Top 5 Puerto Natales Car Tours: Seeing Patagonia Your Way!
Thinking of seeing the wonders around Puerto Natales? Getting around by renting your own car is a seriously fantastic plan! That way, you can see so much at your speed. Here are five stellar Puerto Natales car tours, each filled with eye-popping sights and chances to totally make the experience your own. So, pack your bags, get that playlist together, and get ready to explore the raw, wild beauty of Patagonia. You might just find yourself wanting to stay forever!
1. Torres del Paine Full-Day Circuit: The Classic Wonder
Torres del Paine it’s almost a national treasure, is it? A drive that is a complete “must-do” while you are nearby. Expect to be blown away by basically the sheer variety in landscape as you move from basically, striking mountain views to serene, still lakes. It’s pretty advisable to set out early to, at least seemingly, make the most of daylight and honestly get ahead of some potential crowds. This is particularly vital especially around peak season.
Key sights: Pay a visit to the iconic Lago Grey. Get a look at the glacier (maybe even a boat trip, too, if it feels right!), that, and make some stops to truly admire the Cuernos del Paine so you are definitely in awe. A nice and pretty leisurely walk at Salto Grande will get your blood flowing just enough and also offer awesome views to photograph so, there you have it. Don’t neglect the viewpoints at Pehoé Lake either – these really frame those landscape shots.
Driving conditions: Most of the paths are reasonably well-kept gravel. But a few of the spots can get a bit rough. So, it would seem that an SUV is what you will likely be happier with to deal with all potential hiccups, at least seemingly if the weather is less than perfectly ideal, it makes travel more comfy. Anyway, it’s super common, and there is absolutely something for anyone, driving the loop in either clockwise or anti-clockwise direction. Each seemingly, giving pretty sweet distinct perspectives. Yet, going clockwise honestly helps you avoid some of the buses often concentrated doing the hike in reverse direction.
2. The Road to El Calafate: Glaciers and Endless Skies
A drive that gives that open-road feeling a good meaning, and all roads seemingly, lead to El Calafate. It’s that long drive between the countries of Chile and Argentina. Prepare for loads and loads of wide-open pampas, skies going on seemingly forever, and glimpses of glacial lakes too. Make sure you bring along some snacks, water, and some really very good tunes, since it’s fairly normal to go pretty far between stops. Also you need to bring a portable charger, more or less, because in Patagonia sometimes the 4G signal is non-existent, if not rather erratic.
Key sights: The absolutely awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier is certainly an obvious draw. Get out on one of the boardwalks that give great perspectives, or perhaps, seemingly splurge on that boat trip for like, an up-close-and-real personal experience. Very few things compare to the sounds of that glacier shifting and creaking and popping – it’s a pretty very audible sign of strength.
Border crossing: Keep your documents in one place when you get ready to deal with the border crossing from Chile to Argentina so you can easily pass quickly. Really it is rather essential to know restrictions regarding foods and so on as honestly what you are or aren’t allowed to bring varies commonly; delays or fines for failing to declare what must be declared are pretty avoidable. Also, confirm if the car hire agency permits you cross international boundaries if such thing is required to achieve the journey to El Calafate so, plan that thing out, too.
3. Milodon Cave and the Local Charm Around
If maybe you’d enjoy a tour closer, how about visiting the Milodon Cave, then? Only a super short drive out from Puerto Natales, but an awesome historic spot that feels, in some respects, pretty separate from civilization.
Key sights: Take the time while at the cave to seemingly see how humans plus very old species coexist, that. It will probably be surprising too, or maybe, a bit haunting. Close by, the small town of Villa Tehuelches offers more or less some really good real Patagonian flavor, too. You might like visiting Estancia Mercedes from town if the rural cultures of southern Chile hold an allure over you.
The drive: Very mostly, the driving isn’t tough, the highways being pretty kept. Still, double-check those weather conditions particularly at the edge parts of autumn. They might just start turning somewhat slick! Check tire state prior setting off to make sure these do conform well to the demands and pressures coming from all types and styles of climate.
4. The Hidden Gems on the Way to Laguna Sofia
Here’s one you’d surely love, the one leading towards Laguna Sofia (like your aunt). Its appeal lies less at the destination though its also marvelous too (honestly!), but with seemingly various surprises along all paths.
Experiences and highlights: Stop often and photograph. You will come by so many places good enough as screensavers there are so many things to photograph from granite cliffs great, too, as backgrounds for your images so prepare the camera! A tiny detour for a paragliding or horseback riding excursion can even occur – various firms offer that there, as well as, on demand.
Road particulars: Somewhat gravel surfaces dominate with some tricky areas mainly by curves or spots following precipitation. It does ask, really, some care – reducing velocity and taking corners softly would make the trip pleasurable with zero hiccups so plan on it.
5. Estancia La Península: A Glimpse Into Ranch Life
Here exists an awesome mix between amazing scenes, wildlife to die and that Patagonian farming-type life and if one desires something more peaceful how to spend the day outside driving from city is seemingly just that.
Spotlight at attraction: Go do sheep farming at ranches, see gaucho-like demos also you may like hike a bunch with scenic coastal sights. You get truly cultural exchanges combined together while being incredibly gorgeous – there is this authentic rural encounter combined that Patagonia seemingly embodies as a total gem and awesome treasure and beautiful jewel and all else one adds with something one feels in the hearts.
Tips for travel: Check that climate will align too prior departing cause these open, sweeping panoramas turn tricky through robust storms. Driving slowly while approaching wildlife protects each humans with flora with creatures together during commute – that, that is that!