Puerto Natales is considered the gateway to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. At the same time, you can explore the town itself through its waterfront scenery, collections on the history of Natales, and routes through the city. If you’re planning an overnight stay here, you can treat visits to the town and activities in the surrounding area as separate parts of your trip.
Fjord Views and Traces of the Town’s History
The Costanera Pedro Montt, within the city, offers views of Seno Ăšltima Esperanza and the Patagonian Andes. The Mirador de la Cruz on Avenida Santiago Bueras offers another perspective: from there, you can look out over Puerto Natales and Fiordo Ăšltima Esperanza.
At the end of the more than ten-kilometre-long Costanera Pedro Montt, the former Puerto Bories cold-storage complex lies in the surrounding area. It has since been converted into the five-star hotel The Singular and houses a museum about the early history of Natales. The Muelle HistĂłrico Braun y Blanchard is also located on the Puerto Natales waterfront, on Pedro Montt Street. It was built in the early 20th century by the influential livestock company of the same name. During the boom in sheep farming, the pier was the most important commercial shipping point of its time.
History at the Museo HistĂłrico
The Museo Histórico de Puerto Natales preserves, documents, interprets, and displays the history of the municipality of Natales. Its account spans the origins of the area 14,000 years ago through to the 1930s. Its collection comprises 331 objects from Aónikenk and Kawésqar cultures, as well as from local everyday life; most of them are European objects from the 19th and 20th centuries. Materials and accounts of the lives of pioneers and settlers take visitors back to the town’s beginnings as a workers’ and livestock-farming settlement in 1911.
The exhibits are spread across seven themed rooms with bilingual labels. Temporary exhibitions are based mainly on first-hand accounts from the community. A virtual 360-degree tour takes visitors through the exhibition rooms, offering another way to explore the museum’s displays.
Around Town by Bike, on Foot, and on the Water
A cycling tour of Puerto Natales takes in, among other places, the Ether Aike craft village and Plaza de los Cuatro Pueblos. It passes through streets and avenues connecting historic pioneer houses. At Pueblito Artesanal Ether Aike in the town centre, you can find locally made items crafted from sheep’s wool, leather, and wood. A mural on Phillipi Street tells the story of the Aonikenk and Kaweskar.
There are also various ways to explore the area by water: excursions from Puerto Natales by speedboat or kayak are offered on Seno Ăšltima Esperanza and through its fjords. In the surrounding area, the trail network ranges from short, easy walks to longer, more physically demanding routes. You can choose according to your preferred duration and level of physical challenge.
Near Laguna Sofia, horseback-riding excursions of an hour or more can be arranged through a local provider. Schedules and transfers need to be coordinated with the provider and your accommodation. The Cueva Grande trail in Monumento Natural Cueva del MilodĂłn is wheelchair-accessible, with assistance, as far as the viewpoint inside the cave.
Getting There and Planning Your Stay
Puerto Natales has a smaller airfield with the code PNT. From Punta Arenas, you can reach the town via the 250-kilometre route along Ruta 9. When looking for accommodation, it helps to decide on the main focus of your trip: will you spend most of your time visiting museums and exploring the town, or also make time for destinations in the surrounding area? This can help you plan your overnight stays around your intended day trips.
Discover more destinations: Torres Del Paine, Puerto Natales, Estancia Pudeto.
View the broader travel overview: Provincia Ăšltima Esperanza.
