With its emblematic granite towers, pristine turquoise lakes, and immense glaciers, Torres del Paine National Park is internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful national parks in the world and a hiker’s paradise. Despite its remote geographical location in southern Patagonia, it is much easier to reach than a map may suggest and connects seamlessly with other popular destinations in both Argentina and Chile.
Where is Torres del Paine National Park?
Torres del Paine National Park is located in Chile’s largest and southernmost Magallanes Region, or Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, which extends all the way to Antarctica. The park lies ~50 miles north of the nearest town, Puerto Natales; ~200 miles north of the region’s capital, Punta Arenas; and ~160 miles southwest of El Calafate, Argentina.
There are several different ways to reach Torres del Paine National Park, depending on the region you’re coming from and the method of transport you’re using. Here’s how:
BY AIR
The nearest domestic airports to Torres del Paine National Park are Puerto Natales’ Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport (PNT) and Punta Arenas’ Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport (PUQ), and the main commercial airlines that operate routes there are LATAM and Sky.
Flying into Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas provides a bird’s eye view over the vast Andes Mountain Range with its glaciers, volcanoes, and icefields spanning from north to south; a fitting teaser for what’s to come on your adventure.
How to get from Santiago to Torres del Paine National Park
Given that all international flights arrive at Santiago’s Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL), it’s a place nearly all foreign visitors pass through when traveling to Chile and it is the logistical linking point to many of the country’s highlights, including Torres del Paine National Park, the Atacama Desert, and Easter Island.
Whether you’re just setting foot into Chile, or exploring Santiago, Valparaíso, or wine country, the quickest way to get to Torres del Paine National Park is to fly from Santiago to Puerto Natales. Both LATAM and Sky airlines offer direct flights with a duration of ~3 hours and 15 minutes, and flights with a stopover in Puerto Montt that take ~4 hours and 20 minutes. Currently, LATAM operates approximately 1-2 direct and stopover flights per day; and Sky, 1-4 direct and stopover flights per day during the high season (October – April).
While further away from Torres del Paine National Park, Punta Arenas’ airport has a higher frequency of flights, with LATAM offering approximately 8-10 direct and stopover flights per day; and Sky, 1-3 direct and stopover flights per day during high season. Direct flights from Santiago take ~3.5 hours and those with a stopover in Puerto Montt, ~4 hours 45 minutes.
To get from either Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas airports to Torres del Paine National Park, most lodges offer a shared guest transfer as part of their all-inclusive programs (private transfers have an additional cost). The main difference between flying to Puerto Natales and to Punta Arenas is the duration of the transfer to your lodge in/around Torres del Paine National Park. From Puerto Natales, the drive takes ~1-2 hours; whereas, from Punta Arenas, it takes ~4-5 hours, so the latter results in a longer travel day overall – something to consider when planning your trip.
How to get from the Atacama Desert and Easter Island to Torres del Paine National Park
Connecting Chile’s iconic northern and southern extremes is best achieved by flying from Calama’s El Loa Airport (CJC) to Santiago, making an overnight pit stop at the convenient Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, and flying out to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas the next day. Similarly, if you’re interested in culture and Easter Island is the other item on your bucket list, an overnight layover in Santiago with a morning flight out to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas the following day works best, and allows for some well-earned rest time between flights.
How to get from the Lakes Region and Chiloé to Torres del Paine National Park
Extending your trip to Torres del Paine from either cultural Chiloé or the stunning Lakes Region is best done by flying out of Puerto Montt (PMC) to either Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas. Combining extreme sports such as rafting in the Petrohué River with challenging hikes in the Paine Massif can be a great fit for the more adventurous. There are approximately 1-2 direct Sky flights and 1 direct LATAM flight per day to Puerto Natales; and 1-2 direct Sky flights, as well as 2-3 direct LATAM flights to Punta Arenas during the high season.
BY LAND
Making a one-way journey by land into Torres del Paine National Park by transferring over the border at Rio Don Guillermo/Cerro Castillo from El Calafate, Argentina, is the perfect way to combine a trip to Argentina and Chile and connect the two countries.
How to get from El Calafate to Torres del Paine National Park
Whether you’re an avid hiker wanting to explore El Chaltén or an intrepid explorer traveling on from Buenos Aires, Bariloche, or Ushuaia and flying into El Calafate’s Comandante Armando Tola airport (FTE), El Calafate and its nearby Los Glaciares National Park are an ideal waypoint to Torres del Paine National Park and Chilean Patagonia.
Most Torres del Paine lodges offer shared guest transfers from El Calafate at an additional cost, and the drive takes ~4-6 hours including the border crossing process which can take over an hour, especially during peak travel season (December – February). Traveling in shoulder season can help to avoid the crowds at the border.
BY SEA
One of the most unique ways to arrive into the Magallanes region and to cross the border between Argentina and Chile is by sea.
How to get from Ushuaia to Torres del Paine National Park
Sailing from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Punta Arenas, Chile, takes you through Cape Horn and the Magellan Strait and immerses you into a region once frequented by one of the world’s most famous explorers, Charles Darwin.
Again, most Torres del Paine lodges offer shared guest transfers from the city of Punta Arenas as part of their all-inclusive programs, picking you up at the port and whisking you off on a ~4-5 hour journey towards the Paine Massif.
However you decide to make your way to Torres del Paine National Park, it’s sure to be a special journey. Through our custom planning process, Knowmad’s goal is to map out your itinerary and help you feel prepared and excited for your adventure. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to begin planning your own personalized trip to Patagonia, Chile and/or Argentina, give one of our Trip Specialists a call at 612-315-2894, or email us at [email protected] today!
Olivia is an Operations Specialist at Knowmad Adventures, a company dedicated to crafting specialized custom, private trips to South America. Born into a bilingual household with a French mother and British father, Olivia has always been drawn to different cultures and languages. Now based in Puerto Montt, Chile, she spends her time exploring, hiking, and climbing in the Andes while helping Knowmad travelers create unforgettable journeys in this vibrant part of the world.
