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How to get from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine and the Grey boat

Brief answer

From Puerto Natales, drive about 2 hours to Hotel Lago Grey, ride the Bus-Sur service timed to the midday sailing, or book a boat day that includes a van.

Route essentials

  • About 100 km from Natales to Lago Grey1
  • Buses at 7:00 and 12:00, September to April2
  • No fuel in or near the park11

Discover 25 stops

Lago Grey, the glacier and the roads in

Select a route, then tap a marker or stop to see its note and open Google Maps.

Map of the road from Puerto Natales and its airfield past Cerro Castillo and the Laguna Amarga gate to Pudeto, the Pingo ranger station and Hotel Lago Grey

  1. The gateway town for the park, 80 km from its entrance by Chile Travel's figure.

    Google Maps

  2. The Teniente Julio Gallardo airfield, 15 minutes from the town center.

    Google Maps

  3. The village at the Río Don Guillermo crossing, 52 km from the park's Sarmiento entrance.

    Google Maps

  4. The eastern park entrance, about 2 hours by bus from Puerto Natales.

    Google Maps

  5. The landing on Lago Pehoé, with a cafeteria, where buses and the catamaran meet.

    Google Maps

  6. The Pingo ranger station and car park at the southern end of the lake, near the Mirador Ferrier trail.

    Google Maps

  7. The lakeside hotel that runs the Grey III boat; passengers check in here an hour before each sailing.

    Google Maps

Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors

The boat leaves from the far western corner of the park. This page covers the car, the bus and the tour, the hours each one takes, and the beach walk that ends every journey.

Editorial team, greyglaciercruise.click · Updated November 12, 2026 · Reading: 7 min

Quick look

  • DistanceRoughly 100 km of road from Natales to the lake, about 2 hours.1
  • By busBus-Sur leaves Natales daily at 7:00 and 12:00, September to April.2
  • By tourA boat day with a van from Natales starts from $276.
  • Last stretchA walk of 30 to 45 minutes on Grey Beach to the boat.3
  • Before you goBuy the park pass online at least 24 hours ahead.4

Where the Lago Grey boat leaves from

The Grey Glacier location in Torres del Paine is the western sector of the park, where an arm of the Southern Ice Field ends in the lake that shares its name.5 The boat that visits it starts from Hotel Lago Grey, inside the park, where your booking asks you to report 1 hour ahead of departure. From there a walk across the beach leads to the boarding point.

Count on roughly 100 km of park roads between Natales and the hotel, or about 2 hours behind the wheel.1 That distance shapes the whole day. Whatever transport you choose, plan on a long morning on the road before the sailing and a similar stretch back afterwards, and leave plenty of slack around the check-in time.

The map on this page shows the pieces in order: the town, the park gates, the CONAF administration at Villa Monzino, the hotel, the cafe by the Pingo bridge where the beach walk begins, and the pier at the end of Grey Beach. Keep it open on your phone before you lose signal, because inside the park the connection fades quickly.

Side by side

Ways to reach the Grey boat from Natales

WayTime each wayBest sailingWatch out for
Rental carAbout 2 hoursAnyNo fuel in the park
Public busUp to 4 hoursSecondSeasonal timetable
Tour with van2 hoursSet by tourHigher price
Park day tourFull dayNo sailingLake beach only

Road times from Chile Travel and the listings; check the season before you travel.1,13,11,14

Driving from Natales to the Lago Grey dock

With a rental car you have two main roads. Route Y-290 covers 80 km from Puerto Natales as far as the Serrano entrance and the CONAF headquarters, while the longer way north on Route 9 via Cerro Castillo reaches the Laguna Amarga or Sarmiento gate after 115 to 145 km.9 For the boat, the Serrano side is the natural approach, since it leads straight to the western sector.

From the CONAF administration at Villa Monzino an internal road of about 18 km continues to the Hotel Lago Grey sector.10 Fill the tank before leaving town. CONAF points out that you cannot buy fuel anywhere inside the park or nearby, so a car running low on the far side of the park is a real problem.11

A car gives you the most freedom on the day. You can stop at the lake beach before check-in, pick the first or the third sailing, and add a viewpoint on the way out. Drive the gravel slowly, watch for guanacos on the road, and keep your park pass downloaded, as the gates have no mobile data to check your email.12

Time on the road

Hours to reach the Lago Grey boat

  • Car from Natales2
  • Tour van, each way2
  • Public bus run4

Times as Chile Travel and the tour listing give them; the bus calls at several park stops on the way.1,13

