How to reach Torres del Paine?

Well, Torres del Paine National Park is one of the highlights in Patagonia, and I`m sure that you will be arriving at the area if you`re traveling to Patagonia on your next trip. Now, how to get to Puerto Natales, and what about Torres del Paine?

Arriving at Puerto Natales

You can arrive at Puerto Natales crossing the border from Argentina. There are regular buses from El Calafate in Argentina so if you already visited the Perito Moreno Glacier on the Argentinian side, you can take a bus and arrive at Puerto Natales. It`s also possible to arrive by car, but it`s very expensive in Patagonia to rent a car. You also can arrive from Punta Arenas. There are several bus lines that go from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales every day. If you arrive at the area, from any other destination in Chile by air, you will arrive at Punta Arenas because it`s the main airport in the area and the gate to arrive and visit Torres del Paine and enjoy the adventure that the park offers such as trekkings. The most famous is the Trekking to Base de las Torres and also the W Trekking.

Arriving at Torres del Paine National Park

Well again, you can cross from El Calafate in Argentina after visiting the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. If your international flight comes into Buenos Aires, then El Calafate is also a necessary stopover before reaching the Torres del Paine National Park. And once there, you have some options available. You can take a direct bus to Puerto Natales city. it`s the cheapest and best way to cross the border. The journey is five to six hours long, depending on the border crossing. The buses only leave at 07:00 and 08:00, so you must be in El Calafate the night before. Once in Puerto Natales, you can take a bus to Torres del Paine. You also can take a private direct transfer from El Calafate to Torres del Paine, but it`s expensive.  The total journey time to the park is around seven hours.

The last option is to arrive at Punta Arenas by air, in a flight from Santiago or any other destination in Chile. So, after arrival, you go direct to the bus station to take two buses, one from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales and then from this city to Torres del Paine National Park.

You also can arrive at Punta Arenas on a cruise line. There are many cruises that arrive at Punta Arenas. For example, the Australis Cruise goes from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas on a wonderful 4-night expedition cruise.

You can book with us a private transfer from El Calafate to Torres del Paine. It´s expensive but maybe the best option to save time and avoid the town of Puerto Natales if you want to enjoy hiking activities in the park. Once there, you can stay in any of the available hotels in the park. Of course, there are also hotels in the town. There are several buses between the city and the park.

You also can rent a car and go by yourself. The road is ok and could be a good experience if you want to move from one area in the park to another: like Laguna Amarga, Rio Serrano, Grey Area, etc. There are many interesting places to visit in the park. On the way, you can go via Milodon Cave, and visit another interesting place.

We have a wide variety of tours to visit Chile and Torres del Paine of course! Check our complete list of tours to visit Chile