Torres del Paine & El Chaltén
This is leg 1 of 2, the opening leg.
Travel leg · Patagonia Peaks
Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine
Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine sit about 108 km (67 mi) apart in a straight line, with Torres del Paine to the north-west. It is leg 1 of 2 on our Patagonia Peaks itinerary, a 10-day trip. Here is how long it takes by bus, what to see on the way and where it fits in a real itinerary.
- Straight-line distance
- 108 km · 67 mi
- Est. road distance
- 129–151 km
- Est. drive time
- 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min
- Direction
- Heading north-west
- Curated routes
- 1 itinerary
Road distance is estimated as 1.2–1.4× the straight line; drive time assumes average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. These are rough estimates — check a maps app for the actual route.
Ways to get there
We don't have live routing data, so the figures below are labelled estimates built from the straight-line distance. Use them to plan the day, then confirm in a maps app.
By bus or car
Our Patagonia Peaks guide points to buses for getting around, and a car works too: an estimated 129–151 km of road and 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min of driving.
Travelers usually combine buses and shuttles, and many use the long road crossing between Chile and Argentina. Within the parks, trails are on foot with some boat or shuttle links. Plan the border leg with extra time and check schedules in advance.
Open Puerto Natales → Torres del Paine directions in Google Maps ↗
Worth stopping for
Picks from our curated guides at both ends.
When you arrive in Torres del Paine
Plan at least two full days for the Base Torres hike and the lake-and-glacier side of the park; four or more to walk the W.
Mirador Base Las Torres
Steep hike to the glacial lake below the three granite towers.
Lago Pehoé catamaran
Boat from Pudeto across turquoise Lake Pehoé to Paine Grande.
Hotel Las Torres Patagonia
Lodge restaurant and bar at the Base Torres trailhead, open to non-guests.
Hotel Lago Grey
Lodge with a restaurant and bar facing icebergs on Lake Grey.
Laguna Amarga
Roadside lagoon with a classic view of the towers and frequent guanacos.
Salto Grande
Powerful waterfall between Lake Nordenskjöld and Lake Pehoé.
Before you leave Puerto Natales
Allow a day to provision and acclimate before the park; it is also the base for fjord cruises.
Costanera of Puerto Natales
Waterfront walk along Última Esperanza Sound with the Monumento al Viento sculpture.
Cueva del Milodón Natural Monument
Huge cave where remains of a giant ground sloth were found, on the road to the park.
Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers boat trip
Full-day boat trip up the fjord to two glaciers in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park.
On this curated route
Where Puerto Natales → Torres del Paine sits in the full itinerary. Highlighted stops are this leg.
Going the other way? Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales is the same 108 km in a straight line, heading south-east. Reverse directions in Google Maps ↗
Weather at each end
The biggest gap comes in December, when Torres del Paine averages highs 11°C cooler than Puerto Natales. Over a year, Torres del Paine gets about 600 mm more rain.
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Natales high | 14° | 14° | 12° | 9° | 6° | 4° | 4° | 5° | 8° | 10° | 11° | 13° |
| Torres del Paine high | 3° | 3° | 2° | 0° | -3° | -5° | -5° | -4° | -2° | -1° | 1° | 2° |
| Puerto Natales rain | 119 | 98 | 110 | 110 | 97 | 101 | 85 | 86 | 77 | 82 | 95 | 108 |
| Torres del Paine rain | 175 | 144 | 165 | 163 | 140 | 157 | 129 | 133 | 119 | 131 | 150 | 159 |
Temperatures in °C, rain in mm per month. Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER satellite climatology — a guide to typical conditions, not a forecast. Month headings link to Torres del Paine month guides.
Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine: questions travelers ask
How far is Puerto Natales from Torres del Paine?
Puerto Natales is about 108 km (67 mi) from Torres del Paine in a straight line, with Torres del Paine to the north-west. By road, we estimate 129–151 km (80–94 mi), or 1.2–1.4 times the straight line. Check a maps app for the exact route.
How long does it take to drive from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine?
An estimated 1 h 15 min – 2 h 15 min, assuming 129–151 km of road at average speeds of 65–95 km/h with no stops or traffic. It is not a routed time, so check a maps app on the day.
Which itineraries include the trip from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine?
Our Patagonia Peaks itinerary includes this leg. Patagonia Peaks runs about 10 days across 3 stops, best in Nov – Mar.
Onward from Torres del Paine
Guides for both ends
- Puerto Natales travel guide
- Puerto Natales weather best time to visit
- Torres del Paine travel guide
- Torres del Paine weather best time to visit
Torres del Paine by month
- Torres del Paine in January
- Torres del Paine in February
- Torres del Paine in March
- Torres del Paine in April
- Torres del Paine in May
- Torres del Paine in June
- Torres del Paine in July
- Torres del Paine in August
- Torres del Paine in September
- Torres del Paine in October
- Torres del Paine in November
- Torres del Paine in December
More to explore
Plan Puerto Natales → Torres del Paine with your crew
Add this leg to a shared itinerary, poll the group on where to stop, split fuel and tickets, and keep everyone's packing list in one place in TripsCircle.