Puerto Natales as an Entry Point to Torres del Paine

If you’re planning a trip to Torres del Paine, you will probably want to spend a night before and/or after your trek in Puerto Natales. There are several benefits to doing this, especially that you can usually leave excess gear in your hostel for the duration of your trek, taking a good amount of weight off your back.

Though there’s not a ton to do in the city, you can easily fill a day with wandering around, stopping by the grocery store, and enjoying a nice meal.

Food and restaurants in Puerto Natales

The Unimarc grocery store on Manuel Bulnes and Baquedano, and dried fruits and nuts store called Frutos del País 40 y 20 are both great for stocking up on food for your trek.

If you want a hearty meal before taking off on your Torres del Paine adventure, I recommend checking out La Mesita Grande (Arturo Pratt & Eberhard), a quaint pizza place with an extensive menu. If you’re stopping by after your trek, make sure to reward yourself with one of their delicious dessert pizzas!

Where to stay in Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is filled to the brim with backpacker hostels to accommodate the multitudes of trekkers that pass through Puerto Natales on their way to Torres del Pain. Wild Hostel is a comfortable and clean hostel that also has a restaurant and bar on site that serves some of the most delicious Burgers and beers in town. Vinnhaus Hostel is on the fancier end of the hostel spectrum and also houses traditional European style café. On the down side, there is no kitchen available on site for preparing your own meals. For a more luxurious accommodation, Remota Patagonia Lodge is an eco-friendly lodge situated right on the water complete with a 5-star restaurant and gorgeous views.

Despite the high number of hostels in this small port town, do not make the mistake of showing up without a reservation. The treks through Torres del Paine are some of the most sought after hiking experiences in South America, and both accommodation reservations in Puerto Natales and camping reservations in the park should be made months in advance.

Bussing from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine

Buses leave for the park only a few times a day, and if your arrival in Puerto Natales doesn’t perfectly coincide with a departure to the park, you’ll have to stay in the town. So, it’s best to plan for that ahead of time and give yourself some leeway. No need to spend more than a night in Puerto Natales on either end of Torres del Paine, but it’s worth a stop to avoid rushing.

There is no central bus station in town, so most of the bus companies stop somewhere along Baquedano, one of the main roads, at their individual storefronts.