Leave the airport and head toward Punta Arenas, capital of the Magallanes Region, located 14 miles to the south, which features a wide variety of lodging, food, and tourist excursions.

We recommend spending the afternoon getting to know the city, whether walking the road along the waterfront to admire the beauty and history of the Strait of Magellan, visiting some of the museums––among them del Recuerdo, Salesianos, Braun-Menéndez, and Nao Victoria––or exploring the Municipal Cemetery and the Magallanes National Reserve. Stay the night in Punta Arenas.

30 minutes in car from the airport to the center of Punta Arenas

Today, we invite you to discover Pali Aike National Park, located 122 miles from Punta Arenas, very close to the border with Argentina. Take International Route CH-255, which leads to the Monte Aymond border crossing. At mile 104 (kilometer 168), merge onto the gravel road that leads to the park.

Low-lying volcanic cones, caves, various types of craters, basalt walls, and lava scoria tell the story of recent volcanic eruptions in this paradise for geologists, volcanologists, and anthropologists. Eleven thousand years ago, native people traveled by foot across the plateau, which never reaches an altitude of more than 660 feet. Today, the Magellanic steppe is home to diverse wildlife, including Guanacos, Foxes, and Ñandús.

The Tehuelche people called this area «the desolate place where the devil dwells,» perhaps a nod to its strange, moon-like beauty. You can explore the park on various trails, including Morada del Diablo or Cueva Pali Aike. Return to Punta Arenas via the same road.

2.5 hours from Punta Arenas to Pali Aike (one way)

Take Route 9 north until you arrive at Puerto Natales, passing through Villa Tehuelches. These pampas were long territory of the Aonikenk and Tehuelche people, nomads and expert hunters who inhabited the Patagonia. They hunted Guanacos and Ostriches using bow and arrow and spears. When horses were introduced to the area during the eighteenth century, they began to travel farther along the southern steppe and incorporated new weapons and tools into their hunting regimens, such as boleadoras, a throwing weapon made of weights attached to cords.

After 2.5 hours along the paved highway, you’ll arrive at Puerto Natales, where you can find a wide range of lodging, food, and tourist excursions. To stretch your legs, we recommend walking along the beautiful coastline, where––on clear days––you can see the Paine massif. Stay for the night in Puerto Natales.

3 hours from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales

Today, you’ll visit Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, setting out in one of the boats sailing early from Puerto Bories. You’ll sail through the Última Esperanza (Last Hope) Fjord and see the beautiful covered waterfalls and the steep cliffs as you arrive at the Balmaceda Glacier and then dock at Puerto Toro. You’ll hike for around one hour to see the Serrano Glacier and the lagoon dotted by chunks of ice that dislodge themselves from it.

The day trips include lunch at nearby ranches. Depending on the weather, they return to Puerto Natales at around 5:30. You can stay in Puerto Natales for the night.

10 hours in boat to/from Puerto Natales to Bernardo O'Higgins National Park

Get ready to see the Eighth Wonder of the World and one of the most beautiful mountains on the planet in Torres del Paine National Park. We suggest taking Route Y-290 to the park and stopping at the Milodón Cave Natural Monument before continuing toward the park’s southern entrance (Serrano). The total route is 50 miles.
We recommend taking this day to explore the southwestern section of the park, visiting natural marvels like the Grey Glacier, the River Pingo forest, and the view from the Ferrier lookout point. You can also make a stop at the visitor’s center, located on the north shore of Lake Toro. The visitor’s center has a lookout point designed for birdwatching. You can stay in the park (there are various hotels and campgrounds, which should be reserved in advance), or return to Puerto Natales in the evening.

1.5 hours in car from Puerto Natales to the Serrano park entrance along Route Y-290 (one way)

Set aside a whole day––at least––for continuing to explore Torres del Paine National Park. We suggest using this day for exploring the northeastern side of the park, visiting the Grande and Chico waterfalls and hiking one of the trails that offer views of the beautiful colors of the Paine River, Lake Pehoé, and Lake Nordenskjöld, like the Mirador Cóndor or Mirador Cuernos trail. If you’d like to take some time to try to spot wild fauna, you can also hike the Portería Laguna Sarmiento–Laguna Amarga trail and visit Lake Sarmiento. Along Lake Sarmiento’s shore, you can find strange, primitive calcium carbonate formations––very similar to coral––called thrombolites, which are linked to the first expressions of life on our planet.

If you’re interested in longer hikes, we suggest Base de Las Torres (12 miles), Valle Francés (10 miles), or Glaciar Grey (15 miles). For the latter two, you’ll need to coordinate a boat trip and make a reservation in advance for crossing Lake Pehoé: (http://www.hipsur.com/web/)

Stay in the park for the night (remember to make your reservations in advance) or return to Puerto Natales.

45 minutes in car from the Serrano park entrance to the Sarmiento park entrance (one way)

Head to Punta Arenas, passing through the town of Cerro Castillo along the way. If you leave the park at dawn, you can see the Torres del Paine reflected in the Laguna Amarga or Laguna Azul––a gorgeous spectacle.

You can tank gas in Puerto Natales, then continue along Route 9 for around 2.5 hours toward the Punta Arenas airport.

1.5 hours in car from the Sarmiento park entrance to Cerro Castillo

50 minutes in car from Cerro Castillo to Puerto Natales

2.5 hours in car from Puerto Natales to the Punta Arenas airport