Puerto Natales

Holding the spot for the number one destination city in Chilean Patagonia is the commuter town, Puerto Natales. Nicknamed the “gateway to Torres del Paine,” the city also happens to be the closest urban center to Torres del Paine National Park. Among a variety of day tours in Puerto Natales, other activities are available to tourists visiting the city.

Our top recommendations for tours in Puerto Natales

Often situated as the starting point for many activities and excursions (one-day and multi-day), Puerto Natales serves as the gateway for Torres del Paine National Park and surrounding areas.

Serving as the most requested tour in Puerto Natales, the Torres del Paine W Trek, consists of a route inside the National Park that typically spans several days and provides a unique experience for any nature lover.

Another route, the O Circuit in Torres del Paine, is the second most popular and features a longer duration than the aforementioned route.

The W Trek Torres del Paine Circuit is the original 5-day route leading to the southern region of Torres del Paine. This iconic route features several versions of the W Trek, from 6-day tours that allow time for additional activities on Grey Glacier, to shorter versions that list fewer sights on the itinerary.

The most comprehensive trekking route in Torres del Paine. Over eight days, hike both the northern part (which can only be seen on this circuit), and the southern zone of the park (also covered with W Trek).

The O Torres del Paine Circuit is an experience many mountain lovers dream of striking off their bucket list. 

There are a variety of day tours from Puerto Natales that are very popular among sightseers.

Travelers who skip the W Trek or the O Circuit usually opt for the Mirador Base Torres Trek.

Typically, trekkers who choose to stay in Torres del Paine or Puerto Natales for several days have time to complete their trip with the Balmaceda and Serrano Boat Tour, the Tour of Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave, or the Grey Glacier Boat Tour.

If you're wondering how to get to Puerto Natales, the fastest and most comfortable method is by plane ✈. The city has its own airport, although many travelers fly directly to Punta Arenas (due to limited flights from Santiago de Chile). From the airport, buses to Puerto Natales leave periodically throughout the day with a travel time of about three hours 🚌 .

Other travelers arrive in Puerto Natales from El Calafate (Argentina) to explore Patagonia from the perspective of two countries. This journey is about six hours but can vary depending on the time spent crossing the border.

If travelers decide to arrive by car, the roads are well-maintained and therefore shouldn't present problems for drivers, however, the journey will be longer than both bus and plane.

Puerto Natales is located in Patagonia, therefore, it's quite cold ❄. Summers (December-March) are cool and windy with an average temperature of 57ºF (14 ºC). Winters (June-September), are cold with temperatures barely reaching 45ºF (7ºC).

Typically, the city is cloudy all year round, except for during the winter when the weather is more stable (the rest of the year varies). Locals often remark that throughout the summer, you can experience all four seasons in one day. We recommend being prepared for rain to turn to sunshine in a matter of minutes on any of the tours in Puerto Natales.

Puerto Natales is a charming mixture of a seaside town and Patagonia, resulting in a pleasant and diverse gastronomy. The downtown area features many restaurants serving local cuisine. At Howlanders, we recommend trying the Magellanic lamb (a popular local dish), spider crab, and last but not least, guanaco, a real delight.