Knowing how to get to Torres del Paine can be a bit confusing. Especially for any adventurer who wants to visit the so-called eighth natural wonder of the world for the first time.
This site in the extreme south of Chile, designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, is located in a remote corner of the world: a place where the magic of the wild and unexplored territory connects with the end of the American continent and the beginning of the Antarctic continent.
However, thanks to the great attraction of this jewel of nature, there are many routes and means of transportation that permanently or occasionally connect the park with the whole world.
In this article we will tell you everything you need to have a successful adventure to the incredible paradise of Torres del Paine. The different routes available, the connections with transportation and we will share with you some tips to make the most of the first stage of your trip.
Welcome to one of the most magical destinations in the world!
How to get to Torres del Paine by plane
Getting to Torres del Paine by plane is the most viable alternative from any country in the world or even if you are already in Chile. However, from landing to the entrance of the park, you will have to travel by road between cities.
Currently, there are three nearby places where you can land. In Chile, an airport and an aerodrome; and in Argentina, a nearby international airport. Which one to choose will depend mainly on the season of the year and how long you want to travel by land: a road that will undoubtedly amaze you with its beauty.
However, if you prefer to leave all your worries behind once you arrive at any of the airports and enjoy an equally beautiful lodging, at Patagonia Camp Hotel we have different programs for your stay, and all of them include your land transfer!
Whatever your choice is, we present you all the alternatives.
Traveling by plane from Santiago to Punta Arenas
This is one of the most popular options for international visitors, due to convenient connectivity and permanent availability of flights.
Santiago is the capital of Chile, so it is also the main entrance gate to the country, thanks to its modern international airport. While Punta Arenas is the main city of the magical Patagonia and the logistic center of the region where Torres del Paine is located.
From the Santiago airport, located in the area called Pudahuel, you can take a direct flight to the Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo airport in Punta Arenas. The duration is approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes, although with stopovers, it can take up to 5 hours.
Once you land, you will have at your disposal different means of ground transportation to get to Puerto Natales: a trip that takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes to the bus terminal.
Now, if you want to travel with more comfort and safety, at Hotel Patagonia Camp we have regular transfers to and from Punta Arenas in all our stay programs. You can check them here.
Regardless of your choice, after those 250 km to Puerto Natales, you will arrive at the starting point of most of the tours and trips to the park.
But we will explain that later.
Flights from Santiago to Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales is the closest urban center to Torres del Paine, and the gateway to other recognized natural wonders of the southern tip of the world, so direct flights from Santiago are widely used.
The air route is available all year round, although due to a milder climate, the highest frequency of activity is between September and April: coinciding with the high season for visiting the Park.
You can easily find an airline that suits your needs, as there is a wide range of prices and days. We recommend you to check the three airlines with the largest number of trips to Puerto Natales: Sky Airlines, LATAM Airlines and JetSmart.
The flight from Santiago to the Teniente Julio Gallardo aerodrome takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes. With stopovers, it can take approximately one hour more.
If you are looking for a transfer integrated to a complete experience in Torres del Paine, you can check out our stay programs. All include regular transportation to and from Puerto Natales.
Now, if you want to travel independently, directly from the aerodrome of the commune, you can take a cab with a duration of 11 minutes to the bus terminal of the same city.
Once in Puerto Natales, you will find a wide range of tours and buses with destinations to different entrances of Torres del Paine Park, including the main one: Laguna Amarga. This makes the city the most convenient destination to land on the journey to the park.
The frequency of trips depends mainly on the season. If it is high season you will find two or three daily departures, for example.
The trip to Laguna Amarga, the first stop on the tour, takes about 2 hours. Afterwards, you will continue to Pudeto, Camping Pehoé and Hotel Lago Grey, completing a 4-hour trip.
Flight from Puerto Montt to Torres del Paine
Now that you know the two possibilities of flights with international connection in Chile, we present you a third option: a domestic flight from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas, or if the conditions exist, to Puerto Natales.
If you are traveling in the south of Chile, this may be the ideal alternative to expand your adventure to an event you will never forget in your life.
Puerto Montt is the largest southern city that connects to Torres del Paine. It is considered the gateway to Patagonia and the last major urban center, with a large airport and seaport, in southern Chile.
From Tepual airport, you can take a direct domestic flight of approximately two hours to both Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.
Now, arriving in one of these two cities, you are only a few kilometers away from Torres del Paine!
How to get to Torres del Paine from Argentina
On the other hand, if you are looking to get to Torres del Paine from Argentina, there is a very popular alternative for adventurers around the world thanks to the nearby international airport. From the city of El Calafate, through the Don Guillermo border crossing, you can connect by land to Puerto Natales.
Here we tell you how to do it.
Travel from El Calafate to Torres del Paine
The trip from the city of El Calafate to Torres del Paine is also one of the preferred choices to reach the park.
This Argentine city, also known simply as Calafate, has the international airport Comandante Armando Tola, which can be reached from the capital of the country or from abroad when the possibility is available.
The road between the airport and Puerto Natales is separated by approximately 350 kilometers and a border crossing: Don Guillermo at Cerro Castillo. You can check the status of the crossing and the conditions to cross it, in the Argentine and Chilean websites of the complex.
The overland journey takes about 4 hours and 30 minutes, and the border control is usually quick and easy to do. The route on the Chilean side is in very good condition, and will undoubtedly offer you incredible postcards that can add a few more minutes to your trip due to the need to stop and appreciate them. Of course, you will have to find and coordinate a means of transportation that will allow you to make the route.
In any case, if you are staying at Patagonia Camp Hotel, all our programs include regular transfers to and from Cerro Castillo. If you are also looking for transportation to and from El Calafate, we can include it in your program for an additional cost.
We hope we have guided you through the main ways to get to Torres del Paine. It may seem like a trip full of stops, but the magic of Patagonia guarantees that at every stage and stop, your heart will marvel at the beauty of the enormous mountains, lakes and forests.
If you are looking for the best way to organize your experience in Torres del Paine, you can check out our programs, as they all include transfers to and from the airports that we have listed for you.
Include Patagonia Camp Hotel in your trip
Experience the magic of exploring Patagonia and a high level experience, with the varied excursions of Patagonia Camp Hotel.
In addition, you can rest from your long trip in one of our Yurts: the perfect combination of the comforts of a hotel, without losing the charm of the natural wonders. Want to know more? Take a look at our beautiful landscapes and tour the facilities with our 360° virtual tour.
Get to know all our programs with transfer included, our rates and visit our website for more information. If you have any doubts and/or questions, you can call our sales office +56 2 22073751. For reservations, please send an email to bookibgs@patagoniacamp.com.
