Puerto Natales

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 as a port for the sheep industry, and in 1913 the Bories cold-storage plant opened just outside it, processing the sheep of the surrounding estancias for export until 1993. 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.

History

The Kawésqar and Aonikenk peoples lived here first, and in 1557 the Spanish explorer Juan Ladrillero named the sound Última Esperanza, his "last hope" of finding the Strait of Magellan; in 1830 HMS Beagle sailed its channels, and several places carry the names of its officers, among them FitzRoy and Skyring. From 1870 travellers came back: Santiago Zamora found the lakes of the Paine, and Lady Florence Dixie described the first tourist trip to the towers in her book Across Patagonia. The town was founded in May 1911 as a port for the sheep industry, and the Bories cold-storage plant 4 km away, opened in 1913 and worked until 1993, has been restored as a hotel since 2010 (Wikipedia, Puerto Natales).

The main sights

• A fjord named last hope - by Ladrillero, looking for the strait in 1557.
• Founded in 1911 - as a port for the sheep estancias.
• The Bories cold-storage plant - working from 1913 to 1993.
• 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.

Before you go

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.

Key facts