Taking the public bus to the boat

The public bus is the budget route, and one operator times it around the boat. Between September and April, Bus-Sur runs a 7:00 and a 12:00 departure from Puerto Natales every day, with journeys from 2 hours depending on the stop.2 Chile Travel describes the full run as about 2 hours to Laguna Amarga, then on via Pudeto, Pehoe camping and the Administration to Hotel Lago Grey, nearly 4 hours in all.13

At the far end, Bus-Sur describes a simple routine. Its bus leaves passengers at Hotel Lago Grey for check-in, then carries them about 2 km further to the Rio Pingo cafe by the Grey bridge, where the beach walk to the Grey III pier begins.17 Bus-Sur says its service connects with the second sailing in both directions, or with the return of the first for people coming back from the Grey refuge.15

For the ride home, Bus-Sur's buses leave Hotel Lago Grey for Puerto Natales at 13:30 or 17:00.8 The hotel itself gives a different instruction for bus travellers, asking them to book its transfer in advance and to wait at the park administration, so confirm the connection with both before you travel.18 Between May and August the bus timetable changes and weather can disrupt services.14

Your route

The best way for you to reach the boat

Pick the way in that suits your trip and your budget.

  • If I can drive on gravel

    Rental car

    Follow Route Y-290 for 80 km to the Serrano entrance, then drive on to the lake.9,10

  • If Cheapest way, no car

    Public bus

    The Bus-Sur timetable is built around the second sailing, out and back.15

  • If No planning, no car

    Boat with a van

    Pickup, the beach walk and the boat in 8 hours.

  • If I want the park too

    Boat and park day

    Grey Lake plus 4 hours of sightseeing in a group of up to 10.

  • If I travel in winter

    Check the bus first

    Between May and August frequencies change and weather can stop services.14

Done for you

Tours that bring you to Lago Grey

Just the boat

Boat with a van

Natales to the pier

  • Length8 hours
  • Van2 hours each way
  • Walk35 minutes
See the tours

Small group

Boat and park day

Grey plus viewpoints

  • Length12 hours
  • GroupUp to 10
  • Park4 hours
See the tours

Lowest price

Park day

Lake beach, no sailing

  • Length12 hours
  • GroupUp to 15
  • GreyLake beach
See the tours

A Grey Glacier tour from Puerto Natales

If you would rather leave the logistics to someone else, a Grey Glacier tour from Puerto Natales packages the ride and the sailing. One version lasts 8 hours with pickup included: a van of 2 hours, a walk of 35 minutes to the catamaran, 3 hours on Grey Lake, then the walk and the van back to town. It starts from $276; 34 guests have reviewed it, for an average of 4.34.

Longer days combine the boat with the rest of the park. A small-group day of 12 hours for up to 10 people pairs 3 hours on Grey Lake with 4 hours of guided sightseeing, and starts from $290. The cheapest park days skip the sailing but still stop by the lake: a 12-hour day for groups of 15 or fewer names the lake beach at Grey as a highlight and starts from $75.

Read the reviews with an eye on the transport. On the version with transport, guests score the guide 4.2, the transport 4 and value for money 3.6, so the ride is a convenience you pay for rather than a highlight. For travellers without a licence or who dislike gravel roads, that trade is often worth making.

Group total

Cost of a ride and a sailing for your group

Choose a tour with transport and the size of your group.

Compare 4 alternatives

Cost of a ride and a sailing for your group

Choose a tour with transport and the size of your group.

2 people
  1. Boat with a van8 hours from Natales · per person, from $276

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    View
  2. Boat and park day12 hours, up to 10 · per person, from $290

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    View
  3. From Punta Arenas18 hours, up to 10 · per person, from $296

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    View
  4. Park day, no boat12 hours, up to 15 · per person, from $75

    ≈

    View

GetYourGuide's starting prices, converted at the ECB reference rate; exact pricing appears when you book.

A day by bus

From Natales to the ice and back

  1. Morning

    Bus from Natales

    Bus-Sur leaves the Natales terminal at 7:00.2

  2. Midday

    Check in

    Second sailing check-in at 12:00 at Hotel Lago Grey.6

  3. Early afternoon

    Sail to the ice

    The boat leaves at 13:00 for the glacier fronts.6,7

  4. Mid afternoon

    Back on the beach

    The second sailing returns at 15:45.6

  5. Late afternoon

    Bus to Natales

    The bus leaves Hotel Lago Grey at 17:00.8

The walk from the hotel to the pier

Every route ends on foot. According to the operator the desk opens an hour ahead of each sailing, and the boat can only be reached on foot, with 30 to 45 minutes of beach walking before you board.3 The listing describes the same walk as 3 km from the closest car park, and notes that it changes with the weather.

