How to get from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine

From Punta Arenas you take Route 9 north to Puerto Natales, about 250 km of paved road. From Natales it is another one to two hours to the park entrances, depending on which gate you use.

Allow at least five hours door to door in total, more if you travel by bus and change in Puerto Natales.

The most common and cheapest way. Several companies run the Punta Arenas–Puerto Natales leg with departures throughout the day; the trip takes around three hours. Punta Arenas has no single bus station: each company leaves from its own office in the centre, so check where your bus departs from.

In Puerto Natales you take another bus to the park. They leave early in the morning and return in the afternoon, stopping at the main entrances and at Pudeto, where the Lake Pehoé catamaran leaves from.

• Book tickets ahead between December and February.
• If you fly into Punta Arenas, some buses to Natales leave from the airport.
• A night in Natales lets you catch the first bus into the park.

With your own car you can stop at viewpoints, explore the park at your own pace and combine it with other sights, such as the Milodón Cave near Puerto Natales.

Roads inside the park are gravel and the wind can be very strong: drive calmly, open doors carefully and be patient with guanacos on the road. Fill up in Puerto Natales, as fuel options further on are very limited.

At La Casa Guesthouse we rent out a 4x4 SUV built for gravel, wind and long distances, from CLP 45,000 per day. If you plan to cross into Argentina, let us know in advance.

There are full-day tours to Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas, but they mean many hours on the road for a few hours in the park. If you only have one day, it is an option; if you can, it is more enjoyable to sleep in Puerto Natales or in the park and book a tour from there.

• Park entry: buy your ticket online, in advance, on CONAF's official website. In recent seasons it has not been sold at the gate.
• Refugios and campsites on the W and O treks: book them in advance with each operator; camping outside authorised sites is not allowed.
• Buses and accommodation in Puerto Natales, especially from December to February.
• Travel insurance that covers trekking if you are doing a multi-day hike.

Many travellers fly into Punta Arenas, spend a night in the city and take the bus to Puerto Natales the next morning, well rested. On the way back, another night in Punta Arenas before your flight gives you time to see the city or visit the penguins of Isla Magdalena.