Outings and excursions · Punta Arenas
Winter Carnival: Punta Arenas lights up in mid-July
Photos: Manuel Cañón P. / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Murgas, comparsas and floats parade beside the Strait of Magellan, in sub-zero temperatures.
While most carnivals take place in summer, Punta Arenas chose winter. The Winter Carnival was created to bring the low season to life and is now a tradition: in 2026 it turned 30. It is held in July and draws tens of thousands of people to the streets despite the cold.
What it is like
Murgas, comparsas and floats parade through the city; in recent years, along the Costanera del Estrecho. Neighbours, organisations and companies spend months preparing choreography, costumes and floats depicting everyday life, history and the traditions of Magallanes.
La Invernada
The carnival is the centrepiece of a season of sporting, cultural and leisure events that accompanies the Magellanic winter.
Tips
- Dress very warmly: the parade takes place in sub-zero temperatures.
- Dates are announced each year: check before you travel.
- Book accommodation early: the city fills up that weekend.
