A Complete Guide to Puerto Natales, Chile
Here is a guide on Puerto Natales in Chile. Includes tips on the best things to do, when to go, accommodation, how to get, and reasons why it's worth visiting.
At some point, almost every traveler to Patagonia visits Puerto Natales.
So what brings visitors from all over this world to this windy town? And why is it on practically every Patagonia itinerary?
It's true that there is not much to do in Puerto Natales itself.
So we need to look behind the town's borders to find the real reason why you shouldn't miss this place during your travels to this region.
This inconspicuous little port town serves as a gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, one of the best places to visit in Patagonia.
And while you can find a few other activities and things to do in Puerto Natales, it's not why you arrived here.
Torres del Paine National Park is simply that good.
So here's everything you need to know about Puerto Natales before you go. Why have we decided to write a travel guide on this place?
Well, simply because we think you will find it handy, chances that you'll spend here a few nights exploring its wonderful surroundings are high, and we believe you'll find our tips helpful.
Happy planning.
What to Do in Puerto Natales
As mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, there are not many worthwhile things to do in Puerto Natales itself.
In case you're still not tired enough after the whole day at Torres del Paine National Park, you can consider walking a bit around the town to see its best attractions.
Before you go, make sure to bring a windproof jacket to stay warm, as the strong winds are not only blowing in the national park but through the town's streets as well.
So if you want to see some interesting attractions in Puerto Natales, your first steps should lead you to the waterfront.
Muelle Viejo
In the proper sense of the term, this is not a tourist attraction but a rather useful point of interest for people using the ferry.
Muelle Viejo is the modern pier, and for some, the first place they see in the town if they opted for a ferry from Puerto Montt or Puerto Yungay.
Or last if they're heading that way and leaving the town via sea. There is not much else to see except for some anchoring boats, so you might want to include them in your pictures.
By the way, walking along the waterfront is one of the best family-friendly activities in Puerto Natales.
Monumento al Viento
Continue north along the Costanera (Ave Pedro Montt), and you will arrive at Monumento al Viento in less than five minutes.
If you like the local windy conditions, you shouldn't miss this artsy monument dedicated to the wind - just two statues hanging from the pole.
And if you've brought a skateboard, you can show off your skills to local kids inside a big bowl that's right next to it.
Muelle Historico
In another five minutes walking north, Muelle Historico is a lovely historical pier that burned down long ago.
The wooden pillars coming from the water during the sunrise or sunset make a great photo opportunity if you include the mountains in the picture.
Hands down, this is the most photogenic place in Puerto Natales.
If you have a telephoto lens, you can capture some sea birds sitting on the top of the columns.
Monumento de la Mano
Continue a bit further along the Costanera, and you will arrive at Monumento de la Mano. Five human fingers sticking out of the ground make arguably the most exciting art installation in Puerto Natales.
Local authorities installed a street light in front of it, so it requires some effort to exclude it from the photos.
Monument of Milodon
In the middle of the roundabout, right at the entrance of the town, stands life-sized Mylodon. When arriving by car, you've already passed by, but now you have a chance to see it up close.
There is not much else to do other than just to take a few photos. Just be careful about the oncoming traffic.
Ocean View
All these waterfront attractions in Puerto Natales are not something to write home about. And honestly, if you don't go, you won't miss much.
It might be a bit harsh thing to say, but we believe you've arrived in Patagonia to see nature, so it makes more sense to focus your attention in that direction.
On the other hand, the ocean views with the mountains in the distance never get old, so if you still have some time to kill, the waterfront is your best bet.
Museo Historico Municipal
For a small fee (1000 CLP), you can escape the windy streets and warm up your body (and mind) in a small local museum of history. It's surprisingly a fairly good museum with lots of informative boards.
However, as it's common in many South American museums, not all displays are translated into English, though it is better than most.
Still, it's a great place to learn about the indigenous people and the history of this region in general if you have some time to kill.
If you are short on time, you can skip it with a clear conscience as the information you find there can be found online.
Monumento Natural Cueva del Milodon
Seventeen kilometers north of Puerto Natales, you will find a turn-off to a fascinating natural sight. Drive about nine kilometers west off the Ruta 9, and you will arrive in Mylodon Cave Natural Monument.
