Getting to Torres del Paine
Nearest Airport
The nearest city with an airport for commercial jet flights is
The principal entry points to Torres del Paine are:
Punta Arenas
The flight to
El Calafate
From El Calafate you can take the regular bus across the border (departs 08:00hrs) to Puerto Natales (arrives 13:00hrs approx) and change to the regular bus that then goes to TDP departing around 14:00hrs, or arrange a private transfer service or a car rental. Also from El Calafate we can organise a direct bus transfer to TDP (Laguna Amarga) departing El Calafate at 05:30hrs.
Puerto Natales
Navimag operates a commercial ferry ship, which also takes passengers, from Puerto Montt. This ship arrives to Puerto Natales and offers a good-value cruise that passes through the channels and fiords in the area en-route to Puerto Natales (the cruise is available from Puerto Natales too). From Puerto Natales you either take the regular bus to TDP, have a pre-arranged private transfer meet you or organise a rent a car.
Location Distances
Puerto Natales to TDP Laguna Amarga – 120km (2hrs to drive)
Puerto Natales to TDP Rio Serrano (newest route via Milodon-Cave road) – 70km (1hr to drive)
Most Popular Time to Come
The Summer: December, January and February is typically the most popular time for visitors because the weather is warmer and it is the Winter holiday period in the Northern hemisphere.
Best Time to Come
To avoid the crowds the best time to visit is before mid December or after February. The Winter period is also a wonderful time to experience the tranquillity of the Park and enjoy picturesque wintry scenes and get lower-cost accommodation.
Emergency Rescue
Trekking in Torres del Paine requires attention to safety, personal responsibility and commonsense. You need to come with the right clothes, be very aware of changing weather conditions and also bring other items such as a torch, water and food for the period when you are out trekking. If you are in need of serious emergency help it may well be VERY SLOW in arriving. Helicopters cannot often get into the park because of high winds and the long distance from
Distances & Fuel
Distances within the park can be quite long between refugios, hosterias and campsites. The park is also a 2 hr drive from Puerto Natales and visitors should therefore ensure that they have full fuel tanks when leaving Puerto Natales if they are in their own car rental. Cerro Castillo, about half way between Puerto Natales and the Torres del Paine park entrances, sometimes has petrol but can also be sold out. There is an emergency supply of petrol in the park near the CONAF centre close to Posada Rio Serrano, but again, this should not be relied upon.
Entering the Torres del Paine
Visitors need to register at the park entrance and pay to enter.
The cost is approximately USD25 per person The Park is administered by CONAF ("Corporacion Nacional Forestal") and income is distributed throughout the organization. The CONAF admin centre is located within the park at the northern end of Lago del Toro, or
Entrances
There are four main entrances to Torres del Paine National Park:
1 - Laguna Amarga
2 - Lago Sarmiento
3 - Laguna Azul
The above three are all located in the eastern sector of the park and would be accessed on the route that passes via the border
4 –
Rio Serrano is a recently-opened route and is at the western end of the Park and accessed on the route that passes the
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