We spent a lot longer than expected finding the best things to do in Puerto Natales, Chile. Spoiler alert – we loved it!
You know that feeling you get every now and then when you arrive in a town, go for your first walk, and instantly think, “Wow, I really like this place.”
That’s exactly how we felt about Puerto Natales.
Located at the bottom of South America in Chilean Patagonia, Puerto Natales is known as the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. That distinction alone is usually enough to bring people to this quaint, colourful village on the edge of the Señoret Channel. But this place deserves a lot more time than a just brief stopover.
We ended up spending almost 10 days in Puerto Natales, getting prepped before the O Circuit, in between our visit to EcoCamp Patagonia, and before jumping on our amazing glacier cruise through the Chilean Fjords with Skorpios Cruceros.
During that time we grew a deep fondness for the little town, and could even envision ourselves spending much longer there.
While there isn’t a lot to see in the town itself, the outskirts offer some incredible adventure opportunities. Whether you’re in Puerto Natales for a few days or a few weeks, make sure you explore the nature that surrounds it!
The Tiny Port Town
On our first day in town we jumped off the bus and headed to our guesthouse, Kaluve Patagonia, and were met by the smiling and caring manager there.
Her friendly demeanour immediately made us feel at home, and helped set the mood for the rest of our stay. We dropped our bags off in the surprisingly large and comfortable room and headed into town to see what we could find.
The downtown section of Puerto Natales is wide and bright, with a few trees scattered around the ageing houses and shops.
Fat, stray dogs laze in the sun, looking healthy and incredibly friendly. Everywhere we went we’d find some curious pup who would want a pat and instantly became our companion. We loved this aspect of Puerto Natales!
Heading to the shore there’s a lovely seaside pathway and an iconic burnt pier that makes for excellent photographs. A big skatepark is pumping with kids throwing tricks down and couples walk hand in hand as the sun sets. A lovely spot to be!
Being the gateway to one of South America’s most popular trekking destinations, and a hub for backpacking in Patagonia, Puerto Natales has a huge amount of…
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