As the name suggests, Mylodon Cave was inhabited about 10.000 years ago by Mylodon (now extinct a giant South American sloth), sabretooth tiger, Hippidion (small horse), and the first people of the Steppe who lived and hunted in these areas.
In 1895, the German pioneer Hermann Eberhard re-discovered this area and found the remnants of bones, skin of the ground sloth.
Three well-maintained trails will show you the best places in the area, such as Cueva Grande, Cueva del Medio, Cueva Chica, and two miradors, but you would need three to four hours to see it all.
Two hundred meters deep and 80 meters wide, Mylodon Cave (Cueva Grande) is the most impressive one.
When short on time, consider doing only the short Sendero Cueva Grande, which requires 30 to 60 minutes of your time.
Visiting Mylodon Cave makes sense if you have a car, as there isn't direct public transport. Otherwise, you would need to take a pricey taxi to get there (or hitchhike).
Mylodon Cave entrance fee is 8400 CLP per adult, and the site is open from Monday to Sunday from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Mirador Dorotea
Nine kilometers northeast of Puerto Natales, you will find a trailhead to Mirador Dorotea.
A fairly steep 2.7-kilometer trail with an elevation gain of 400 meters offers stunning views from the top that are worth the extra effort under one condition if you've seen everything else here already.
The only issue with this trail is that almost no travelers will have time for that as they have only limited time in Patagonia.
And honestly, there are far better hikes in this region as the competition is fierce. So we would recommend this trail to you only if you have enough time or just want to complete every hike in this region.
As this hike is not in the national park but on private property, there is an additional entrance fee of 5000 CLP.
Torres del Paine National Park
Some say that Torres del Paine is the most beautiful place to visit in Patagonia, and we can't argue with that.
The park features one of the most beautifully shaped mountains we've ever seen, massive glaciers, raging waterfalls, and some of the best hikes in Patagonia.
We're pretty sure that there isn't a single person going to Puerto Natales and not visiting the national park.
We loved the Mirador Las Torres and Grey Glacier day hikes, or Mirador Salto Grande trail.
If you have four to six days and looking for some serious trekking, you shouldn't miss out on the iconic W Trek.
Either way, Torres del Paine is home to epic scenery, which you will see no matter where you go. Even if you have only one day for Torres del Paine, it's still worth a visit.
We would recommend you to read our helpful post that covers everything you need to know about Torres del Paine National Park before you go.
By the way, the steep $34 (up to three days) or $47 (more than three days) entrance fee might lead some budget travelers to reconsider their travel plans, but we believe it's worth every penny.
While we're not the biggest fans of paying expensive entrance fees (who is, right), it's just a small price to pay for a privilege to see such a beautiful place like this.
And after all, one can only hope that the money goes back to the park preservation.
The fastest and easiest way to get to Torres del Paine from Puerto Natales is by car. Mind you, that the drive can take you up to an hour and a half just to the park's entrance gate.
If you don't have a car, then it's easy to get to Torres del Paine by bus.
Several companies run buses between Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine every day, and they leave from Terminal Rodoviario either at 7 AM, 8 AM, or 2:30 PM.
Lastly, you can always take a Torres del Paine Tour if you don't want to worry about transport and your day itinerary.
Eating Out
For such a small town, Puerto Natales is not short of good restaurants.
You will have a chance to enjoy both local and international cuisine prepared from local ingredients, and that's something everyone has to appreciate after day-long trekking in the national park.
Places such as Singular Patagonia Restaurant, Santolla, Aldea, Afrigonia, Cafe Kaiken, or Asador Patagonico will ensure you will not leave Puerto Natales hungry or with a full wallet.
Even budget travelers can find some cheap(ish) eats in Puerto Natales, such as Restaurant Bahia Mansa or Base Camp.
Having said that, if you are traveling on a budget and trying to save as much money as possible, it's better to find a good hostel with a kitchen and prepare your own meal.
Where to Stay
If you're arriving from the north and have already visited places such as Carretera Austral, you might be used to a bit more basic yet expensive accommodation.
Hotels in Puerto Natales are still expensive, but they provide a better service.
Moreover, you'll find here more upscale places (and not just one), which can serve as perfect treats after long days in the national park or when ending your Patagonia trip here.
