Patagonia
Getting there
GETTING TO FUTALEUFU
From Santiago take a flight with LAN or
Sky Airline to Puerto Montt (flight
time 1.5 hours), or the bus to Puerto Montt (a journey of 14
hours). From Puerto Montt you'll need to take the ferry (9 hours)
or charter a flight (about 40 minutes) to Chaitén. Ferries
also operate from Quellón (Chiloe) to Chaitén
(sailing time 5 hours). The village of Futaleufu is a 4-hour drive
from Chaitén; if you’re staying at The Secret
Ranchito, the owners can arrange transfers plus flights to
Chaitén for you.
GETTING TO THE CAMINO AUSTRAL
The region's main town, Coyhaique, can be reached by air with
LAN from Puerto Montt, Santiago and
Punta Arenas. On the coast, Puerto Chacabuco, 2 hours west of
Coyhaique, can be reached by ferry from Puerto Montt and Puerto
Natales.
GETTING TO TORRES DEL PAINE
Torres del Paine can be reached by air, boat or an arduous overland
trip from Argentina. The nearest town is Puerto Natales, a 3-hour
(150km) drive from the park entrance, but the closest airport is at
Punta Arenas, 400km away. LAN and
Sky Airline operate flights from
Santiago and Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas, but if you have the time
and money, take the recommended 3-night/4-day
Navimag ferry trip from Puerto Montt to
Puerto Natales, which follows a spectacular route through fjords
and channels.
To get to Torres del Paine by road is a very long journey. If
driving your own vehicle you can go down the Camino Austral to
Coyhaique, from where you will then have to go into Argentina and
back into Chile to Punta Arenas. If you are not driving, the only
other option is to take the 2-day long journey by bus. Buses to
Punta Arenas leave a few times a week from Santiago (taking 48
hours) and from Osorno (taking 36 hours).
From Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales:
There are occasional direct buses to Puerto Natales from Punta
Arenas airport (20km outside the town). Otherwise, take a bus or
taxi to the bus terminal in Punta Arenas and from there take a bus
to Puerto Natales. Regular services are offered by
Buses Fernandez and
Bus Sur. The 250km journey takes about 3
hours on an asphalt road.
From Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park:
It takes an hour to reach the park entrance from Puerto Natales on
a good road. All i-escape hotels will arrange trips with their own
drivers. However, if you want to travel independently,
Bus Sur operates daily services between
Puerto Natales and the park. Alternatively, various local agencies
offer minibus tours to the park.
When To Go
Late November to early March is the best time for outdoor activities. The weather can be changeable and the winds fierce, but it can also be glorious with clear blue skies and warm sunshine. Lodgings and campsites are usually full during the peak months (January/February), so plan ahead or go just before or after. Winter (June-August) is extremely harsh and services are limited. Beware: horseflies and other insects are prevalent in spring in Patagonia.