Torres del Paine National Park is remote, a characteristic that adds to its intrigue but also to the time it takes to get there. Torres del paine how to get there
To make the trip to Torres del Paine worthwhile, we always recommend staying in the national park for at least three days. Our specialists have the following tips for touring the area and its surroundings:
- Crossing the border from Argentina is time consuming or very expensive. If you can enter through Chile, do it.
- The buses in Patagonia are surprisingly comfortable and have come a long way in recent years.
- Private transfers save a lot of time and take you exactly where you want to be. It is an additional cost, but for some travelers, avoiding the hassle is worth it.
- It is often necessary to spend the night in Puerto Natales, but one night is all you need in this small town. Flying into Puerto Natales airport will save you three hours on the road, but scheduled flights are limited, so plan ahead.
- Make traveling in or out of the park part of the adventure by motorboat, horseback, bicycle or kayak.
Torres del Paine how to get there
From Santiago to Torres del Paine
Fly to Punta Arenas and bus to Torres del Paine:
It is much easier to reach Torres del Paine from Chile, and all international flights to the country pass through Santiago. This makes it the ideal pit stop before the three and a half hour flight to Punta Arenas, where you can go directly by bus to Torres del Paine. For more information on how to make the most of a few days in Santiago, visit our page on things to do in the city.
From Buenos Aires to Torres del Paine- Torres del Paine how to get there
Fly to El Calafate and bus to Torres del Paine:
This is the best option to fit Torres del Paine into a larger itinerary in Argentina. There are several direct flights every day to El Calafate, with an approximate duration of three and a quarter hours. From El Calafate, you will take a bus to cross the border to Puerto Natales, five to six hours depending on border traffic.
Note that Buenos Aires has two airports, roughly divided between domestic and international travel. It is recommended to allow five hours to travel between them, so remember to check where you are flying to and from, and read our guide if you will need to transit.
From Ushuaia to Torres del Paine – Torres del Paine how to get there
Sail to Punta Arenas, then take the bus to Torres del Paine: the Australis adventure cruise is possibly the most exciting way to get to the park. Trips from Ushuaia often include stops at Cape Horn, sailing through the Strait of Magellan and zodiac boat excursions to explore the area’s flora and fauna along the way. It is also a stress-free way to cross the border from Argentina to Chile. Direct buses from Punta Arenas can take you directly to Torres del Paine or to Puerto Natales if you want time to prepare for the hike. Other ways to get from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas are detailed below.
How to get to Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas
Traveling through Punta Arenas has a number of advantages. It is easier than traveling through Argentina and the buses to Torres del Paine are cheap and reliable. The city itself has more than enough to occupy travelers who want to shake off their flight to Santiago or rest their legs after a week of hiking in the national park. There are three options to get to Torres del Paine:
– Bus from Punta Arenas airport to Puerto Natales: We recommend Buses Pacheco, which picks you up at the airport to avoid the cab or bus ride to town. Duration: three hours. Regular departures.
– Bus from the town center to Puerto Natales: If you spend the night in Punta Arenas, go with Buses Fernandez. Duration: three hours. Regular departures.
– Bus from Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine direct: Return from the park administration at 13:00 and 18:15. Please note that you will need to transit from the airport to connect to this service, so we recommend that you ask your tour operator to reserve your transportation to avoid confusion or problems with reservations. Duration: five or six hours, departures from Punta Arenas at 07:30 and 14:30.
How to get to Torres del Paine from Punta Arenas
Puerto Natales is the closest town to Torres del Paine. Almost all guided tours and tourist itineraries include the trip from Puerto Natales, about two and a half hours on a semi-paved road; what it lacks in smooth asphalt it more than makes up for in scenery.
– Bus from the city center: several bus companies offer an early morning shuttle service, but availability may be scarce, so be sure to book as early as possible.
– Private transfer: slightly faster than buses, but considerably more expensive.
– Cruise the Serrano River: an option for the more adventurous at heart, take a boat to Last Hope Sound and enter the park via the Serrano River.
How to get to Torres del Paine from El Calafate
El Calafate is the main entry point to the nearby Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina, a popular destination in addition to Torres del Paine. If your international flight arrives in Buenos Aires, El Calafate is also a necessary stopover before reaching Torres del Paine. You have three options:
– Bus to Puerto Natales: The cheapest way to cross the border. The trip takes five to six hours, depending on the border crossing. Buses only leave at 07:00 and 08:00, so you must be in El Calafate the night before.
– Private transfer to Puerto Natales or direct to Torres del Paine: total travel time to the park is around seven hours, however this option costs around $750 USD depending on the size of your group, the vehicle and your pick-up and drop-off points.
– Go to Torres del Paine on a regular 1 day excursion.
How to get to Torres del Paine from El Chalten
El Chalten is located within Los Glaciares National Park in Argentine Patagonia, approximately an eight-hour bus ride from Torres del Paine. Unfortunately, there is no direct bus and it can be complicated to move between them.
– Bus from El Chaltén to El Calafate: It leaves every morning and afternoon in high season and takes three hours. If you take the early bus, you can connect to an afternoon bus to Puerto Natales, which takes five hours.
Trips combining Torres del Paine and El Chalten take the stress out of arranging transportation and ensure that you spend as much time as possible in these stunning regions.
