Chile
Puerto Natales
Allow a day to provision and acclimate before the park; it is also the base for fjord cruises. We have mapped 2 sights, 1 activity and 2 outdoor spots here, each with a reason to go.
- Places
- 9
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Warmest month
- February
- Coolest month
- July
- Wettest month
- January
2 See · 1 Do · 2 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 2 Drink
Patagonia Peaks
from our route notes
14°C / 57°F avg high
4°C / 39°F avg high
about 119 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Puerto Natales
9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
The landmarks we would not skip in Puerto Natales across Waterfront and Centro.
Photo: Juan Carlos Astudillo Mena · GoogleSeeCostanera of Puerto Natales
Waterfront walk along Última Esperanza Sound with the Monumento al Viento sculpture.
Photo: Iván Montejo · Google
Do
Hands-on ways to spend time in Puerto Natales in Waterfront.
Photo: Stewart Cross · GoogleDoBalmaceda and Serrano Glaciers boat trip
Full-day boat trip up the fjord to two glaciers in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park.
Tip Book a day ahead; operators include Turismo 21 de Mayo.
Outdoors
Trails, views and open space in and around Puerto Natales.
Photo: Mountainhigh · GoogleOutdoorsCueva del Milodón Natural Monument
Huge cave where remains of a giant ground sloth were found, on the road to the park.
Photo: Luis “LUVARQUi” Vargas Q · GoogleOutdoorsCerro Dorotea
Hike through lenga forest to a ridge overlooking the town and fjords.
Tip Trailhead on private land; small access fee.
Eat
2 places to eat in Centro, picked for groups who care about the food.
Photo: Monica Samper · Google
Photo: 高江遊 · GoogleEatAfrigonia
Restaurant blending African and Patagonian flavors; lamb is the standout.
Tip Closes for winter (about May-Aug); book dinner in high season.
Drink
2 bars & cafés across Plaza de Armas and Centro for coffee, a round or a nightcap.
Photo: Baguales Brewpub · Google
Photo: stefania mena · GoogleDrinkThe Last Hope Distillery
Small distillery making gin and whisky with Patagonian botanicals.
Tip Tasting tours run on set evenings; book ahead.
How to fit Puerto Natales into a trip
Puerto Natales is stop 1 of 3 on our Patagonia Peaks route. Follow it as-is or lift Puerto Natales into your own plan.
Stop 1 of 3
Patagonia Peaks
Torres del Paine & El Chaltén
- Trip length
- 10 days
- Best season
- Nov – Mar
- Pace
- challenging
- Next: Torres del Paine
Getting here and onward
- Puerto Natales to Torres del PaineTorres del Paine is about 108 km / 67 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Puerto Natales month by month
Average daily highs run from 4°C / 39°F in July to 14°C / 57°F in February. January is the wettest month, with about 119 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan14° / 56°F average high, in our recommended season
- Feb14° / 57°F average high, in our recommended season
- Mar12° / 54°F average high, in our recommended season
- Apr9° / 49°F average high
- May6° / 44°F average high
- Jun4° / 39°F average high
- Jul4° / 39°F average high
- Aug5° / 41°F average high
- Sep8° / 46°F average high
- Oct10° / 50°F average high
- Nov11° / 52°F average high, in our recommended season
- Dec13° / 55°F average high, in our recommended season
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Puerto Natales weather and the best time to visit →
Near Puerto Natales
2 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.
Puerto Natales questions, answered
How many days do you need in Puerto Natales?
On our Patagonia Peaks route it is stop 1 of 3 in a 10-day trip. Split evenly, that is about 3 days here, an estimate rather than a rule. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 20 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Puerto Natales best known for?
Allow a day to provision and acclimate before the park; it is also the base for fjord cruises. Standouts on our list: Costanera of Puerto Natales (Waterfront walk along Última Esperanza Sound with the Monumento al Viento sculpture); Museo Histórico Municipal (Small museum on the region's Indigenous, settler and ranching history); Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument (Huge cave where remains of a giant ground sloth were found, on the road to the park).
When is the best time to visit Puerto Natales?
Our Patagonia Peaks route is best Nov – Mar. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in February (14°C / 57°F), the coolest in July (4°C / 39°F) and the most rain in January (about 119 mm).
What are the best things to do in Puerto Natales?
Start with Costanera of Puerto Natales, Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument, Museo Histórico Municipal, Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers boat trip and Cerro Dorotea. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 1 activity, 2 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 2 bars & cafés.
Where should a group eat in Puerto Natales?
Our picks: Mesita Grande (Centro); Afrigonia (Centro). Closes for winter (about May-Aug); book dinner in high season (Afrigonia).
What is near Puerto Natales?
The closest destinations in our guides are Torres del Paine (about 108 km / 67 mi) and El Chaltén (about 267 km / 166 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Puerto Natales with your crew
Open the Patagonia Peaks route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.