Patagonia 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.

Known for being the southernmost city in Chile, Punta Arenas attracts plenty of travelers en route to the icy shores of Antarctica. And while most cruise through this port town without spending so much as a night, it’s worth bunkering down in this bustling hub for at least three days of exploring. 

Day 1: History

Kick off the morning with a visit to the iconic Plaza Munoz Gamero, where locals and travelers gather to kiss the feet of the statue of Magellan in hopes of changing their fortune. Wander the stalls of handcrafted goods made by local artisans before heading to nearby Magallanes Regional Museum. This immaculately restored private residence showcases how wealthy pioneers lived. Explore the well-kept rooms that display not only personal items from the Braun Menendez 

family, but historic artifacts, photos and maps as well. Round out the day with a stop at Punta Arenas Municipal Cemetery, where a state-of-the-art electronic database can lead visitors straight to the burial plots of influential colonizers. 

Day 2: Out Into the Waters

After delving into the history of Punta Arenas, head further into the waters. Take a journey through the Strait of Magellan to see one of the most unforgiving passages early explorers struggled to navigate. Travelers looking to avoid such treacherous waters can instead head to Magdalena Island, where friendly penguins wander the coast. The two-hour journey from Punta Arenas takes visitors along scenic coast, and after disembarking from the ship, it’s possible to explore the rocky coasts, trek through well-marked paths, climb to the top of a lighthouse and even get up close to with some of the tens of thousands of penguins that call Magdalena Island home. 

Day 3: Adventure on Two Wheels

Start your day with breakfast on the Punta Arenas waterfront before meeting one of our Viator guides for a two-hour electric bike tour through some of the area’s most popular sites. Visit a replica of the first ship to navigate around the world at the Nao Victoria Museum and then cruise through the natural landscape of Tres Puentes Wetland, an area some of the country’s most rare birds call home. With an expert guide and an extra small group, travelers are sure to learn plenty about history and culture while exploring the incredible geography. 

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.

Overview

Located along the Strait of Magellan, Chile’s southernmost city is not only the gateway to Antarctica, it’s also the starting point for exploring the wild landscapes of Patagonia. Here are your options for Patagonia tours from Punta Arenas.  

Highlights

• Cruise out to Magdalena and Marta islands on a half- or full-day tour and spot penguins, sea lions, and elephant seals. 

• Set sail on a multi-day cruise around the fjords, glaciers, and mountains of Tierra del Fuego. 

• Cross the remote Beagle Channel from Ushuaia in Argentina to Punta Arenas on an epic 5-day cruise. 

• Enjoy the stunning scenery of Tierra del Fuego, including the Pia Glacier, Ainsworth Bay, and Cape Horn. 

• Visit Puerto Natales, the Serrano Glacier, and Torres del Paine National Park—a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve—on a 4-day tour from Punta Arenas. 

• Marvel at the natural wonders of the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers on a cruise around the Última Esperanza Fjord. 

• Hike through the wild landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park.  

Things to Know

• Punta Arenas is located in the southern Patagonia region of Chile, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) south of Puerto Natales, a journey of about three hours by road. 

• Regular flights run to Punta Arenas from Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires and Ushuaia in Argentina. 

• Day tours from Punta Arenas typically last between four and 12 hours. Be sure to pack sturdy walking shoes and all-weather clothing—the weather can change quickly in Patagonia, even in the summer months. 

• Multi-day tours and cruises typically include hotel or on-board accommodation, meals, and all activities. 

• Most day tours include hotel pickup and a stop at a restaurant where you can purchase lunch.

As the capital of Chile’s Lake District, the port city of Puerto Montt serves as the gateway to Patagonia’s lakes and mountains, and functions as a major transport hub. If you’re spending a day here rather than just passing through, here’s how to make the most of 24 hours.

Morning: Explore the City

Though most travelers blitz through Puerto Montt on their way to the Andes mountains, the laid-back, working-class city merits exploration. Get your bearings and learn more about Puerto Montt’s history and culture on a morning sightseeing tour that takes you along Costanera Avenue, which runs along the seashore to the Pelluco district and is home to beaches and a yacht club. Tours typically visit Chinquihue and the craft village of Angelmó, where you can browse for knitwear and woolen goods, and sample freshly-caught seafood.

