Last Updated on 04/08/26 by Rose Palmer
Puerto Natales is the closest gateway town to the popular Torres del Paine National Park in Chile’s Southern Patagonia region. After our three days inside the Torres de Paine park, we stayed another week in Puerto Natales to explore more of the region and to give my husband time to do some fly fishing.
Things to do in Puerto Natales
We had rented a car at the Puerto Natales airport when we arrived, which made it very easy to explore all of the Chilean Patagonia region.
Puerto Natales is the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park, which is the main attraction in this area. We spent three days exploring Torres de Paine, and it was a fantastic experience.
We also discovered other interesting things to do nearby.
The Singular Patagonia
Just down the road from our hotel (Simple Patagonia), the Singular Patagonia hotel was built into what was once the Puerto Bories refrigeration plant, which was listed as a National Monument in 1996. The plant was originally constructed in 1915 to process and store sheep meat, fat, and hides in preparation for export, and was in use until the 1990s.
The luxury Singular Patagonia hotel has stayed true to the building’s origins while providing a high-end holiday experience. The historic sections of the processing plant have been preserved and turned into a museum that is open to the public.
Placards in both Spanish and English described the work that occurred in these buildings for so many years. A UR code also connected us to extensive documentation about the facility.
At the heart of the plant were the generators that created the heat and electricity for the whole complex, and the compressors that, together with ammonia, made refrigeration possible.
The sheer size of all this machinery is a testament to the magnitude of the enterprise that took place here. At its peak, the plant processed 250,000 sheep a year. Not surprisingly, the plant was instrumental in the development and growth of Puerto Natales.
Laguna Sophia
A 20-minute drive from our hotel took us to the shores of Laguna Sofia. The scenery here was pretty, but the real attraction was the many condors that nest in the cliffs above the shoreline.
However, we were there at the wrong time of day because all we saw were the guano streaks on the cliff face. It would have been better to go there later in the afternoon when the condors returned to their nests.
Mylodon Cave Natural Monument
Not far from Laguan Sophia was the Mylodon Cave Natural Monument. In 1895, a German explorer discovered the cave along with the skin and bones of an extinct mylodon, a large sloth-like herbivorous mammal that existed almost 14,000 years ago. Besides the Mylodon, remains of an equine Hippidion, a camel-like Macrauchenia, and a saber-toothed cat, Smilodon were also found in the area.
The path to the cave had many informative placards with interesting information in both Spanish and English. It was an easy stroll on a wooden boardwalk to the cave entrance.
The cave was surprisingly large. Once inside, I understood why humans also used it for habitation. Tools and bones dated to about 6000 BCE have also been found here.
Boat tour to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers
I booked a 10-hour cruise to the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers via Get Your Guide, which took guests into the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. The activity provider was Torres del Paine Adventure.
Unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions, the tour was cancelled and Get Your Guide refunded my money back to my credit card within a day.
Walk along the Puerto Natales waterfront
I enjoyed walking the path along the waterfront with views of the Last Hope Sound and the Senotet Channel, especially at sunset. The town had installed various artistic sculptures, which added to the experience. The remains of the Braun and Blanchard pier add a photogenic element to the landscape.
Where to stay in Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales had many accommodation options in all price ranges within the town. I chose the very well-rated Simple Patagonia, which was about 10 minutes north of town and was located in a very quiet setting overlooking the Senoret Channel.
This boutique hotel was owned and run by a local family, and the benefits of that were very evident in their extensive attention to detail and their welcoming hospitality.
We stayed in two different rooms during our week at the hotel, and liked both of them. The rooms were bright, airy, spacious, and very clean. It was a delight to sit by the large picture windows while taking in the views towards the lake and the mountains.
The king-sized beds were comfortable in both rooms, and there was plenty of storage space in the closet. The small coffee maker was also a nice touch. We enjoyed our week-long stay and would happily go back.
Where to eat in Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales had a lot of restaurant options that sounded very interesting; however, we chose not to eat in town most of the time. Driving into town was easy, but once in town, there was always a lot of traffic, and finding parking was an impossible feat. Had we stayed in town and been able to easily walk to the restaurants, we would have tried many of them.
Simple Patagonia
Our hotel provided an extensive breakfast buffet that was included in the cost of the room. Besides the cereals, fruit, breads, cold cuts, cheeses, smoked salmon, yogurt, and jams, they also offered freshly prepared eggs. I especially liked their homemade rhubarb jam.
We also ate dinner here every night, not just because it was convenient but also because the food was very, very good. The chef was the owner’s son, and he clearly took pride in offering dishes that showcased local ingredients and local culture. Over the course of a week, we tried almost every dish and enjoyed it all.
We began each meal with a Forged Brie Cheese starter, a melted concoction in a cast-iron skillet served with different toppings. My favorite was the rhubarb and cherry tomato topping, but the El Tipico Chileno with onions, bell peppers, and chorizo was also tasty.
Another standout was the King Crab Cake, which was really a creamy, cheesy, oniony casserole with lots of local king crab meat. We also loved the Dulce de Leche layered cake with Dulce de Leche ice cream and shared one each night.
Santolla
I did go into town one day for lunch because I wanted king crab legs, and Santolla was recommended. This hip-looking restaurant, created out of shipping containers, did indeed serve excellent king crab legs and was well worth the trip into town.
We really enjoyed our time exploring Chile’s Patagonia region. Spending a week in Puerto Natales really gave us a chance to get to know the area and the community.
Other Patagonia stories:
In Argentina Patagonia: Two Days in Los Glacieres National Park – The Best of Argentina’s Patagonia Region
Seeing Penguins in Punta Arenas: Two Days With the Punta Arenas Penguins
Three days in Torres del Paine: Three Days in Torres del Paine From a Non-Hiker’s Perspective
Things to do in Ushuaia: My Favorite Things to Do in Ushuaia, Argentina, The Gateway to the Arctic
Thanks for visiting.
Rose
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