Puerto Natales Overview

By Meggan Rau

Puerto Natales, situated on the shores of Seno Última Esperanza, and with views of snow capped Cordillera Sarmiento, is pretty enough, but the somewhat barren town is certainly no tourist destination in itself. Nonetheless, thousands of adventurous travelers pass through this small Patagonian settlement each year on their way to Torres del Paine National Park, a world-renowned hiking and trekking destination. In addition, the town also serves as the final destination for the popular and scenic ferry route from Puerto Montt.

Since becoming the gateway to the outdoor sports mecca that is Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales has developed quite a solid tourist infrastructure. For it’s size, the town offers visitors a surprisingly good variety of restaurants, cafés, hotels and tour companies to choose from, as well as some interesting museums and day-trip options to nearby attractions in wild Patagonia.

The town was founded in 1911 to serve as a port for the exportation of wool and mutton. As the sheep industry declined during the latter half of the 20th century, many residents of Puerto Natales worked in the coal mines of nearby Rio Turbio in Argentina. Now, the economy of Puerto Natales is dependent upon tourism, which is expected to increase during the upcoming years as the popularity of trekking and outdoor sports continues to grow worldwide.

If you have a day or two to spare before embarking into the great outdoors, there are several smaller parks and points of interest in and nearby town worth checking out:

The Museo Histórico Municipal features archaeological artifacts and historical photographs, as well as an exhibit on the 19th century European settlement of the town.

The Museo de Fauna Patagonica features a collection of over 350 taxidermied animals from around the area.

Just five kilometers north of town, Museo Frigorífico Puerto Bories offers interesting guided tours of the old meatpacking factory, which was awarded Monument status by the Chilean government.

Monumento Nacional Cueva Milodón is a massive cave where, in 1895, the remains of a three meter ground sloth were discovered. The sloth now resides in London, but a cheesy plastic replica serves as a reminder of this prehistoric marvel.

See the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers at Parque Nacional Bernardo O’Higgins. This national park is only accessible via a three-hour boat ride from Puerto Natales. On the way, you might catch a glimpse of dolphins and sea lions, as well as other Patagonian sea life.

Finally, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, considered to be South America’s premier national park, is a two to three ride from Puerto Natales. With its famous majestic granite pillars and breathtaking landscape, the park is a must-see for extreme adventurists, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone able to appreciate the wonders of nature.