Puerto-Natales Travel Guide
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254km (158 miles) NW of Punta Arenas; 115km (71 miles) S of Torres del Paine
Puerto Natales is a rambling town of 15,000, spread along the sloping coast of the Señoret Canal between the Ultima Esperanza Sound and the Almirante Montt Gulf. This is the jump-off point for trips to Torres del Paine, and nearly all visitors to the park will find themselves spending at least one night here. The town itself is nothing more than a small center and rows and rows of weather-beaten tin and wooden houses, but it has a certain appeal, and it boasts a stunning location with grand views out onto a grassy peninsula and glacier-capped peaks in the distance. From May to September, the town virtually goes into hibernation, but come October, the town's streets begin to fill with travelers decked out in parkas and hiking boots on their way to the park.
Puerto Natales is the capital of the Ultima Esperanza Sound, founded in 1911 as a residential center and export port for local sheep ranches. Tourism has now replaced wool as a dominant economic force, evident by the plethora of hostels, restaurants, and tour companies found here.
