Puerto Natales is located about 250 km northwest of Punta Arenas, where black-necked swans and seagulls greets the visitor from its misty dock, characteristic of this rural and tourist Magallanes city. Located on the banks of  Señoret channel and opposite from Patagonian Andes Mountains, Puerto Natales was a splendor catle center in early 20 century and for years there was only a stopping place for visiting Torres del Paine National Park. Today the situation is totally different and surprise encounter travelers from around the world  enjoying a wide variety of outdoor activities, adventures and excursions that complement with the charm of this small urban center flowing with good gastronomy and excellent hospitality level.

Gateway to beautiful natural landscapes such as world famous Torres del Paine National Park, Milodon Cave Natural Monument and Los Glaciares National Park. In winter, to ski slopes in Rio Turbio, by sea to Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers and seven glaciers located at Montana Channel.

From the gentle slope where it is located, can be seen Riesco hills, Paine Massif and glaciers of Southern Icefield.

Its population of almost 20000 inhabitants and is the starting point for other tourist attractions of interest such as Señoret and Montana channels, Sofia, Diana and Dorotea Balmaceda y Toro lakes, Dorotea and Prat hills, Almirante Montt Gulf, Cisnes and Guanaco islands, Bories and Consuelo ports, Fiscal Dock, Costanera avenue, Kirke Pass, Antonio Varas peninsula, Serrano and Tres Pasos rivers, D'Agostini Museum. Also can be visited the  Bernardo O`Higgins National Park (Balmaceda and Serrano snowdrifts, Balmaceda Mount,  Pio XI glacier and Southern Icefield).

How to get there

By plane. To Punta Arenas, located about 250 km from Puerto Natales, there are daily flights all year and at different times. In summer there are flights to Puerto Natales.

In Bus. Several bus lines departure at different times from Punta Arenas.

By Car. From Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales is reached by an excellent paved road.

By Ship. Once a week a ferry sails to and from Puerto Montt. The tour lasts four days and three nights and can enjoy the Patagonian channels. Advanced reservations are recommended.

Attractions and Activities

Puerto Natales has colorful streets offering everything for tourist, sports and outdoors apparel, kayak and bicycle rentals, souvenir shops, bars and restaurants. You can also stroll along waterfront , where there are black-necked swans and you can enjoy colorful sunsets.

Among the attractions of this city are Puerto Natales Casino, Municipal Museum, main square with an old locomotive used in Bories industrial plant.

The impressive territory surrounding Puerto Natales is dominated by cattle ranches, farms and small orchards producing vegetables and other earth products that have organical grown quality seal.

Just 24 km from Puerto Natales is Milodon Cave, which impresses with its size and history. The scientific interest of this place is due to discovery of skin, bones and other remains of an extinct animal, the Milodon, a large herbivore that has been extinct for more than ten thousand years.

The main attraction of Puerto Natales is, without doubt,Torres del Paine National Park, with amazings landscapes, flora and fauna. In this National Park are the world famous Torres del Paine and Cuernos del Paine, mountains that rise vertically from plain forming a unique landscape. Scattered among its peaks, can be seen lakes originated by glaciers, rich fauna, pumas, guanacos, foxes, condors, wild geese, ostriches, flamingos, black-necked swans, and many other species that inhabit this park.

In Puerto Natales can be navigated fjord Ultima Esperanza to reach Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, where are Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. A good idea is travel by zodiac and navigating Serrano river, a different way of accessing National Park Torres del Paine.

Dorotea hill can be ascended to enjoy a spectacular view of Puerto Natales, where it overlooks this city, fjord, mountain ranges and patagonian steppe that extends into Argentina. Hopefully, at summit can be seen a majestic flight of condor, that nests at vertical walls of this hill.

Puerto Natales has an excellent tourism infrastructure, which are distinguished coffee lounges, restaurants, a casino, small and quaint shops, a  history museum and travel agencies offering unique pins. Also has an attractive Hotel infrastructure, ranging from large hotels to small guest houses with personalized attention.