What currency is used in Puerto Natales?

Puerto Natales uses the Chilean peso (CLP).

What is the emergency number in Puerto Natales?

In Puerto Natales, call 131 (ambulance), 132 (fire), 133 (police).

How much does a day in Puerto Natales cost?

Roughly $50-80 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $120-190 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.

Is Waypacker free to use in Puerto Natales?

Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.

Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?

Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.

Can I meet locals in Puerto Natales without staying with anyone?

Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.

Will anyone see my exact location?

No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

Puerto Natales travel guide

Chile

A small, windswept town on a fjord in Chilean Patagonia, and the main base for Torres del Paine National Park. Gear shops, hostels and cosy restaurants fill its low, colourful streets.

Essentials

Language: Spanish; English spoken in tour agencies and hostels
Currency: Chilean peso (CLP)
Plugs: Type C and L; 220 V
Emergency number: 131 (ambulance), 132 (fire), 133 (police)
Tipping: Restaurants usually suggest a 10 percent tip on the bill, which you can accept or decline.

Rough daily budget

Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:

Backpacker: $50-80, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
Mid-range: $120-190, with a private room and restaurant meals.

Last reviewed: October 2026

Where to stay in Puerto Natales

Centro: the blocks around the Plaza de Armas, with most hostels, gear hire and restaurants.
Costanera: the waterfront road for views across the fjord to snowy peaks.
Puerto Bories: a former cold-storage plant north of town, now home to a few quieter hotels.

Getting around Puerto Natales

The town is small and walkable. Buses leave the terminal each morning for Torres del Paine, and others connect with Punta Arenas, about three hours south.

Best time to visit Puerto Natales

October to April for trekking, with the longest days in December and January, though wind is strong all season.

Top things to do in Puerto Natales

Trek part of the W route in Torres del Paine, or take a day tour to its viewpoints
Take a boat up the fjords to the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers
Visit the Cueva del Milodón, a huge cave where remains of a giant ground sloth were found
Walk the waterfront at sunset, watching for black-necked swans
Visit the Museo Histórico Municipal for the story of the region's first peoples and sheep-farming pioneers

What to eat in Puerto Natales

Cordero al palo: Patagonian lamb roasted on a stake beside an open fire
Centolla: southern king crab, often served baked with cheese
Calafate sour: a pisco sour made with the local purple berry
Mote con huesillo: a summer drink of dried peaches and husked wheat

Day trips from Puerto Natales

Torres del Paine National Park: granite towers, lakes and glaciers, about 90 minutes to two hours by road
Cueva del Milodón: a vast cave with a life-size sloth replica, around 25 minutes away

Local etiquette

In the national park, stick to marked trails, camp only at official sites and never light fires, which have caused serious wildfires there. Carry out everything you bring in.

Staying connected

Prepaid SIMs are easy to buy in town and Wi-Fi is common, but there is little or no signal across most of Torres del Paine.

Staying safe

The town is quiet and low-crime; the real hazards are weather and wind, which can knock hikers off balance on exposed trails. Pack waterproof layers and check forecasts before setting out.

A local tip

Book campsites or refugios in Torres del Paine well ahead if you plan the W or O trek, as reservations are required and fill up fast.

Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.

Meet people in Puerto Natales on Waypacker

Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Puerto Natales for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Puerto Natales, you could be one of the first hosts.

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Questions about Puerto Natales

What currency is used in Puerto Natales?: Puerto Natales uses the Chilean peso (CLP).
What is the emergency number in Puerto Natales?: In Puerto Natales, call 131 (ambulance), 132 (fire), 133 (police).
When is the best time to visit Puerto Natales?: October to April for trekking, with the longest days in December and January, though wind is strong all season.
How much does a day in Puerto Natales cost?: Roughly $50-80 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $120-190 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
Is Waypacker free to use in Puerto Natales?: Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?: Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
Can I meet locals in Puerto Natales without staying with anyone?: Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
Will anyone see my exact location?: No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.

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