Afternoon: Osorno Volcano or Frutillar

Even with just an afternoon to spare, you’ll have time to visit the snow-capped Osorno volcano, which is considered the starting point of Chilean Patagonia. Tours tend to provide stress-free pickup and drop-off from your hotel in Puerto Montt, and save you the hassle of driving to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park. There, you’ll have ample opportunity to enjoy panoramic views of Petrohué Lake and the Petrohué Falls as you follow a trail or take a chairlift up the 8,700-foot (2,650-meter) volcano. Alternatively, spend the afternoon in the charming town of Frutillar, which resembles a German Alpine village; it’s just a 30-minute drive from Puerto Montt.

Night: Dine in Town

Seafood is ubiquitous in Puerto Montt, which is considered Chile's seafood capital. Dedicate your final evening to sample some Chilean fruits of the sea, which include abalone, sea urchin, or barnacle. Head for the Fish Market of Angelmó, located at the end of Avenida Angelmó, for the freshest and best seafood in town. Otherwise, you can find plenty of restaurants in the city center, particularly around Rengifo. Stick around the area for a nightcap: there’s a good selection of bars on Rengifo, particularly those concentrated between the streets of Baquedano and Salvador Allende. 

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.

At the southern terminus of the Panamerican Highway, a fantastic, glacier-carved realm of natural beauty begins. This is the gateway to Antarctica, guarded by sharp-toothed granite peaks and snow-capped volcanoes rising above a carpet of wildflowers and crystal clear lakes. The wave-crashed inlets along the wild Pacific shore become islands as you head south, toward Tierra del Fuego, and the penguin colonies along the Straits of Magellan.

Patagonia’s rugged wonders and wildlife remain pristine because this is a difficult place for humans to survive. Even in the summer months – November through March – most travelers to the ends of the Earth will want to base themselves in the region’s two major cities. Puerto Montt is more accessible, at the terminus of the Panamerican freeway, clinging colorfully to picturesque Reloncaví Sound in the waterfall-streaked Los Lagos (Lakes) Region. Punta Arenas, the largest city on the Straits of Magellan and gateway to Antarctica, is much more remote – you’ll fly here or take a remarkable ferry trip. This pretty town offers access to several almost untouched natural treasures, including Otway Sound’s famous penguin colony.

Day 1: Puerto Montt and The Lakes Region

Begin you visit in Puerto Montt, a pretty town with proudly Germanic roots and deep natural port at the foot of the Andes. Ferries head out to several destinations, including day trips to Isla Grande de Chiloé, Chile’s "big island", known for its spectacular vistas and tasty seafood. Or, head inland, to the Puerto Varas, with epic views of Esmeralda (Todos Santos) Lake and climbable Osorno Volcano; or Frutillar, a classic Chilean-German fishing village.

Day 2: Exploring Wild Patagonia

One of the most exciting treks from Puerto Montt is the 11-hour day trip to Petrohué National Park, which takes in the park, Lake Esmeralda, and Lake Llanquihue, all surrounded by fantastic volcanoes. Shorter treks focus mostly on Petrohué Waterfalls, cascading across ancient lava flows. While you could spend a week exploring Puerto Montt, if you’re in a hurry, grab a two-hour flight or scenic tourist ferry to Punta Arenas, one of the southernmost cities in the world.

Day 3: On the Edge of Antarctica

While modern Punta Arenas is a city with all the modern conveniences, it rises from the center of a truly wild region, overlooking the Straits of Magellan. To the north, close to Puerto Natales, are the serrated granite peaks of Torres del Paine National Park and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with incredible hiking opportunities and, for the truly adventurous, some of the roughest and most rewarding rock climbs in the world. After this epic and active escape, however, be sure to visit the Penguin Sanctuary and Otway Sound, a half-day trip into the famed sanctuary for fussy, flirty Magellan penguins, who nest here between November and March.

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.