Where to Stay in Puerto Natales
Where to stay in Puerto Natales for the W Trek and Torres del Paine: the centre or the waterfront, how far the park is (113.9 km to Laguna Amarga), the buses and how many nights.
Puerto Natales is the town on the Última Esperanza sound where almost every Torres del Paine trip begins and ends. The buses into the park leave from its terminal, the guided day hikes collect you from its hotels, and W trekkers sleep here the night before they start and the night after they finish. Inside the park, beds are refugios, campsites and a few hotels; out here, you have the whole town to choose from.
How far the park is
Measured along the road, the Laguna Amarga entrance is 113.9 km from the town centre, by the route north through Cerro Castillo that the buses take, and the Welcome Center at the start of the Base Torres trail is 7.8 km further on. Pudeto, where the catamaran leaves for Paine Grande, and Hotel Lago Grey, where the Grey Glacier boats leave, are about 104 and 103 km away by the shortest road.
| From Puerto Natales | Distance | How you get there |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Amarga entrance | 113.9 km by road | bus from the terminal, or tour pickup |
| Welcome Center (Base Torres trail) | 7.8 km beyond Laguna Amarga | transfer from Laguna Amarga, or tour pickup |
| Pudeto (catamaran to Paine Grande) | about 104 km | the same bus, one stop on |
| Hotel Lago Grey (Grey Glacier boats) | about 103 km | own car, transfer or tour |
| Punta Arenas | about 3 hours 15 minutes | bus, departures through the day |
On Bus Sur’s 2026-27 timetable, buses leave the Puerto Natales terminal for the park at 07:00 and 14:30, reaching Laguna Amarga at about 09:10 and 16:40, for CLP 18,000 a leg or CLP 35,000 return.
The centre: the default for most trips
Stay in the centre, within a few blocks of the Plaza de Armas. It has the restaurants, the outdoor gear and rental shops, and the tour offices, and it is where the guided day hikes collect you before dawn. The featured Base Torres day picks you up at your accommodation in Puerto Natales, which saves a taxi to the terminal at 6:30 in the morning.
Hotels by area
The waterfront: views over the sound
The Costanera Pedro Montt runs along the shore of the sound, with views across the water to the mountains. Hotels here are a short walk downhill from the centre and quieter at night, which suits a recovery night after the W. Check before you book that your day tour collects from the hotel; most pick up anywhere in town.
Inside the park
Sleeping in the park saves the two-hour drive each way. On the W itself, every night is a refugio or campsite booked with Las Torres Patagonia or Vértice, and those bookings work differently from a hotel. A few hotels sit inside the park, such as Hotel Las Torres by the Welcome Center and Hotel Lago Grey by the Grey Glacier pier. They cost more, and outside them there are no shops.
How many nights?
- For the W: one night in Puerto Natales before the trek, to buy the last supplies and catch the 07:00 bus, and one after it. Book them as soon as your refugio nights are confirmed.
- For day trips: three or four nights cover the Base of the Towers day hike, the Grey Glacier boat tour and a full-day tour of the park, with a spare day for wind.
- Flying via Punta Arenas: add a night there for the Magdalena Island penguins, about 3 hours 15 minutes away by bus.
When to book
November to January is the busiest stretch of the season, and the town fills up. Book your park nights first, then the Puerto Natales rooms, then the tours. Remember the park pass too: it is sold only online.
Hotels on the map
Book the Base Torres Guided Day
The trek to the towers themselves with a certified guide, in a small group of up to 12, with hotel pickup in Puerto Natales and trekking poles.
Check Availability