Puerto Natales Travelers Recommend

The fishing port-turned-adventure capital of Puerto Natales serves as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park and as a jumping-off point for numerous adventures. Whether you plan to visit for a day or hike for a week, here is a rundown of tour options from this Patagonian outpost.

Full-Day Tours

Those pressed for time are in luck; it’s possible to experience some of the national park’s most iconic sites in as little as one day. Get an early start for a small-group hike to the base of the jagged Paine Towers, or for something more relaxed, opt for a tour of the park’s highlights, including Sofia Lagoon, Ballena Hill, Porteño Lake, Grey Glacier and the three peaks that give the park its name. Day hikes range from beginner to advanced, with the chance to tackle the slopes of Mount Almirante Nieto or soak up the views from Valle del Ascencio.

Multi-Day Tours

It’s hard to get a sense of the true grandeur of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve without spending a few days exploring. Guided multi-day excursions into the park take visitors further off the beaten track to camp on the shores of the Serrano River, take a boat ride past Grey Glacier, and trek to some of the park’s most spectacular areas, including the base of Torres del Paine, Los Cuernos, and French Valley. Navigating the vast park with a guide ensures you won’t get lost.

Things to Know

• Puerto Natales is located in southern Chile, about three hours by bus from Punta Arenas (nearest major airport) and two hours to the park entrance.
• Day tours to the park can last upwards of 12 hours.
• Remember to wear sturdy hiking shoes and dress in warm layers, even in summer.
• Most tours include entrance fees and roundtrip transportation from your Puerto Natales Hotel; some also include lunch.

The port town of Puerto Natales lures visitors with its access to Torres del Paine National Park and majestic Patagonian glaciers. With three days in town, you can explore the historic town as well as the natural wonders on its doorstep. Here’s how to make the most of three days in Puerto Natales.

Day 1: City Sights

Get a feel for the town of Puerto Natales with a stroll through the Plaza de Armas and down to the waterfront. Stop in at the Municipal History Museum (Museo Historico Municipal) to learn about life in the region prior to the arrival of the Europeans, then head just north of the town center to see the surreal Hand Monument (Monumento del Mano), a sculpture of a human hand reaching out of the ground. Keep going about an hour’s walk north to the historic town of Puerto Bories, where a preserved, century-old cold-storage plant and workers’ homes offer a glimpse into the area’s pioneer past. Alternatively, opt for a small-group bike tour to the picturesque waterfront, the historic Braun and Blanchard Old Pier, and the Ether Aike craft village, a great place to shop for artisan souvenirs.

Day 2: Torres del Paine National Park

Dedicate your second day to one of the most beautiful attractions in South America: the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Torres del Paine National Park, with diverse landscapes including glaciers, lakes, forests, the snow-capped Andes, and the granite pillars of Torres del Paine. Leave early in the morning to see the park’s highlights—including Milodon Cave, Nordenskjold Lake, and Grey Glacier—on a full-day coach tour. Active travelers can instead choose a full-day hiking tour to the base of the Torres del Paine pillars. The trail can be challenging, with a 12-mile (19-kilometer) hike through a valley, crossing streams and traversing woodlands before climbing a moraine to the towers, but you are rewarded with incredible views (and, typically, a boxed lunch).

Day 3: Glorious Glaciers

Board a boat early in the morning and embark on a cruise through Last Hope Fjord (Fjord Ultima Esperanza) toward the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Tours take visitors to the best viewing points to soak up the ethereal majesty of the glaciers and soak in the sights of a winter wonderland studded with waterfalls and splintering snow-capped peaks. Tours typically allow guests to disembark and hike through the rugged splendor of Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. Most also include lunch, and some have an onboard bar to serve glacier-chilled cocktails. Back in town in the evening, take your pick of the restaurants clustered around Plaza de Armas—seafood is a local specialty—and enjoy a nightcap at one of the town’s drinking holes, which include a microbrewery and gin/whisky distillery with on-site bars.