Bus-Sur, which drops its passengers at the Rio Pingo cafe, gives 25 minutes for the walk from there to the pier.39 The sources measure the walk differently, so count on the operator's longer figure if you are slow on loose ground or the wind is in your face.

The path does not suit anyone with reduced mobility, and parents of infants are told to bring a carrier backpack, since prams and carts cannot cope with the terrain.40,41 Wind can close the beach altogether, and CONAF listed Playa Grey among the trails shut from 10 November 2026 when gusts and storms were forecast.42

Video

Driving from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine

ASPECTS OF LIFE - Ellitomi on YouTube · Nothing is fetched until you hit play.

Once there, the most popular way to get close to the imposing glacier is by taking a three-hour boat trip that departs from the Hotel Lago Grey, bringing you closer to its ice fronts.
Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel)16

Before leaving Natales

Your getting-there checklist

Tickets3

  • Park pass bought online a day ahead
  • Boat booking saved offline and printed
  • Bus tickets bought online and downloaded

If you drive3

  • A full tank, as the park has no fuel
  • Offline map of the park roads
  • Time for 2 hours of road each way

In your bag3

  • Cash from Natales, no machines in the park
  • Windproof and waterproof layers
  • Food and water for a long day

Timing your day around the sailings

The boat runs to a fixed timetable, so build the day backwards from it rather than forwards from breakfast. The first sailing checks in at 08:30, leaves at 09:30 and is back at 12:15.43 The second checks in at 12:00, leaves at 13:00 and returns at 15:45.6 For the last boat of the day you check in at 15:00, cast off at 16:00 and land again at 18:45.44 Every sailing calls at the Grey refuge, but in a different order, which matters only if you are meeting trekkers.45

By bus, the second sailing is the natural fit, since that is the one Bus-Sur meets in both directions.15 Its return at 15:45 leaves comfortable time to walk back and catch the bus to Natales at 17:00.6,8 By car the first sailing is possible only if you sleep inside the park or leave Natales very early, given the 2 hours of road.1

A boat will not leave with fewer than 25 people aboard, which matters on quiet days at the edges of the season.46 On busy summer days the operator adds a fourth sailing.47 Neither the minimum nor the extra sailing is something you can plan around in advance, so treat them as reasons to stay flexible on the day rather than as fixed parts of a schedule.

Tickets and supplies to sort out in Natales

Do the paperwork before you leave town. The national park pass is sold online only and has to be purchased a full 24 hours or more before you enter; the gates sell none.4,48 The boat operator is explicit that its ticket never replaces the park fee.49 Buy a pass for everyone in the group aged 13 or over before the day, since only children up to 12 enter free,50 and keep a screenshot of each one, so nobody in the group is left searching a phone at the gate.

Download everything. Chile Travel advises buying bus tickets online in advance and keeping them on your phone, because there is almost no internet inside the park.51 Take cash from a machine in Natales too: there are none in Torres del Paine.52 A printed copy of the boat booking costs nothing and saves a tense moment at check-in.

Pack food and water for the whole day, a warm layer and a windproof shell. Chile Travel stresses how windy and changeable the park can be and advises dressing in layers, from thermals and fleece to waterproofs top and bottom.53 Toilets and treated water are available at busy road-access sites such as the Lago Grey sector, so you can refill a bottle there.54

FAQ

Short questions, short answers.

How far is the Grey boat from Puerto Natales?
About 100 km, roughly 2 hours.

The Lago Grey sector is reached on the park roads from Natales.1

Is there a bus from Puerto Natales to the Grey boat?
Yes, from September to April.

Bus-Sur leaves Natales at 7:00 and 12:00 and connects with the second sailing.2,15

When does the bus back to Natales leave?
At 13:30 or 17:00.

Bus-Sur departures leave from Hotel Lago Grey at those times.8

Does the boat ticket include transport?
Not the boat-only listing.

A version with a van from Natales lasts 8 hours and starts from $276.

How far do I walk from the hotel to the pier?
30 to 45 minutes, per the operator.

The operator gives that time for the walk on Grey Beach; Bus-Sur gives 25 minutes from the Rio Pingo cafe.3,39

Is there fuel in Torres del Paine?
No, fill up in Natales.

Nowhere in the park or around it sells fuel, according to CONAF.11

Which sailing suits a day trip by bus?
The second sailing.

