Hotels

Punta Arenas has many historic hotels offering luxurious amenities and fine service. A night or two in one of them should be part of your trip, although Puerto Natales or accommodations within Torres del Paine National Park is where you should spend most of your time.

There aren’t many budget options in Patagonia; the luxury market, on the other hand, is booming. Patagonia is a "once-in-a-lifetime" destination that most people are happy to splurge on, and the increasing cruise culture doesn’t ease accommodation prices. The inaccessible nature of Patagonia also means that all-inclusive packages (which usually include expeditions, excursions, and transfers) are often preferable, if you can afford them. In most cities and towns you’ll find a mix of big, expensive hotels with comfortable resorts, local flavor estancias, and small B&B-style hosterías.

The terms hospedaje and hostal are used interchangeably in the region, so don't make assumptions based on the name. Many hostals are fine hotels—not youth hostels with multiple beds—just very small. By contrast, some hospedajes are little more than a spare room in someone's home.