Puerto Natales – The Calm Before (or After) the Storm

Puerto Natales is where you catch your breath. It’s where you gear up for Torres del Paine or go to dry out your socks, get a proper meal, and not wear a backpack for at least 48 hours.

Set on a fjord with snow-capped mountains in the distance, it’s one of those towns that quietly grows on you. It’s not flashy, and it’s definitely not warm, but after a few days, you’ll be kind of obsessed with it.

How many days in Puerto Natales?

If you’re just using it as a launchpad for Torres del Paine, two nights is enough to sort your gear, stock up on snacks, and catch a bus to the park. But if you have more time, stay for three or four. There’s enough to do and a good place to recover post-trek.

We stayed two days before the O Trek and two days after and were so glad we did.

Important things to know before visiting Puerto Natales

It’s a small town, but not tiny. You’ll find outdoor gear shops, good restaurants, cozy cafés, and even a wine bar or two. The weather changes by the minute—bring layers and a windproof jacket, even if you’re just walking to dinner.

Almost everything is within walking distance, and the vibe is super chill. Think backpackers, couples, older hikers, and the occasional dog trotting solo down the street.

Things to Do in Puerto Natales

Walk the Waterfront at Sunset

The waterfront is just beautiful in Puerto Natales. We took daily walks/runs here. There is a great bike path the entire way so it is easy to walk, run or bike along. The old pier skeletons jutting into the water, the mountains glowing in the distance, and the wind that makes you feel alive (and a little cold)—it’s magic. There is a great restaurant, La Escondida, right on the water that has a spectacular view.

Bring a beer or a coffee and just sit. Patagonia has a way of making you slow down whether you like it or not.

Get Ready for Torres del Paine (or Recover From It)

If you’re doing the O or W Trek, this is where you get organized. There are tons of gear rental places, supermarkets, and shuttle companies. After a week in the wilderness, you can also drop your laundry off, which feels like a luxury.

For winter gear – the cheapest and best place we found was Menos Pesos. We bought thicker winter jackets and better gloves as soon as we felt that Patagonian Wind.

For groceries, we liked the Unimarc in the center of town. It is a bigger grocery store that has popular hiker items like protein bars.

The town feels like it is split in two; if you are at a restaurant or store where you do not see any locals or hear any Spanish, you will probably end up overpaying. Our Uber driver from the airport was super helpful, so we asked him for everything that we needed.

If you’ve just finished your trek, congrats. Go find a warm pub and order literally anything hot and cheesy.

If you are just looking to do a day hike to Torres del Paine, there are wonderful guided options that will pick you up from Puerto Natales and take you to the park. Hiking Intensive option and Easy Tour Option.

Day Trip to the Mylodon Cave

If you’ve got a spare afternoon, this is a fun and very chill outing. The Cueva del Milodón is a massive cave where they found remains of an extinct giant sloth. The cave is cool, the walk is easy, and the legend is fun. You can drive there yourself or take a tour. It’s 30 minutes from town. You will see the Mylodon statues throughout Puerto Natales as well.

Where to Eat + Drink in Puerto Natales

This town is surprisingly great for food. Here are a few of our favorites:

• La Picada De Carlitos– One of the best value-for-money restaurants, we found excellent food at excellent prices with locals eating around you
• La Escondida – this restaurant has incredible food and a fantastic sunset view right on the water. The lamb was just unbelievable, and so was the carrot cake. The owners were so lovely; we went back twice before and after the hike.

Where to Stay in Puerto Natales

There are excellent budget options here, plus mid-range places with cozy fireplaces and oversized windows for watching the wind do its thing.

• Best Small Hotel: Xalpen B&B – Great location in town and the owner was so friendly. We loved it here before and after our trip.
• Best Hostel: Yagan House – Social but calm, helpful staff, good common area
• Best with a Kitchen: Apartments by Toore Patagonia – Cute apartments with kitchens, great for saving money on food

How to Get to Puerto Natales

You can fly directly into Puerto Natales Airport, or fly to Punta Arenas and take a 3-hour bus. Uber works in Puerto Natales so it is easy to get into the city from the airport.

Buses also run from El Calafate in Argentina if you’re crossing the border. Make sure you have your passport and your Chilean customs form ready—Chile’s border agents are strict, especially about fruit and veggies.

If you are renting a car and crossing the board between Chile and Argentina, you will need an international permit to cross that is attached to the rental car. Make sure you request it beforehand. It will cost around 200 dollars. Another thing about the border is that when crossing into Chile from Argentina, they are very strict on no fresh groceries (no fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc.) crossing the border. They will check your car and make you throw out everything fresh at the border.

How to Get to Torres del Paine Puerto Natales

Book your roundtrip bus from Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga or Pudeto, depending on your route. Two main companies:

• Bus Sur
• Buses Gomez

We used Bus Sur, which had many options each day. Book at least a few weeks in advance.

Final Thoughts on Puerto Natales

It’s not a headline destination like Torres del Paine or El Chaltén, but that’s kind of the beauty of it. Puerto Natales is where you pause, load up on snacks, beer, and sunsets, and reconnect to the idea that adventure also needs recovery time.

Come for the logistics, stay for the recovery.