It leaves at 13:00 and is back at 15:45, before the 17:00 bus.6,8

Sources

  1. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Grey Glacier ↩
  2. Bus-Sur, bus operator Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine, for its own services (bussur.com) · Bus-Sur: destinos y conexiones ↩
  3. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  4. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Torres del Paine: How to get there and where to stay ↩
  5. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Grey Glacier ↩
  6. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  7. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Essential Torres del Paine: Base Torres and Grey Glacier ↩
  8. Bus-Sur, bus operator Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine, for its own services (bussur.com) · Bus-Sur: destinos y conexiones ↩
  9. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Torres del Paine National Park ↩
  10. Bus-Sur, bus operator Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine, for its own services (bussur.com) · Torres del Paine: horarios y conexiones ↩
  11. CONAF, the National Forest Corporation of Chile, park authority of Torres del Paine (conaf.cl) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine ↩
  12. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Torres del Paine: How to get there and where to stay ↩
  13. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · How to get from Santiago to Torres del Paine ↩
  14. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · How to get from Santiago to Torres del Paine ↩
  15. Bus-Sur, bus operator Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine, for its own services (bussur.com) · Torres del Paine: horarios y conexiones ↩
  16. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Grey Glacier
  17. Bus-Sur, bus operator Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine, for its own services (bussur.com) · Torres del Paine: horarios y conexiones ↩
  18. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · What You Should Know Before Your Trip (FAQ) ↩
  19. Hotel Lago Grey (operator of the Grey III boat) · Navegacion
  20. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · Torres del Paine: How to get there and where to stay
  21. NASA Earth Observatory · Grey Glacier, Chile
  22. National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC, University of Colorado Boulder) · Cryosphere glossary: nunatak
  23. CONAF, Corporacion Nacional Forestal (Chile) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
  24. Hotel Lago Grey (operator of the Grey III boat) · Navigation
  25. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · Torres del Paine W Trek: The definitive guide
  26. CONAF, Parque Nacional Torres del Paine · Trekking map and rules 2023-24 (English leaflet, PDF)
  27. CEQUA regional research centre, Innova CORFO project for the park · Guia de conocimiento y buenas practicas para el turismo en el PN Torres del Paine (PDF)
  28. CONAF, Corporacion Nacional Forestal (Chile) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
  29. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · Torres del Paine W Trek: The definitive guide
  30. CEQUA regional research centre, Innova CORFO project for the park · Guia de conocimiento y buenas practicas para el turismo en el PN Torres del Paine (PDF)
  31. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · Natales airfield to have partial closures between January and March 2027
  32. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · Puerto Natales
  33. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · Grey Glacier
  34. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · Natales airfield to have partial closures between January and March 2027
  35. CONAF, Corporacion Nacional Forestal (Chile) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
  36. Unidad de Pasos Fronterizos, Government of Chile · Complejo Rio Don Guillermo
  37. Chile Travel (Sernatur, Chile National Tourism Service) · The sign you were looking for to travel to the Chilean Patagonia in winter
  38. CONAF, Corporacion Nacional Forestal (Chile) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine
  39. Bus-Sur, bus operator Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine, for its own services (bussur.com) · Torres del Paine: horarios y conexiones ↩
  40. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  41. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  42. CONAF, the National Forest Corporation of Chile, park authority of Torres del Paine (conaf.cl) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine ↩
  43. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  44. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  45. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  46. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  47. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  48. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Torres del Paine: How to get there and where to stay ↩
  49. Turismo Lago Grey, operator of the Grey III boat and Hotel Lago Grey, for its own services (lagogrey.com) · Grey Glacier Navigation (Grey III) ↩
  50. Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, the park administration site (parquetorresdelpaine.cl) · Tarifas y horarios 2026 (fees and hours) ↩
  51. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Torres del Paine: How to get there and where to stay ↩
  52. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Torres del Paine: How to get there and where to stay ↩
  53. Chile Travel, the official tourism site of Chile (Sernatur and Imagen de Chile, chile.travel) · Essential Torres del Paine: Base Torres and Grey Glacier ↩
  54. CONAF, the National Forest Corporation of Chile, park authority of Torres del Paine (conaf.cl) · Parque Nacional Torres del Paine ↩

More to read

More for planning your day on Lago Grey

GuideWhat the Grey Glacier boat costsGuideGrey, Serrano or Perito Moreno from Puerto NatalesGuideIs the Grey Glacier cruise worth itGuideBoat, ice hike or kayak on Grey

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