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Weather in Puerto Natales
Last Patagonian town before the wilderness
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About Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales is the last human settlement before the wilderness, a small Patagonian town of weathered fishing boats and hospices where adventure seekers assemble before plunging into Torres del Paine. Peat-bog landscapes and beech forests give way to fjords, glaciers, and peaks. The town itself pulses with trekking energy and Argentine/Chilean border crossings.
Best months to visit
Year-round
Things to do in Puerto Natales
Balmaceda and Serrano Glacier full-day boat tour
Cueva del Milodon prehistoric cave archaeological tour
Paine Circuit trekking outfitter and gear rental base
Fjord boat tour: remote wilderness waterways cruise
Laguna Sofia glacier viewing and hiking excursion
Border crossing to Argentina: El Chaltén and Fitz Roy
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
January
14C
Cool, with regular rainfall.
February
15C
Cool, with regular rainfall.
March
13C
Cool, with regular rainfall.
April
10C
Cool, with regular rainfall.
May
6C
Cold, with regular rainfall.
June
3C
Cold, with regular rainfall.
July
2C
Cold, with some rainy days.
August
5C
Cold, with regular rainfall.
September
7C
Cold, with some rainy days.
October
10C
Cool, with regular rainfall.
November
12C
Cool, with regular rainfall.
December
13C
Cool, with frequent heavy rain.
Puerto Natales is a windswept town on the edge of a fjord in Chilean Patagonia, serving as the main gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. Beyond its role as a staging post, the town itself has a growing reputation for good food and outdoor gear shops catering to hikers, with views across the water to distant mountains on clear days.
Best areas to stay in Puerto Natales
Town centre / waterfront
The main hub with hotels, restaurants, gear shops and views across the Señoret Channel.
Plaza de Armas area
The central square around which much of the town's services are arranged.
Bernardo O'Higgins National Park (boat excursions)
Reached by boat from near town, with glacier views on day trips.
Torres del Paine gateway routes
The road routes and bus terminals connecting to the national park, an hour or two away.
Getting to Puerto Natales
✈
Flights
Fly into Punta Arenas (PUQ), then about 3 hours by road to Puerto Natales; buses also connect from El Calafate, Argentina.
⏱
From London
~3 hours by road from Punta Arenas.
🚕
Getting around
The town is walkable; buses run frequently to Torres del Paine during the hiking season, and boats depart for glacier excursions.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Puerto Natales?
November to March aligns with the main Torres del Paine hiking season, though the town itself can be visited year-round with much quieter winters.
Is Puerto Natales worth spending time in, or just a stopover?
Most visitors pass through quickly en route to the park, but the town has a pleasant waterfront, good restaurants and is a comfortable place to rest before or after multi-day treks.
How far is Puerto Natales from Torres del Paine?
The park entrances are roughly 1-2 hours away by road, with regular shuttle buses during the hiking season.
Can you also visit glaciers from Puerto Natales?
Yes — boat excursions to the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park depart from near Puerto Natales.
How do you get to Puerto Natales?
Fly into Punta Arenas, then it's about 3 hours by road, or take a bus directly from El Calafate in Argentina.
Traveler reviews
★★★★☆
Great base before and after the W trek — good food, gear shops for anything we forgot, and a calm waterfront to recover on.
Ingrid B. · November 2023
★★★★☆
The boat trip to see the glaciers was a nice lower-effort alternative on a rest day from hiking.
Cristobal M. · January 2024
★★★★☆
Windy and a bit remote-feeling, but exactly the kind of practical, friendly town you want before heading into the park.
Lena H. · March 2024
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