Hi Explorers & Travelers:
Important Information for those who are going to visit Torres del Paine and the surrounding area from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas.
You may have already heard that infrastructure works are planned for the 2026–2027 season at both Puerto Natales Airport and on the access road to Torres del Paine National Park, more specifically near the Laguna Amarga entrance on the eastern side of the park.
Chile’s Ministry of Public Works (MOP) has confirmed that maintenance works will be carried out on the runway of Teniente Julio Gallardo Aerodrome in Puerto Natales between January and March 2027. The work will be done in phases, so the aerodrome will continue to receive commercial flights on every weekend of the high season. In practical terms, the aerodrome will be open Friday through Sunday in January, and on weekends in February and March. A full closure was ruled out, as it would have meant fewer available flights and a higher risk of disruptions at peak season.
We want to provide you with an update:
Puerto Natales Airport closure schedule
Maintenance works are scheduled at Puerto Natales Airport (Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport) from January through March 2027. Runway maintenance will be carried out, and the airport will operate on a limited schedule. All the flights of LATAM, SKY Airlines, and JetSmart will be affected.
January 1 to February 14, 2027
- Airport open: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Airport closed: Monday through Thursday.
- Note: Schedule could change. Check your flights and updates!
February 15 to March 31, 2027
- Airport open: Saturday and Sunday.
- Airport closed: Monday through Friday.
- Note: Schedule could change. Check your flights and updates!
At this stage, it is still unclear how airlines will manage flights scheduled on days when the airport is closed. We recommend contacting the relevant airline directly for the latest information regarding any booked or planned flights.
An alternative gateway to the region is Punta Arenas Airport(257 Km/160 Miles), which will remain operational throughout this period.
You can consult our Private Transport Services here. As always, our team is available to assist with any questions you may have about this issue.
Torres del Paine National Park and its access:
Starting in September, an important section of the road used to access Torres del Paine National Park via the Laguna Amarga entrance will be closed for roadworks (red line on the map below). The works are currently expected to be completed by February 2029.
As a result, we will be using an alternative route, the Y-150 road via the Sarmiento entrance (green line), to access the park with our vehicles. For safety reasons, we have chosen this route over the Y-166 road (orange line).
Patagonia Chile Adventures DMC & Patagonia SouthernLand Expeditions Trip Planners are sharing this information with their guests, travelers, and travel professionals, and recommend keeping these dates in mind when planning flights to Puerto Natales during the 2026–2027 season.
Given this scenario of partial operation of the Puerto Natales airport, we recommend that travelers heading to the area choose, whenever possible, flights to Presidente Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Airport in Punta Arenas (PUQ) as an alternative gateway to the región(257 Km/160 Miles).
For questions about transfers or custom programs, please contact us at:
Mobile/Whatsapp: +56 975840256
Email us: info@patagoniachileadventures.com
We have wonderful trips for you around Chile! Check our website here!