Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales is more than a gateway to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine: the city’s museums, a mural and a locomotive tell different chapters of the region’s story. Nearby, the scientifically significant Cueva del Milodón and the heritage site Frigorífico Bories add to the picture. When choosing a holiday rental, you can consider whether you’d like to explore Puerto Natales itself, include nature experiences, or combine both.

Discover the city’s history and culture

The Museo Histórico de Puerto Natales presents the history of the Natales municipality. Its timeline stretches from the origins of the area around 14,000 years ago to the 1930s. If you’d first like to get an overview of the museum, you can take a virtual 360-degree tour of the rooms at the Museo Histórico de la Municipalidad Natales. The museum includes the Nómades, Colonos, Vida Urbana and Vida Rural halls—four distinct thematic names that cover urban and rural life as well as other aspects of history.

There are also tangible places of remembrance in the city center. The Mural pueblos originarios tells the story of the Kawésqar and Aónikenk and commemorates Indigenous peoples. A locomotive stands in Plaza de Armas Arturo Prat; it was originally used to transport workers at Frigorífico Puerto Bories. Nearby Puerto Natales, Frigorífico Bories is an important heritage site in the Magallanes Region. The industrial facility was built between 1912 and 1914 to process surplus sheep stocks.

Espacio Cultural Natalis in Puerto Natales offers film series, art workshops, exhibitions and cultural education programs. Another aspect of the city’s culture was on display at the 34th edition of the Festival Costumbrista Chilote: over two days, it featured music, dance and traditional cuisine. If you’d like to include the city’s history, Indigenous remembrance and cultural events in your trip, you’ll find a range of topics to explore during your time in Puerto Natales.

Nature and special places nearby

Cueva del Milodón is scientifically significant because remains of the extinct Darwin’s ground sloth (Mylodon darwini) were found there. The cave is also archaeologically important: people lived there around 12,000 years ago. The Monumento Natural Cueva del Milodón is part of Chile’s Sistema Nacional de Áreas Silvestres Protegidas and lies 25 km north of Puerto Natales.

For visitors with reduced mobility, the Cueva Grande trail offers a practical option in the cave area: it was designed for them and can be used with a wheelchair and assistance as far as the viewpoint inside the cave. Meanwhile, the Costanera Pedro Montt in Puerto Natales offers spectacular views of the Seno Última Esperanza and the Patagonian Andes.

In the wider travel area, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine offers numerous ecotourism activities: camping, hiking, mountaineering, boat trips, river descents, glacier crossings and horseback riding. Puerto Natales is considered the gateway to this national park. If you’re planning your trip mainly around experiences in the park, this role is a useful consideration when choosing where to stay; the city itself also has its own cultural and historical attractions.

The road from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales follows Ruta 9. It is about 250 km long and takes approximately three hours; you can travel the route by intercity bus. Aeródromo Teniente Julio Gallardo (PNT) offers seasonal direct flights from Santiago to Puerto Natales and is about 15 minutes from the city center. Puerto Natales can also be reached from Puerto Montt by ferry along the Ruta de los Canales.

More destinations

Torres Del Paine, Estancia Pudeto and Natales.

For the broader travel overview: Provincia Última Esperanza.