Puerto Natales is the starting point for trips to Torres del Paine National Park, which is a gem of the world’s biosphere as well as a Chilean national treasure. The singular beauty of the granite towers, or “torres”, has made the Torres del Paine one of Chile’s most emblematic images, and has made the Park a destination for demanding tourists in search of the most special experiences. If you are a hiking enthusiast, the famous trail to the Torres is not to be missed.
Patagonia abounds in natural sights of monumental scale. Nothing, it seems, could be more dramatic than the Torres del Paine. And yet the sight of the Serrano and Balmaceda Glaciers, reached by boat via the emerald and turquoise waters of the Seno de Última Esperanza, is overwhelming even after a visit to the Torres.
Another site not to miss near Puerto Natales is the Cueva del Milodón, or Mylodont’s Cave, an enormous triple cavern that was once the lair of a now-extinct herbivore.
Puerto Natales itself is a charming town built by Chilean migrants from the island of Chiloé, who raised cattle here along with German and English settlers. Today, the city is an important Patagonian tourist destination, and a place to nourish the soul.