Even backpackers and budget travelers will find here hostels that won't drain your wallet, though staying in dormitories is often required to achieve such a feat.
Lastly, we do recommend you to make a reservation in advance in peak season, as the most popular places fill up quickly.
So here's our choice of the best hotels in Puerto Natales for every traveler.
Budget | Hostal Andes Patagonicos - Centrally located accommodation, Hostal Andes Patagonicos is an excellent place to stay for those who travel on a budget. You will find here clean and comfortable rooms, friendly staff, and a quiet location.
It's not the cheapest hostel in the town, but one of the best ones.
Mid-range | Kau Lodge - If you're looking for a nice, modern, stylish, and affordable accommodation, then Kau Lodge might be exactly it. All rooms are equipped with heating, and all rooms have a beautiful sea view. A complimentary buffet breakfast is included in the price.
Luxury | Hotel Simple Patagonia - One of the best hotels in Puerto Natales, Hotel Simple Patagonia offers beautiful views from the rooms, quiet locations outside the town, comfy beds, free private parking, on-site restaurant with bar, and buffet breakfast.
Alternatively, look at other upscale places such as Remota or Singular Patagonia Hotel, also located a bit outside Puerto Natales.
How to Get There
There are several ways to get to Puerto Natales, and multiple entrance points to Patagonia make getting to Puerto Natales easier.
Most visitors arrive from Punta Arenas (or Ushuaia) or from El Calafate.
Car
It's relatively easy to rent a car in Puerto Natales. And it makes traveling to Torres del Paine far easier and convenient.
The only con is that you can't always drive to Argentina with it, but that's something you can work around by using public transport.
Rental companies usually don't allow you to travel from Chile to Argentina, but you can find some smaller local ones that might have no issue with it.
Just make sure you also have car insurance for Argentina and a valid permit to cross the borders. Also, usually the rental cars drop-off fees in different locations are very expensive.
There is one more thing to consider. If you're planning on doing, for example, 5-day W Trek, then you obviously won't need the car for this period.
Bus
Getting to Puerto Natales from El Calafate by bus was easy and comfortable. The bus arrives (and departs) from Terminal Rodoviario (Estacion de Autobuses), located about two kilometers from the waterfront.
The bus station in Puerto Natales is nice and clean and not chaotic as some other South American terminals.
Bus Sur and Cootra run daily buses between El Calafate and Puerto Natales, and the trip usually takes about five to six hours, including the time you spend at the border.
Buses Sur, Fernandez, and Pacheco also frequently run between Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, and some buses even stop at the Punta Arena's airport.
The bus ticket costs around 7.500 CPL ($10), and the trip shouldn't take more than 3 hours.
While getting around Patagonia by bus in peak season is easy, buses run less frequently in the off-season.
Private Transfer
Private transfer is the fastest and most hassle-free way to travel between Puerto Natales and El Calafate or Punta Arenas. It's also the most expensive one.
Ferry
Puerto Natales is a port town, so it's obvious to expect a ferry service here. Interestingly enough, you can take a 4D/3N ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales (or vice versa).
The Navimag ferry departs every Saturday from Puerto Montt and returns every Wednesday from Puerto Natales.
It allows you to see this region and its fjords, glaciers, volcanoes, or cliffs from a completely different perspective, but it's not for everyone.
By the way, doesn't Puerto Montt ring any bell to you? Yes, that's the port town at the northern end of Carretera Austral.
Mind you; this is not a cruise, but still a regular ferry. Don't expect fancy cabins or optional tours. Bring a book or two, as there's not even WiFi.
In our opinion, this journey makes sense if you want to return to the same point of your departure, or you're a fan of slow travel and basic cruises.
Almost at the end of the Carretera Austral, halfway between Cochrane, home to Patagonia National Park, and Villa O'Higgins, lies Puerto Yungay.
Once you arrive there, you need to take a ferry either way.
But as we're talking about Puerto Natales, you guessed right that there's a service that connects these two places.
Puerto Yungay to Puerto Natales ferry might be a better alternative to the one that goes from Puerto Montt, especially for those who want to enjoy a full Carretera Austral road trip without any compromises.
