Travel Answers

Puerto Natales

hello, can someone please tell me a car rental company that is reliable and cheaper than hertz? i got a good price from ppu expeditions but i dont' have any review from them and they are asking for my passport # and credit card number which i find a bit uncomfortable giving away

Hi! We are travelling south to north Chile from mid-october and we're getting a bit stuck in the planning stage beyond PN. We don't drive and don't fancy the ferry. We've heard there is a bus from Punta Arenas to Peurto Montt but suspect that it only goes in Jan/Feb. Any info/advice?

I am traveling from Puerto Natales to Calafate by bus on Feb.11th, 2010. Do I need to buy tickets in advance? What bus companies do this route?

Hi, Before we went to Torres del Paine we want to buy some food for our trekking. Does anyone know the supermarket is open on Sunday? If so, what are the openingtimes?

Hi, Planning to travel Puerto Natales, Chile to El Calafate, Argentina, are there any buses and how frequent ? how much does it cost ? Thanks

Hi. Bus from Cile (i.e. Puerto Natales) to El Calafate are available in winter, for example the 30th July ? If yes, I need more details on the bus company included, if possible, the web site or the email contact. Many thanks en advance ! Silvio Cri

Hi, Would anyone have recommendations/experiences with Transpatagonia Car Rental (http://www.transpatagonia.cl)? The quote I received, and upon some basic negotiation is TransPatagonia Car Rentals -350.00 Motorcars Car Rentals -420.00 Options include Free mileage, TAX, Insurance, International Insurance, Documents to cross the border ANY OTHER GOOD CAR RENTAL AGENCIES? Thanks Srujan

Do you know if one can go from P. Arenas to Torres del Paine in one day by bus. I assume that you would have to change buses in P. Natales - yes? Thanks so much, David

We're planning a trip to Puerto Natales/Torres del Paine area. Can you recommend a reasonable 3 star hotel that charges between90-150 for a double room for 2 people? Thanks!

Hello, At the end of September we will go to Puerto Natales bij our self and like to do the W-circuit walking in the Park. Is it possible to do it in our own ? Or is it not wise at all. Thank in advance, Aulia

We are planning to hike the W in Torres del Paine in March. We are flying into Punta Arenas and would like to rent a car and drive on our own from there to the park (rather than be stuck with the bus schedules). If we park at one end of the W and hike to the other, is there any bus or shuttle service that can take us back to our car at the end of the trek? Does it matter if we start at the Lago Grey side of the W or at the Lago Amarga side? Do you know where we can find information about any such shuttles/bus transports within the park? Thank you!

Hey guys! Me and my girlfriend will be travelling from puerto natales-el calafate in March and we are looking for the cheapest bus service. We know that Bus Sur and Bus Cootra do the route but we can't find any up-to date prices or a timetable. Can anyone help?

We want to fly from Puerto Natales to El Calafate, but are leary of a small 10 passenger plane. What type of plane did you use? Contact persons for the flights? Or, if you drove, did you have any problems with the border? What paperwork is needed? Thanks

How much is it usually? and What time the tour usually come back? Can you recomend some tour companies? Because I will be arriving at P.N at 10:00 pm. And i want to do the tour the next day. Thank you I am in Punta Arenas now. haha.

hello everybody:) I'll be arriving to Punta Arenas by plane from Santiago and then, after few days we want to move to Puerto Natales and TdP national park. could anyone help us and give some tips about the best option how to get there? are there any direct buses from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales? how long such a way can take? what are the costs? i would appreciate very much any tips Marcin

Hi all, last question, I promise! :D We are coming in by bus from El Calafate. Is it possible to get to the park on the same day by catching another bus? We would prefer not to stay the night in Puerto Natales because of a tight schedule. Can anyone point me to a bus schedule or other companies that might transport us? The same question goes for a return trip, do buses leave late at night or early in the morning for PN such that we can catch the bus back to E.C? Second question - how do you get to start the trek? Will the bus from PN drop us off at various starting points? I thought to start the W you had to catch a boat across the lake... will this be open in the evening if we come in late from PN? Is there a website with these times? Or can we start the W at another place? Our timing is that we are coming in Dec 1 from El Calafate and need to return on Dec 7 to El Calafate and hopefully do the whole W in that time period. I hope we are realistic!

