Beside the beautiful Seno de Ultimo Esperanza (Last Hope Sound), this quaint smallish town of about 20,000 residents offers clean air, wonderful views across the water and accessibility to one of the world's greatest national parks.

A living, working town, which comes alive during the short summer season, Puerto Natales sees its share of action. People arrive both by road (from Argentina or Punta Arenas) and by boat (from Puerto Montt). It has its own airport but political pressures have, to date, prevented its heavy use. Its shops sell everything from outdoor clothing to locally made crafts and souvenirs and there is a good supermarket Abu Gosch selling supplies for backpacking in the Park. 

Restaurants offer everything from Pizza to Vegetarian Lasagne. See a list of those we recommend below.

To experience the delicious and much sought after delicacy king crab, (centolla) click on the blog article here for the insiders information.

Lodging is available to suit every budget with some good, friendly hostals and some large, luxury hotels on the waterfront. Scroll down for the BlueGreen selection.



Puerto Natales on Foot
Puerto Natales is an easy town to navigate and a good place to wander around. For a rewarding stroll - especially bracing in high winds - take the road north along the Sound and watch black-necked swans quietly ducking into the water along the shores.


History
Puerto Natales was founded in 1911. By the 1970s it had become one of the area's leading beef exporters. In 1913 the Sociedad Explotadora Tierra del Fuego established a large industrial complex at Puerto Bories just north of the town. Establishing itself as the prime processing centre for meat preservation, tanning and wool washing facilities it soon overtook Puerto Prat as the residential centre and shipping port for the area's products (now only cold storage and the slaughterhouse remain).

Today, many of the town's inhabitants wore mines in Rio Turbio just over the border in Argentina. Its recent growth is however largely due to its close proximity to Torres del Paine and the tourism it generates. Fishing and Livestock still feature strongly in the region's economy. 

Natalinos possess a legendary warmth and charm. This coupled with the town's incredible location means visitors frequently stay longer than planned. Some never leave.

Where to Stay in Puerto Natales
Prices on request

Aquaterra Lodge
www.aquaterrapatagonia.com
Bulnes #299
Tel + 56 (61) 412239
A beautiful, cosy lodge with a central location offering rooms with both private and shared bathrooms. Living room, souvenir shop, luggage storage and a nice restaurant with great pisco sours and good Patagonian food.

Hotel Costa Australis
www.hoteles-australis.com
Pedro Montt #262
Tel + 56(61) 412000
Located on the edge of the astonishing Ultima Esperanza fjord this hotel's 110 rooms have been designed to provide complete comfort and rest. They are decorated in a sober but elegant fashion, employing the region's most beautiful woods. Excellent Patagonian cuisine and Chilean wines are offered in its Paine Restaurant

Hostel Amerindia
www.hostelamerindia.com
Barros Arana #135
Tel + 56(61) 411945
Comfortable rooms in a cosy family house run by the owners. Free Internet and wifi, laundry service. Centrally located near restaurants and souvenir shops.

Hotel y Spa Indigo Patagonia
www.indigopatagonia.com
Ladrilleros #105
Tel + 56(61) 413609
Modernist hotel occupying an incredible waterside location offering a full spa with Jacuzzi and treatment rooms. Free internet, laundry service, boutique and souvenir shop and a popular and inviting lounge-bar.

Hotel Altiplanico
www.altiplanico.cl
Huerto Familiar #282
Tel + 56(61) 412525
Modern and conceptual hotel with the ethos of providing an ecologically sensitive building while not compromising the architectural design. Located a ten minute walk from the city, the rooms are very comfortable, all of them with a great view of the Ultima Esperanza fjords.

Weskar Lodge
www.weskar.cl
Huertos Familiares 274-b
Tel + 56(61) 414168
Warm and comfortable lodge located a few kilometers from the city (about 10 - 15 minutes walk). Spa, reading room, play room, WI-FI connection. It has 21 rooms decorated in a cosy style using natural materials. In the restaurant you will find a good selection of meat and seafood from the region.

Hotel If Patagonia
www.hotelifpatagonia.com
Magallanes #73
Tel + 56(61) 410312
Located only one block away from the main square surrounded by cafes, restaurants, craft shops and travel agencies. Contemporary feel, comfy bedrooms, Wi-Fi, laundry service, etc.

Hotel Temauken
www.temauken.cl
Ovejero #1123
Tel + 56(61) 411666
A good view from its comfortable rooms, restaurant and bar services also Wi-Fi and rooms with private bathrooms. Ample living space for your well deserved rest.

