This time, I headed to Torres del Paine, but with limited time, I opted for a direct flight from Santiago to Puerto Natales—a quaint little town just a stone’s throw away from the national park. Flights here are scarce, so be sure to book your tickets well in advance.
🌟 When it came to accommodations, since this was a self-driving adventure, we stayed in town rather than inside the park. We chose Hotel Costaustralis, which, at nearly 2000 RMB per night, wasn’t exactly budget-friendly. However, the hotel more than made up for it with its top-notch facilities and breathtaking views!
Each room is equipped with heating, and trust me, you’ll need it. Pages 12 and 13 of my travel notes showcase the stunning vistas right outside our window. Plus, the hotel has its own parking lot, making it super convenient for road warriors like us.
🌟 For car rental, we went with Europcar, conveniently located just a short stroll from the hotel. The daily rate hovered above 400 RMB, but their service truly stood out. On the very first day, we encountered a flat tire and had to rely on the spare to limp back to town. The next morning, when we brought the car to the rental office, the staff didn’t bat an eye before sending it straight to the repair shop. It took about an hour, and best of all, there were no extra charges. Highly recommended!
🌟 Now, about the route—let’s face it, those road names in various travel guides can get pretty confusing. But don’t sweat it! As long as you search for the locations and follow Google Maps, you’ll be golden.
On Day 1, after arriving in town early in the morning, we picked up our car and drove straight to Lago Grey to catch a glimpse of the glacier—the left half of the line shown on page 16 of my notes. That day, we pretty much covered the entire left side of the map (minus a tiny bit in the upper-left corner). We set off around 12:30 PM and returned around 10 PM, factoring in the time spent changing the tire and driving cautiously on the spare.
Day 2 was all about conquering the right half of the map. We visited Laguna Azul and then retraced our steps back to town. Along the way, we discovered that every major attraction is clearly marked with signs, so there’s no risk of missing anything. We departed around 10:30 AM and were back by 4-5 PM.
🌟 Speaking of food, during our park excursions, we stocked up on provisions from the local supermarket. In the evenings, we dined at Santolla, a beloved restaurant in town. Their scallops and king crab (pictured on pages 14 and 15) were nothing short of divine! Just a heads-up: if you want to avoid a lengthy wait, make sure to arrive early.
‼️ A few important tips to keep in mind:
1️⃣ Download the Google offline map beforehand. There’s zero cell signal in the park, but the offline map works flawlessly.
2️⃣ Drive slowly, especially along the left route leading to the glacier. The latter part of this road is notoriously bumpy, riddled with potholes and rocks. Thankfully, a kind-hearted Chilean gentleman lent a hand when we needed help changing the spare tire [grinning].
3️⃣ Refuel your gas tank in town—it’s more than sufficient for two days, with a little extra to spare.
4️⃣ Boat tickets for viewing the glacier must be booked in advance. I reached out via email to the hotel, and once the itinerary was confirmed, they sent over a payment link. On the day of, we simply picked up our boat tickets at the hotel and strolled to the boarding point.
Happy travels!
5️⃣ Before heading to the park, I tried logging into their website to pay the entrance fee but couldn’t access it. So, I decided to purchase the ticket in person. When we arrived, though, our magnetic stripe credit card wasn’t accepted. Surprisingly, the staff simply had us fill out a form, and we were waved in without charge—talk about an unexpected bonus! 🙇♀️
6️⃣ If rain clouds roll in, don’t panic! The weather here is notoriously unpredictable, often shifting from showers to dazzling sunshine with a breathtaking rainbow in no time. That said, beware—the wind can pack quite a punch at times! A sturdy hat is a must to keep you prepared for anything nature throws your way.
