Puerto Williams is the southernmost city in the world. From here, a parade of yachts of different dimensions, colors and luxuries spreads out over the Beagle Channel composing hypnotic postcard views. In the background, the Dientes de Navarino rise impressively; an extension of the Darwin mountain range with pinnacles that resemble pointed teeth, the Dientes offer compelling trekking starting just meters from the town.

Puerto Williams, with a population of about 2,100, is located 300 nautical miles south of Punta Arenas. It lies on shore of the Beagle Channel, on the northern side of Navarino Island. It belongs to the commune of Cape Horn, in the Magallanes region of the Chilean Antarctic province.

Puerto Williams is a very safe place to moor and its climate is temperate, humid year-round, and with a rather cold summer. This climate is also called the cold oceanic climate, or oceanic sub-polar climate. The annual thermal oscillation is quite limited.

Strong winds from the western quadrant originate in the South Pacific Ocean and often lash the city and surrounding area. Unprotected trees grow following the direction of the wind providing a stark reminder of the harsh environment here.

Services available in area covered:

• Club de Yates Micalvi, owned and operated by the Chilean Armada, is open to all sailors who call in Puerto Williams. Basic services are provided including moorage, electricity, drinking water, wifi, showers and bathrooms at a very reasonable rate.
• The Terminal Pescadora (Fishing terminal) has commercial mooring facilities, yard space and a 35 ton travel lift. It is possible to arrange a fuel truck to deliver fuel alongside.
• Supermarkets, bakeries, basic hardware stores, diesel, gasoline, propane, maker space (FabLab Austral), airline DAP Aerovias (www.dapairline.com), Ferry from Punta Arenas to Puerto Williams TABSA (www.tabsa.cl).
• Public hospital Cristina Calderón, Naval hospital and other services.
• Puerto Williams Radio coastal station provides radiotelephony and digital selective calling, emits meteorological bulletins, and provides Search and Rescue support.

PUERTO WILLIAMS RADIO    CBM-4 ISMM: 007250420 2.182 kHz H24 2.187.5 kHz DSC H24 4.125 kHz (C-421 HJ 156.800 MHz (C-16) H24 156.525 MHz (C-70) H24

Arriving in Puerto Williams by boat:

• Call the Harbourmaster (Capitania de Puerto) 30 minutes before arrival (VHF CH 16, call sign "Puerto Williams Radio") and inform about your ETA.
   
• Moor at the Micalvi ship, to one of the boat rows. If there is no space for your boat, there are a few buoys at the entrance of the bay (see chart), or drop your anchor just outside the entrance, taking care not to line up with the airport runway, whose control tower is clearly visible (see chart).
   
• 220 V power, water and wifi are available on the Micalvi. Inside there is a club room, as well as toilets available for everyone.
   
• Fuel: there is a COPEC fuel station halfway to town (see chart). Bring your jerrycans to carry diesel to your boat (if you ask the fuel station's people for help, they usually will arrange a car for you). If you need a huge quantity of diesel you'll have to arrange for permission from the Harbourmaster. The COPEC people could be helpful for this, and you will be able to tank directly at the commercial pier.
   
• Propane bottles can be filled up by Gasco halfway to the city.

Formalities:

• 1. First you have to visit the Harbourmaster (Capitania de Porto, halfway to the city). Take your boat document and passports. To check in to Puerto Williams you will have to fill up different forms about your boat, safety equipment etc. You will also have to pay a yearly local tax for lighthouses and beacons (about 70 USD for a 14 m boat).
   
• 2. Next you have to visit the Immigration (Control Migratorio y Seguridad Internacional, PDI - policía de investigaciones frontera), in the city, appointments only at 10. 00, 15.00 and 18.00 o'clock). If you check in to Chile from abroad, all crew will have to be there with their passports.
   
• 3. Then the captain will have to go to the Customs with the ship's papers (Aduana, in the city).
   
• 4. The Department of Agriculture (Departamento de Agricultura, in the city) is the last place where you'll have to go, together with the whole crew: you will have to fill up some forms there, and the officer will visit your boat afterwards to check your food.
   
• 5. If you then intend to sail around Cape Horn or into the Patagonian channels (for example up to Puerto Montt), you'll have to request a cruise permit from the Harbourmaster, indicating your ETA at the main points along the trip. The Harbourmaster will issue either a domestic or an international sailing document (zarpe) for all yachts departing Puerto Williams.