How to Get to
Torres del Paine National Park
How to Get to
Torres del Paine National Park
3 Airplanes
1 Bus 1 Shuttle 1 Taxi
7,000+ Miles one-way from San Francisco, California
2 Hotels
Getting to Torres del Paine National Park
You have two options on getting to Torres del Paine National Park from America. I will explain the best case scenario where you to fly into Puerto Natales and the next day take a 2 hour bus ride into the park. The other option is to fly into Punta Arenas where you will take a bus 2-3 hours to Puerto Natales, and then another bus 2 hours into the park.
Below I will outline the trip we designed, following three criteria:
- Minimize travel time
- Take as few days off from work as possible
- Make it back in time for the following Friday night festivities in Santiago for our friends pre-wedding celebration
Overview
- Travel Day 1 – Friday: Fly San Francisco to Santiago Chile
- Travel Day 2 – Saturday: Fly Santiago to Puerto Natales
- Travel Day 3 – Sunday: Bus to Torres del Paine National Park
Travel Day 1: USA to Santiago, Chile
Flight: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Santiago International Airport (SCL)
I recommend the red-eye from San Francisco to Panama City to Santiago International Airport. The flight is the short, has an optimal arrival time, and enough buffer to account for any travel delays that may interfere with our flight the next day to Puerto Natales.
- Departure Time: 12:30am
- Arrival Time: 9:30pm
- Airline: Copa Airlines
KEY NOTE: At the Santiago Airport you will receive a PDI card/receipt going through customs. Do not lose this! Everywhere you stay you must present this receipt, including each Refugio inside Torres del Paine National Park.
Hotel: Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal
After exiting the international terminal at SCL, walk 40 yards across the street and into the Holiday Inn Santiago – Airport Terminal. This is the perfect ending to the day since you do not have to get into any other transit after a long day traveling.
Holiday Inn Santiago Link: https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/santiago/sclap/hoteldetail
Note: On our return from Valparaiso back to the airport, which was later on our Chilean adventure, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Santiago Airport since the Holiday Inn was sold out. It was also a nice hotel and much cheaper, but it wasn’t as convenient as the Holiday Inn.
Travel Day 2: Santiago to Puerto Natales - Chile
Flight: Santiago International Airport (SCL) to Puerto Natales Airport (PNT)
Your excitement will start to build as you see people gather with their packs next to you at the gate knowing that you weren’t the only crazy one wanting to trek miles through the rain, snow, and wind in a mystical land.
Pro tip: Sit on the left side of the plane, when looking at the cockpit, for the best views of Torres del Paine National Park as you fly over.
- Departing Time: 11:00am
- Arrival Time: 2:10pm
- Airlines: LATAM
Shuttle from Puerto Natales Airport to the hotel
At the Puerto Natales Airport there is only a small baggage claim room and a booth off to the left side with employee(s) selling shuttle passes for 5,000 Chilean pesos per person. The shuttle will drop you off at the front door of your hotel in town.
Hotel: Hotel Costaustalis
This was a very convenient location, right on the water, has a great continental breakfast, clean rooms, and a friendly staff that speaks English.
It is better to stay as close to the downtown area as possible and it’s only a short 5 minute taxi to the bus station the next morning. When you check into the hotel the receptionist gives you a map of the downtown area, one block away, that had all of the key establishments marked (money exchange, sports and hardware stores, grocery store, restaurants, etc.).
Hotel Costaustalis Link: https://www.hotelcostaustralis.com/en/
Exploring Puerto Natales
Pick up a gas can for your camp stove at a hardware/sports store (there are a lot of them), grab a bottle of sunscreen at a pharmacy, and pick out some small souvenirs at local shops.
After walking around the town grab a bite to eat at the corner pizza shop, Mesita Grande. It has a long table inside lined with other people and is the perfect experience. Great food and drinks along with exceptional company. We found ourselves next to trekkers from the UK and Germany. Meeting others from around the world and learning about their experiences will be a major theme of this trip.
Travel Day 3: Enter Torres del Paine National Park
Bus: Terminal Rodoviario to Torres del Paine - Pudeto
The morning of ask the front desk at the hotel to have a taxi arrive at 6:30am as you go into the continental breakfast. The taxi drops you off at the bus station around 6:40am for 3,000 pesos. This is a good time to arrive to beat the rush.
I recommend reserving seats on a bus prior to your trip. There were about four other buses taking trekkers into the park the same morning, and hundreds of people on board.
- Bus Company: Bus Sur
- Departure Time: 7:00am
- Bus Sur Link: https://www.bussur.com/en/
Torres del Paine Entrance
This bus will take you to the entrance of the park where everyone must de-board, go inside the bulding to watch a video about the rules of the park, fill out paperwork, pay the entrance fee of 21,000 pesos, and get a map. Make sure to have your passport, PDI, proof of refugio/camping reservations, and pesos ready and not buried under the bus. Once you have your paperwork settled go outside for pictures before getting back on the bus to go to Pudeto to catch the catamaran to Paine Grande.
Bus to Pudeto
Get back on your bus and get your camera out to take pictures of the guanacos.
Catamaran from Pudeto to Paine Grande
The catamaran cost 20,000 pesos per person which is paid on the boat.
Pro tip: Be the last ones to board the boat. Your bags won’t get stuck at the bottom of the pile, its easy to de-board, and you will be able to get a spot outside at the very back of the boat which offers the best views for pictures!
- Bus Arrival: 10:30am
- Catamaran Departure: 11:00 – 11:30am (there will be a sign)