The company providing this service is called TABSA, and the journey takes about 41 hours.
Plane
A small Aeropuerto Teniente Julio Gallardo is located less than 10 kilometers north of Puerto Natales.
LATAM or JetSmart operates relatively cheap 3-h flights between Santiago and Puerto Natales.
The nearest two international airports are either Presidente Carlos Ibanez del Campo International Airport in Punta Arenas in Chile, or Aeropuerto Internacional Comandante Armando Tola de El Calafate in Argentina.
Get Around
Puerto Natales is a still very compact town, and it's easy to walk everywhere. Sure, if you have heavy luggage or it's raining hard, relatively cheap taxis will get you around the town.
When to Go
For many travelers, the best time to visit Puerto Natales is summer.
While you will have the highest chance for the best weather from December to April, you won't escape the wind. Quite the opposite.
If you've read some of our previous blog posts, you probably already know that this part of Patagonia is exceptionally windy.
It's something you can read and hear a lot but probably won't realize how much, at least until you set your foot in this region.
You might think that the strong wind gusts and windy conditions exist only in the mountainous areas of the national park, but even walking around the town won't give you a break.
Make sure you bring proper gear; otherwise, you might not have fun here. Frankly, it can be pretty dangerous to underestimate Patagonia weather.
Having said that, if you bring a windproof rain jacket, extra warm layers, a down jacket, and proper hiking boots, then you have nothing to worry about.
For more information on this topic, read our Patagonia Packing List.
Lastly, the prices for accommodation surge and entire Patagonia fills up quickly with tourists.
To avoid crowds and higher prices, you might consider arriving in the shoulder season.
Spring or fall is a great time to visit Patagonia for people with more flexibility, backpackers, or long term travelers who are searching for cheaper accommodation and quieter trails.
You can still visit Puerto Natales in winter; even Torres Del Paine National Park remains open. It's definitely colder, snow arrives, and some less traveled hikes can be closed.
There is more to this topic, and we recommend you to read our post on the best time to visit Patagonia to find more helpful information.
Crossing Borders to Argentina From Puerto Natales
Unless you plan your trip only around Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine, or some Chilean ports in the north, you will need to cross the borders from Chile to Argentina at some point (or vice versa).
If you are heading out to El Calafate, El Chalten, or Ushuaia, there is no way around it.
We took the bus from El Calafate, home to Perito Moreno Glacier, and crossed the borders at Paso Rio Don Guillermo, which is about 67 kilometers north of Puerto Natales.
It's near the Cerro Castillo settlement; just don't confuse it with the Cerro Castillo village on Carretera Austral that carries the same name.
There are two more options near Puerto Natales where you can cross the borders between Chile and Argentina, but we believe that the Paso Rio Don Guillermo is the most popular one.
When arriving from Ushuaia, you need to cross the borders at San Sebastian Paso.
There is no need to worry about it. It's not like you're crossing the borders between Colombia and Ecuador.
We crossed the borders between both countries several times on our journey around Patagonia, and it was a smooth, hassle-free, and safe process each time. Have your travel documents ready before your trip
Regardless of your choice of transport and the point of entry, make sure you don't carry any fresh vegetables, fruits, or seeds across the borders.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
Services
Puerto Natales is not a small village such as Chaiten or Puyuhuapi on Carretera Austral, but a regular-sized town. An upside of this fact is that you can expect a bit better services here.
In fact, due to the increasing popularity, you can find here, for example, some nicer restaurants to make your stay even more memorable.
But we've already talked about that.
Puerto Natales also has a well-stocked chain grocery store Unimarc, but expect higher prices (or lower depending on where you're arriving from) and not miracles.
If you're lacking fruit and vegetables after traveling around less developed places, there's a lovely Supermercado Superfrut located in the next block from Unimarc.
While these two places are arguably the best ones when it comes to shopping in Puerto Natales, more (smaller) grocery stores can be found scattered around the town.
Regardless of where you do your shopping, you will find here pretty much everything you need if you prefer to prepare your own meals or for your hiking adventures in the park.
Copec gas station is located on Manuel Bulnes street, but there is also a one on Ruta 9 outside the town.
When traveling around the area, always make sure that you leave the town with a full gas tank, unless you like to live dangerously.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
