Puerto Natales Travel Guide

  Cuernos del Paine
by milliturtle
 
  • Cuernos del Paine
      Cuernos del Paine
    by milliturtle
  • Grey Glacier Beach
      Grey Glacier Beach
    by milliturtle
  • Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
      Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
    by Chiny
  • Cuernos del Paine, from lago Pehoe
      Cuernos del Paine, from lago Pehoe
    by perfectly_zen
  • Lago Grey: icebergs
      Lago Grey: icebergs
    by vtveen
 

Pro

perfectly_zen profile photo

 Amazing nature, looks like other planet...great people 


Con

ezaguryk profile photo

 weather change so fast!!!!!!!!! 


In a nutshell

jsepulve profile photo

 Great place to visit before/after Torres Del Paine 

 

Explore Puerto Natales

Things to Do  

Road trip to Torres del Paine NP

Road trip to Torres del Paine NP, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  We got our (Emsa/Avis) rental car at the hotel and started around 9.00 am for the trip to Torres del Paine National Park. We passed the small airport of Puerto Natales and came on a gravel road; our ‘companion’ for the rest of the day. (Since 2007 there is a 'new' road to... 

Glacier Balmaceda

Glacier Balmaceda, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  We were not aware of it, but when we left Puerto Natales on the ‘Alberto de Agostini’ we already could see this glacier. Due to the clear air it seemed if the glacier and the surrounding mountains were rather close, but it took about 3 hours sailing before we reached the bay... 

Glacier Serrano

Glacier Serrano, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  This glacier is also tumbling down the Balmaceda Mountain, but on the north slope. It ends in a glacier lake and ice breaking off the main ice wall causes several icebergs floating in the lake. Depending on the wind this icebergs do reach a shore and we could get very close... 

PN Bernardo O’Higgins – native forest

PN Bernardo O’Higgins – native forest, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  Perhaps the most impressive and at least most amazing and remarkable part of our trip to the glaciers in Parque Nacional Bernardo O’Higgins was our walk from the pier at Puerto Toro (after 3 ½ hours sailing) to the viewing point for the Serrano Glacier trough a fantastic... 

Torres del Paine - the "W" trek

Torres del Paine - the "W" trek, Puerto Natales

 perfectly_zen Says:  The "w" trek is considered a nice option for those who haven´t got much time available and want to see the most important parts of the park. I´m not a trekking expert =P and I could not complete the whole trek because of the weather, but I will write down the data I´ve... 

Glaciers, Serrano, and Torres del Paine Part 1

Glaciers, Serrano, and Torres del Paine Part 1, Puerto Natales

 milliturtle Says:  This is sort of a long tip since we did 3 things in 1 day. There are 2 main tour operators that offer this full day option - Turismo 21 de Mayo and Punta Alta. I think both companies pretty much cover the same route: a 3 hour catamaran ride on the Seno Ultima Esperanza... 

Lago Grey

Lago Grey, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  From Lago Pehoe we continued our trip to the Visitor Centre of the park with some interesting exhibits, some useful maps and other information. After crossing the River Grey the gravel road became VERY bad and our speed was often not more than 20 km !! But we reached, really... 

Boat trip to the glaciers

Boat trip to the glaciers, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  ..... Full day Fiordo Ultima Esparanza .....That is the announcement on the website of ‘Turismo 21 de Mayo’, the company which operates this boat trip during summer. And it is the truth, because we (and you) had to sail for 7 long hours on a rather small boat, leaving from... 

Hotels  

Keoken Patagonia Bed & Breakfast

 1 Review and 57 Opinions  We really enjoyed our stay at the B&B. The owner, Rodrigo, is extremely helpful and friendly. He... 

Costa Australis Hotel Puerto Natales

 1 Review and 49 Opinions  By far the best hotel in the city. The service is good with some English spoken. The suite, although... 

Restaurants  

Mesita Grande Pizzeria: Brick oven pizza!

