One of the most iconic and amazing hikes in Chile is the Mirador Las Torres (‘viewpoint of the towers’), and it can be done as either a 1 day hike or as part of the W trek, which takes 4 to 5 days.

If you’re visiting Torres Del Paine on a budget and want to do this hike without a car, the good news is that you can also do it by bus in a single day, even if you’re staying in the town of Puerto Natales.

That’s what I did, and it was a highlight of my recent trip to Patagonia. The hike is challenging and it takes a full day, but it pays off with awesome views of the three granite towers and the turquoise lake.

First of all, the closest airport to the park is in the town of Puerto Natales (PNT), which has daily flights from Santiago and Puerto Montt. You can shop for flights on Skyscanner.

There’s also a bus route to Puerto Natales from El Calafate, on the Argentine side of Patagonia. That’s what I did and it was pretty easy and comfortable. The trip takes 6 hours and you can book it here.