in town that we had thought we might visit, but found closed! - and received a prompt reply from the owner to say he would be open as usual.The most interesting thing for me was learning the story of Shackleton and seeing an exact replica of the tiny boat he made his epic journey in - just amazing.The entry fee is a very reasonable 3,000 pesos per person and the taxi ride out there in a metered taxi (just grab one in the main square) is less than 5,000 pesos. The guy there will call a taxi for you when you're ready to go back.
This was the highlight of my trip to PA. A few KM out of town, but so worth it. Get the leflet with the Na Vistoria on it from your hotel, and any taxi or bus should know it. Its a KM or so past the navy base. Taxi is about 4K, or take the white coaster from cor Carrera Pinto / Chiloe, cost 550, and alight at Rio Seco (cross the highway and follow the estuary / channel). 3K entrance is a bargain. The owner, Juan, is on a personal quest to reproduce the ships famous the history to Punta Arenas. You can't imagine the life of sailors packed into the bowels of Nao Victoria, and when it rains / blows you have to give total respect to the courage of these hardy men. Juan reckons the Beagle is a year away from completing. The James Caird is on the waters edge, and you can take a photo next to the "Strait of Magellan" sign. Free hot cocoa or coffee in Juan's office to warm you back up, then minibus back from the highway every 30mins, or walk 1KM back to the gas station and take a collective or taxi ( I didn't figure out the collectivo). budget 2-3 hrs, depends if you want to spend time taking photos . Audio was not logically sequenced
This is worth the few hours it takes. The private museum contains replicas of some famous ships and one - Nao Victoria, Magellan's ship - you can climb on board and visit it inside. Quite an experience to see how cramped and rugged the vessel was. Very low ceilings men slept in hammocks. Also there is the BEAGLE under construction and Shackleton's life boat that he made his grueling 800 mile voyage in to save his men in Antarctica. It is right on the Strait of Magellan.
museum victoria nao has full size replicas of one of Magellen's ships, Darwin's Beagle, and Shackleton's small boat. You can walk all over the ships. Totally fun. Take the bus from down town for one dollar each way. Entry is not expensive.
Although its a bit out of the way, they have very interesting reproductions of Magellen's ship and a few others (and you can watch them building one of Darwin's ship). The employees were very nice and helpful (called a cab to get us back down town, etc.)
Want to know what circumnavigating the gloglobe was likecin the 1520s? Come here and crawl all over a full scale wooden replica of one of Magellan's ships. A model of the Beagle is in progress, plus they have a model the Ancud, that brought the first Chilote settlers to Punta Arenas, and the James Caird, key to Shackleton's last antarctic adventure. Get the audio guide, available in several languages. Coffee and hot chocolate provided afterwards! Taxi from the centre is around 4000 CLP.
Visited this attraction in 2013 and was really impressed. It does not receive the publicity it deserves and it really is an ongoing project that deserves recognition. The Victoria is fascinating and to see the James Caird - excellent. The Beagle is now up to deck level and going well. This whole visitor experience is SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE - Very well worth the visit. What an undertaking and it really does give an impression of how our seafarers survived in the past. Congratulations to all concerned on a Superb Project - Just has to be supported.... EXCELLENT
Interesting museum under development. A must if you are a sailor and have read the exploits of the Southern Ocean explorers. Beside a replica of Magellan's ship, there are replicas of the Beagle and Shackleton's James Caird. Get a appreciation of Shackleton's "cruise" to rescue his crew by standing next to the Caird.
Not really a museum as much as it is an attraction to visit.The site is in someone's backyard, and you need to take a taxi, as it is far from town. He has full size replicas of the ships that Magellan and Darwin took, and you can get on the ships. Darwin's ship is not finished yet. He also has some good information about Shackelton's expedition to Antartica. If you go by taxi, ask the taxi driver to either wait or come back to get you, as there are no taxis cruising near that neighborhood.The museum staff can also assist you if need be.