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City in Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Chile
Photo: Penarc, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Puerto Natales is a town of 19,000 people (2012) in Chile, the gateway to trekking in Torres del Paine or Bernardo O'Higgins National Parks. It offers good infrastructure, especially a few trekking shops and not-so-cheap supermarkets (although you'd do better to get your gear in Punta Arenas).
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This is a good place to visit if you are an archaeology lover. The 200-m-deep cave is astonishing, besides there are two more caves which are worth seeing, that have been dug by a team of archaeologist of the Instituto de la Patagonia, having found rests of paleofauna and human remains. The most notable animal was the mylodon, an extinct tall giant sloth which lived some 10,000 years ago at the end of the Ice age. The big cave was its home. Of course, not all the mylodons were 12 feet tall. Some of the younger ones weren't even 11 feet tall. There's a scenic interpretive loop trail and campsites run by CONAF.
South on Pedro Montt, about 1 km beyond the Navimag pier. Wooden fishing boats are hauled ashore for painting, repair, or sometimes just abandoned. Don't forget your camera. There is also a "Navy pier" adjacent to the Navimag pier with benches to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Daily horse rides and fishing trips. Kids and families welcome, no experience necessary. Fun, friendly and responsible!
To learn about the local history. There are natural history items, archaeological artifacts belonging to the khaweshkhar and aonikenk tribes, and historical photographs of Puerto Natales' development.
Dorotea is a range of hills about 900 meters high above the sea level, from which you get amazing views of the city, the glacial valley and the surrounding mountains. There's a sign that identifies the hike to the viewpoint at lot 1. The hike takes 2 hours roundtrip
Food is not typical of the local region, because the owners are a Zambian and Chilean couple who have something different to offer apart from the other typical food of the region. Small but nice and cosy!
Great meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. 1970s diner decor and very good prices. Andres himself is very kind and sometimes tend to "spoil" customers with free pisco sours as starters and a complimentary ice cream for dessert. A few blocks from the plaza but worth the walk.
Only brewery in Puerto Natales. Fantastic beer with great food.
Cafe with wholesome food, great cakes, lunches and coffee. Recommended for vegetarians and has a book exchange.
Parilla serving traditional Chilean lamb.
Good pizzas and salads. The owner is Swiss. Microbrew Baguales beer is served. Get there early. Free Wi-Fi.
Some of the best coffee and pastry in Natales, if not the region. Free wifi. Pleasant background music. Friendly and very professional, the sort of place you might expect to find in Switzerland. Prices commensurate with the better quality.
Typical Chilean fare at reasonable "picada" prices. Free Wifi. If you try talking with Carlos himself you will not understand a word. Has both smoking and nonsmoking sides.
Good, moderately-priced seafood. Popular with families, and one of the first places to open on Sunday afternoon.
A great, cozy hostel with low prices, comfy beds and a safe, warm atmosphere.
This hostel also rents out trekking equipment.
Bill, the owner, is from Oregon, and gained Chilean citizenship under an amnesty program. He understands European and North American expectations in moderately priced lodging, and he's a bit of a hoot as well. He's a good citizen, getting involved in supporting local schools and such. Two locations: the Erratic Rock I is located on Baquedano near the provincial CONAF office, three blocks away is the Erratic Rock II on Benjamín Zamora which has 10 rooms - all doubles with private bathrooms. Central heating is nice. Internet and cable TV with 50 channels. Excellent English language support for local travel needs.
Friendly, central location, rents out trekking gear, organizes buses and tours. International crowd. Free internet (wlan), free breakfast (and it is an excellent breakfast). Kitchen use. Laundry.
Good value, breakfast, equipment rental and luggage store.
Good value, free breakfast, organizes busses, laundry service.
Two dorms with seven single beds and feather duvets, a well-equipped kitchen and book swap. Cleanest hostal in town! The owner and operator, Susan, speaks English, Spanish, German, and some French. Breakfast includes fresh homemade bread, real coffee and homemade jam.
Pire mapu cottage b&b offers en-suite rooms with free Wi-Fi, cable TV and tea and coffee making facilities in all rooms, with a hearty breakfast included in the price. The hosts speak both English and Spanish.
The Singular is a hotel converted from the old freezer plant (frigorifico), constructed in 1913, that is the main reason for the existence of Puerto Natales, which served as the lodging and supply point for the plant. A museum and national monument until 2010, the frigorifico is the best preserved and largest of the freezer plants related to the sheep industry that was the basis for much of the economy of southern Patagonia until World War II. Construction began in December 2010 for this hotel that preserves and showcases the infrastructure of the original plant. Even if you don't have the money to stay at the Singular, the restaurant/bar is open to the public and is worth the trip.
Very nice custom-made jewelry, made in the workshop while you watch. Even if you're not buying, they're happy to talk.
Cool artesan crafts, you can find mate, bombillas and other gaucho things, wool sweaters and nice hats. great quality things.
Handicraft, souvenirs, wool store, sheep and alpaca wool, handmade knittings, funny and colorful designs, best prices in town, English spoken.
By plane
There is a small airport about 10 km from the city center, on the road to the Torres del Paine National Park.e.
By bus
Buses arrive and depart from Rodoviario Puerto Natales, a 10 minute walk away from the central area.
By car
It is possible to drive from Rio Gallegos, Argentina, to Puerto Natales. This takes 5 hours and the road is entirely paved.
Colectivo
Taxis colectivos are shared taxis, although entirely black (taxis have a yellow roof), running on fixed routes like buses (which are not found in this city) with a roof sign indicating the…
Taxi
Also known as radio-taxis, are fast in case you feel asleep and don't want to miss your bus to Punta Arenas or El Calafate and are also a good option to visit Mylodons Cave or Cerro Dorotea (Dorotea…
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking works very well in Puerto Natales. Easy to get a ride to Torres del Paine (start early, around 8am), Cueva del Milodon or even direction to Cerro Dorotea and Punta Arenas.
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Puerto Natales · Regional · PNT
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Articles and travel topics about Puerto Natales and Chile.
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