Hi all, last question, I promise! :D We are coming in by bus from El Calafate. Is it possible to get to the park on the same day by catching another bus? We would prefer not to stay the night in Puerto Natales because of a tight schedule. Can anyone point me to a bus schedule or other companies that might transport us? The same question goes for a return trip, do buses leave late at night or early in the morning for PN such that we can catch the bus back to E.C? Second question - how do you get to start the trek? Will the bus from PN drop us off at various starting points? I thought to start the W you had to catch a boat across the lake... will this be open in the evening if we come in late from PN? Is there a website with these times? Or can we start the W at another place? Our timing is that we are coming in Dec 1 from El Calafate and need to return on Dec 7 to El Calafate and hopefully do the whole W in that time period. I hope we are realistic!

WE'll be in Puerto Natales in Feb 2007 WE have a car and a driver but we r looking for an English speaking guide to join our van on Feb 17&18 ) to tour torres del Paine any recommendations? vamiami@vtmail.com thanks

Hello, I would like to find out if there is a direct bus service between Puerto Natales and Puerto montt, or possibly a route with minimum connections.Can you help?

hello, i'm interested in doing as much wilderness and free camping on the paine circuit as possible. if you have tips, choice site recommendations, or other information, i would greatly appreciate it!

Does anybody have a recomendation whether to start at Hosteria Las Torres and go west or to start at Refugio Grey and go east (due to winds, other challenges?) thank you

Can someone please tell me the latest bus that departs Puerto Natales going to Torres del Paine? My wife and I are arriving from El Calafate and hope to continue onward to Torres del Paine on the same day. I expect we'll be in Puerto Natales by 1300 or so. Is there a bus that will depart for Torres del Paine later than 1300?

What time are the buses from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales? Thanks!

We are planning a visit to Puerto Natales early December this year. We wonder if it is necessary to make reservations for day trips to Torres del Paine as well as the boat trip to the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. Or can we just wait till we arrive in Puerto Natales (one day before we intend to do the first trip). Thanks Jaap

I have heard that there is a boat going from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine (and vice versa). Can anyone give me details about this and the cost?

Hi My partner and I (from NZ living in London) are planning to travel to chile and to the Puerto Natales area, and hope to include some trekking. Our problem is that we can't get there untill about May 15 is it getting a bit cold for walking at that time. I have done a reasonable amount of mountian climbing etc so i don't see safty etc as a problem I am just worried if my girlfriend will still enjoy it?

Can someone please suggest the best itinerary based from Puerto Montt (I'll be flying into Puerto Montt from Santiago) and involving any combination of day trips (boat, car, bus) to puerto varas, osorno, petrohue, chiloe, puella through the lagos (I can't go to Bariloche, because I don't have an argentine visa; unless I can get an argentine visa at the border). I have around 3-4 days to spend around Puerto Montt, after which I want to fly to Punta Arenas (don't want to risk taking the Navimag, because it looks like the weather is dicy) and visit the Torres Del Paine for another 4-5 days (Is it possible to include trips to the bernardo and serrano, and the isla magalleno?). I'll be flying back to Santiago from Punta Arenas. I can rent a car or so, can spend around3000 for 2 people excluding flights (the lesser the better :) Thanks very much for your help. Cheers 'n Regards, Ganesh.

I'm making my fourth trip to Chile and finally getting around to Torre del Paine. Having trouble figuring out where to stay near the Park. I'll be there in winter so any trekking i do will be VERY short. Maybe to the vehicle and back again. LOL. They offer what seems to be a good winter package. Transportation to and from the lodge, meals, and tours of the area. Has anyone stayed there?

Hi, Can anyone tell me of a weather site for Torres del Paine? We are going in March, and I cannot find a weather site for this area on the web. Also, has anyone stayed at the Explora Hotel? How well does a person have to ride to do the horseback tours? Any info you have about the tours and what you experienced there would be GREATLY appreciated! I can walk for miles, but I am not a climber or a trekker. Thank you.

I'll be in Puerto Natales in early March and am hoping to hike the "W". I'll be travelling alone, but of course don't want to be hiking by myself. My question is: can I just arrive in Puerto Natales at that time of year, and book an organized trek (with a small group) that leaves within a couple of days? Or should I do this in advance? If the latter, what company do you recommend I e-mail? Thanks!