Hotel Lady Florence Dixie
www.hotelflorencedixie.cl
Bulnes #655
Tel + 56(61) 411158
Very centrally located hotel, just two blocks from the main square. It is surrounded by shops, banks, restaurants, cafes etc. The hotel offers 19 warmly decorated rooms, all of them with private bathroom and cable TV

Hotel Natalino
www.hotelnatalino.com
Eberhard #371
Tel + 56(61) 414345
Very centrally located hotel, close to the main square 'Arturo Prat'. The hotel offers 23 non smoking bedrooms (13 standards, 7 double with extra bed, 2 junior suite and 1 disabled) all of them with cable TV, phone and security box. Some of the services are: swimming pool, gym, room service, WIFI, bar and meeting rooms.

Hotel Martin Gusinde
www.hotelmartingusinde.com
Carlos Bories #278 
Tel  +56 (61) 41 2770
reservas@martingusinde.com
This traditional hotel re-opens their doors to surprise all the guest with their cosy and friendly atmosphere. They take care of every detail to make your stay unforgettable.

Where to eat in Puerto Natales

Mesita Grande Pizzeria
www.mesitagrande.cl
Arturo Prat #196
Tel + 56(61) 411571
Popular pizzeria in a great central location near the main square, opposite the church. Great variety of tasty pizzas , pastas and salads, all made with local ingredients. True to its name, the restaurant has a long wooden table at its centre with some smaller tables available.

El Cormoran de las Rocas Restaurant www.cormorandelasrocas.com
Miguel Sanchez #72
Tel + 56(61) 413723 A fairly formal restaurant in an incredible building with fantastic views across Last Hope Sound. Excellent local dishes available such as king crab, lamb asado, conger eel, local cheeses and calafate berries. The Restaurant also has a good wine cellar and a comfortable bar that offers snacks and bar meals.

El living Restaurant
www.el-living.com
Arturo Prat #156
Tel + 56(61) 411140
Located in front of the main square this is a good, popular restaurant serving vegetarian food, fresh juices, home made cakes, good tea and coffee. There is also a useful book trading facility and comfy sofas making it a great place to hang out and make new friends.

Ultima Esperanza
www.restaurantuesperanza.galeon.com
Eberhard #354
Tel + 56(61) 411391
This restaurant offers you a good variety of local meat, fish and seafood all inspired by Chilean gastronomy. Centrally located. Very popular with locals.

Massay Pizza
Bulnes #427
Tel + 56(61) 415008
Good informal restaurant for sandwiches, cold beers, pizza and coffee.

Baguales Brewery + Restaurant
Carlos Bories #430
Tel + 56(61)
Brand new local brewery-owned pub, located in front of the main square. Great burgers, chips, and real local Baguales beer.

La Picada de Carlitos Restaurant
Blanco Encalada con Esmeralda
Tel + 56(61) 415496
Good, cheap traditional Chilean food, centrally located.

Casa Magna
Bulnes #370
Tel + 56(61) 410045
Good, local food and economical daily fixed price menus.

Angelica's Restaurant
Bulnes #501
Tel +56 (61) 410007
Very good Chilean cuisine serving a variety of pasta and seafood dishes. Popular with locals.

Asador Patagonico
Prat #158
Tel +56 (61) 413553
Excellent Patagonian restaurant where you can taste the famous local Patagonian lamb asado, fresh local salads and tasty salsa. This restaurant also has a good wine cellar.

Patagonia Dulce
www.patagonidulce.cl
Barros Arana #233
Tel +56 (61) 415285
Warm coffee shop producing the best home made chocolate in Puerto Natales. For the chocolate addict this is the place to go.
What to see and Do in Puerto Natales

Municipal Historic Museum
Bulnes # 285
This modern museum was created in April 1990 by the Carabineros de Chile. Its building, which uses architectural elements from the English pioneers but with a modern perspective, is home to an interesting sample of the history of the Magellanic region. Vestiges of the Bories meat packing plant, the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego and Captain Eberhard's personal belongings stand out. It includes 5 themed rooms: The world and primitive environments; Displays of the original environment & native human life; Colonization; Rural life and Urban Activities.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 3-7 p.m.
Entry: Chileans $1, Visitors: $2, Children under 12 go free.

Museum Puerto Bories
Tel +56 (61) 414238
The colourful old steam train in the main square was once used to take workers to the the meat packing factory at Puerto Bories, 5 km north of town. Now converted into the Museo Frigorifico Puerto Bories it is open daily from 1000 to 1900 in summer.
Entry: US$5 or US$7 with guided tour.

In its heyday the plant was the biggest of its kind in Chile with capacity for 250,000 sheep. Bankrupted in the early 1990s, much of the plant was dismantled in 1993. Belatedly the plant was given National Monument status and is slowly being restored. Fascinating tours of the remaining buildings and machine rooms are given in English. It is a pleasant hour-long walk along the shore to Bories (US$5 by taxi) with glimpses of the Balmaceda glacier across the sound which makes it well worth the visit.