Most travelers blow through the port town of Puerto Natales on their way to Torres del Paine National Park, but with two days to spare, you can kick back in town for a little while rather than simply rushing through. Here’s what to do with 48 hours in Puerto Natales.

Day 1: Dive Into the Town’s History

**Morning:**Start your day with a wander around town, through the main plaza, and down to the waterfront. About an hour’s walk north is the historic town of Puerto Bories, which offers a glimpse into the area’s pioneer past with a preserved, century-old cold-storage plant and workers’ homes. For a different perspective, visit the Municipal History Museum (Museo Historico Municipal) to learn about life in the region prior to the Europeans’ arrival.

**Afternoon:**Pedal through colorful streets on a bicycle tour this afternoon. These tours typically visit the historic Braun and Blanchard Old Pier for views of the channel and snow-capped mountains just beyond, as well as the Ether Aike craft village to shop for artisan souvenirs.

**Night:**You’ll have an early start in the morning, so tuck into an early seafood dinner at one of the restaurants clustered around the Plaza de Armas.

Day 2: Hit Torres del Paine

**Morning:**Journey into the stunning natural spectacle that is Torres del Paine National Park. One-day-tour options include traveling around the park’s Patagonian landscapes, studded with glaciers, lagoons, and snow-capped mountains, by coach or on a more challenging hiking excursion. Tours typically include lunch—in a restaurant for those traveling by coach, boxed for hikers.

**Afternoon:**If you have the time—and energy—after your epic excursion, take a casual stroll 10 minutes north of Puerto Natales’ town center to one of its more unusual, but photogenic, attractions: the Hand Monument (Monumento del Mano), a stone sculpture portraying the five fingers of an enormous human hand protruding from the ground.

**Night:**Conclude your visit to Puerto Natales with a taste of its drinks scene at the Baguales microbrewery or the Last Hope gin and whiskey distillery. Both have on-site bars, so you can while away your evening trying some local products and making new friends.

Gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, Puerto Natales functions as a pit stop for many travelers procuring provisions before heading into the park. There’s plenty to do in town, however, so it’s worth setting aside a day to explore. Here are a few ways to make the most of one day in the Patagonian town of Puerto Natales.

Morning: Start with a History Lesson

With just one day to spare, most visitors would head straight into Torres del Paine National Park, but, if you have a day to explore the town, start with a visit to the Municipal History Museum (Museo Historico Municipal). There you can learn about life in the region prior to the arrival of the Europeans via displays, photos, and archaeological artifacts such as canoes and weapons. Afterward, walk 10 minutes north to one of the town’s most unusual attractions. The Hand Monument (Monumento del Mano) is a stone sculpture portraying the five fingers of an enormous human hand protruding out of the ground.

Afternoon: Pedal Around the Port Town

In the afternoon, embark on a small-group bike tour and pedal through colorful streets. Bicycle tours typically last a few hours and take visitors to the picturesque waterfront and the historic Braun and Blanchard Old Pier, which was set on fire by revolting workers around 1920. You’ll be able to spot some of the many birds that now inhabit the disused pier while taking in views of the channel and snow-capped mountains just beyond. Some bike tours also visit the Ether Aike craft village, a great place to shop for artisan souvenirs.

Night: Enjoy a Leisurely Dinner

As you might expect of a town with such heavy tourist traffic, Puerto Natales has plenty of restaurants to suit a variety of tastes. Most are clustered around the Plaza de Armas Arturo Prat, the town’s main square. Seafood is plentiful, with specialties including king crab prepared in a variety of ways. You’ll also find restaurants serving pizza, burgers, vegetarian dishes, and even Afro-Chilean cuisine. Nightlife is typically subdued—most visitors leave early in the morning on tours—but Puerto Natales does have a couple of pubs, as well as a microbrewery and a gin/whisky distillery with on-site bars.