Chilean Patagonia holds some of the most impressive landscapes in South America: mountains, glaciers and fjords across a territory with very low population density, where distances are measured in hours of travel, not kilometers.
Puerto Natales, the gateway
Puerto Natales is the base city for visiting Torres del Paine, just over an hour away by car or bus. It has the region's largest concentration of hotels, trekking agencies and mountain gear rental shops, and its waterfront along the Última Esperanza Sound is a good place to acclimatize before entering the park.
Beyond Torres del Paine
Although Torres del Paine draws most of the visitors, Chilean Patagonia continues much further south: Puerto Williams, the southernmost inhabited city in the world, and the Beagle Channel offer a far less crowded experience for those with time to extend the trip. For travelers coming from the north, the Carretera Austral connects much of this region by land, though always combining driving with ferry crossings.
If your first visit leaves only one day for Torres del Paine, see which tour to book from Puerto Natales, with prices and what each includes.
For your days on the Strait of Magellan, we compare Magdalena Island, Tierra del Fuego and whale watching in our guide to Punta Arenas tours.
For longer trips, we compare the guided W Trek in Torres del Paine and the Australis cruise to Cape Horn, with prices and inclusions.
