The Beagle Channel is a strait separating islands of the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago, in extreme southern South America. It separates Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego from the islands Nueva, Picton, Navarino, Hoste, Londonderry, Stewart Islands and other smaller to the south. Its eastern portion is part of the border between Chile and Argentina, but the western part is completely within Chile. The west end is the Darwin Sound and the east end is Nueva Island.
The Beagle Channel is about 240 kilometres (150 mi) long and is about 5 kilometres (3 mi) wide at its narrowest point. To the west the Darwin Sound connects it to the Pacific Ocean. The biggest settlement on the channel is Ushuaia in Argentina followed by Puerto Williams in Chile, two of the southernmost settlements of the world.
Things to see and do
* Martín Gusinde Museum – Puerto Williams
* Club de Yates de Puerto Williams
* Cape Horn National Park
* Villa Ukika – village of the last descendants of the Yamana culture 2km from Puerto Williams
* Caleta Mejillones - located 30 km east of Puerto Williams, this was the last indian enclave in the sector inhabited by the yamanas until 1967
Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Peso (CLP)
Language – Spanish
Population –3,000 approx (Puerto Williams)
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style
Time – GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 56
Port Location – The port of Puerto Williams is located on Isla Navarino facing the Beagle Channel.
Transport Links – Access is by daily air service provided by Aerovías DAP or by weekly ro-ro ferry 'Bahia Azul' from Punta Arenas, 350 kilometres to the north. In the summer months it is also possible to reach Puerto Williams by either the RIB 'Calafate' which connects Ushuaia with Puerto Navarino or by chartered light aircraft. Berths can sometimes be found on yachts sailing between the two ports. There is no regular link with Argentina.