Founded in 1883 by immigrants from Croatia and Chiloé during a minor nineteenth century gold rush, Porvenir is the capital of the Chilean province of Tierra del Fuego. Some gold deposits remain and are commercially exploited. Porvenir also gives access to Cerro Sombrero, an oil town, 125km to the east. Though tourism is expanding, most tourists pass Porvenir by, or use it simply as a stopover on their way further south. There are several hotels, cyber-cafés and restaurants. A small grocery store is located near the Chilean army base on the upper level of the town.

Getting there
Access is by ferry or by air from Punta Arenas or by road from the Argentine side of the island. All ferries across the Straits of Magellan are run by Austral Broom, a Chilean company. One service runs once daily except Mondays from the port near Punta Arenas and reaches the ferry terminal about 3 km from the town of Porvenir. The other service is at the northern end of the island running from Punta Delgada to Bahía Azul.