Puerto Natales
The gateway town to Torres del Paine, on a fjord, with a cold-storage plant that shaped its politics.
Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map
Puerto Natales sits on the Seno Ultima Esperanza, named by the Spanish navigator Juan Ladrillero who came up it in 1557 as his last hope of finding the strait. The town was founded in 1911 around the Bories cold-storage plant, which processed the sheep of the surrounding estancias for export; in 1919 a strike there was put down with troops and deaths, an event that runs through Magallanes labour history. It now lives almost entirely on Torres del Paine - outfitters, hostels, buses and rental gear - and on the Navimag ferry that arrives from Puerto Montt after three days through the fjords.
What you actually see
- A fjord named last hope - by Ladrillero, looking for the strait in 1557.
- Founded in 1911 - around the Bories meat plant.
- The 1919 strike and its suppression - a scar in local history.
- The base for Torres del Paine - and the end of the Navimag route.
When to go
October to April, the Paine season. A full day.
Honest expectations
Prices are high and rise with the Paine season. Wind is severe and constant. Almost everything in town is oriented to trekkers, which suits some visitors and not others. Book buses and park permits well ahead.
Nearby
Torres del Paine is north; Puerto Bories and Milodon cave are close.
What to pack for Puerto Natales
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.