Mesita Grande Pizzeria: Brick oven pizza!, Puerto Natales

 blueskyjohn Says:  Great atmosphere. There are mostly public seating, basically one large, long table so you are sitting all together. Pizza is great and nice beer selection. I've seen reviews where many hikers and backpackers come here after returning from Torres Del Paine. Looked for... 

El Toqui: Home cooked meals, awesome food!

El Toqui: Home cooked meals, awesome food!, Puerto Natales

 blueskyjohn Says:  This is a very small restaurant, maybe 5 or 6 tables. But the food is great and it feels like eating in someone's house with great home cooked meals. I eat here three times. Wish I was back! The hamburger is hand made with spices and veggies mixed in. It was incredible! 

Afrigonia: Nice little restaurant

Afrigonia: Nice little restaurant, Puerto Natales

 milliturtle Says:  This restaurant actually serves African and Patagonian fusion cuisine, hence Afrigonia. The decor was simple, with some African influence such as the wooden giraffe napkin holder.We tried the salmon cerviche, king crab (austral king) appetizer, the lamb, and shrimp and... 

Transportation  

A good option

A good option, Puerto Natales

 ezaguryk Says:  Comfortable, simple and very punctual, Bus Fernandez takes from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales and of return, it has seven schedules per day, the trip lasts 3 hours approximately, and you will be able to enjoy a very pretty landscape is worth the trouble to be awake. The... 

Bus from Punta Arenas Airport

Bus from Punta Arenas Airport, Puerto Natales

 milliturtle Says:  There are at least 3 bus companies (Fernandez, Pacheco, Sur) that make a stop at the airport on the way to Puerto Natales, so if you are arriving by plane, you can arrange to get on the bus there instead of the bus station in downtown Punta Areans. However, you cannot... 

Car rental – a lot of freedom

Car rental – a lot of freedom, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  When on holiday we love our freedom and if possible we try to travel by (rental) car. We feel it is much more convenient and flexible. We drive and stop when and how long we want and not when a tour guide does. And self driving allows to take minor roads and to visit ‘off... 

El Calafate - Puerto Natales

El Calafate - Puerto Natales, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  A lot of travellers will visit both El Calafate and Torres del Paine (Puerto Natales) during their vacation. The best way to travel to/from Chile between El Calafate and Puerto Natales is by bus. There are a couple of companies running services between these cities. We took... 

New: Puerto Natales by plane

New: Puerto Natales by plane, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  Most probably only during summerSince the beginning of the year 2009 it is possible to fly to/from Puerto Natales. The 'second' Chilean airline 'Sky Airline' is flying from a couple of cities - among them Santiago - to Puerto Natales. Didn't use it myself, but heard about... 

Local Customs  

El Milodón

El Milodón, Puerto Natales

 elpariente Says:  El Milodón, que se extinguió hace 10.000 años , era un mamífero herbívoro que semejaba a un gran oso con cabeza de camello. Pertenecía a la misma familia el armadillo, el oso hormiguero y el perezoso actuales y se calcula que medía dos veces el tamaño de un hombre.En 1896 ,... 

Pisco – pure

Pisco – pure, Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:  Pisco is the national drink of Chile (and Peru) and is a rather strong drink (35% alc.) distilled of muscat grapes, with a high sugar content. These grapes are growing in the north of Chile. It is possible to drink it pure or as a so called ‘pisco sour’, when the drink is... 

What to Pack  

Torres del paine packing list

Torres del paine packing list, Puerto Natales

 perfectly_zen Says:  The luggage to Torres has to be the lighter and more anatomic possible, since you´ll have to carry it on your back most of the time, sometimes walking up hills, and against the wind, which is already tiring...One very important thing as well is to take a waterproof cap for... 

It was so cold ...

It was so cold ..., Puerto Natales

 vtveen Says:   We visited Puerto Natales during late spring (early December) and still it can be ‘winter’. Specially when visiting Torres del Paine or making a boat trip on Seno Ultima Esperanza it can be (very) cold. Besides the weather can change very quickly; during our visit we had... 

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Map of Puerto Natales