Surrounded by immense plains and imposing hills, the beautiful postcard of Villa Cerro Castillo dazzles with its landscape. Located on Route 9 halfway between Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park, it is the most populated town in the county. Located near the border with Argentina, in the province of Ultima Esperanza, it is the gateway to the Eighth Wonder of the World, which receives thousands of visitors every year.

The town’s history is linked to livestock: it was the scene of the former Cerro Castillo ranch, one of the largest in the continental Magallanes region. You can still find the imposing 2,600 sq meter shearing shed, originally built in 1906 by the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego, and rebuilt in the 1940s after a fire. The adventurous spirit of the first Chilean cowboys, or baqueanos, is honored by the Monument to the Horse, while Torres del Paine traditions are celebrated every year in a magnificent Chilean festival which takes place at the end of January.

Region

Torres del Paine

Province

Province Última Esperanza

Population

120

Climate and Rainfall

Cold steppe, 338 mm.

Nearest National Park(s)

Torres del Paine National Park

Bernardo O’Higgins National Park

Kawésqar National Park

Don’t Miss

  • Visit Torres del Paine National Park (remember that mountain lodgings and campgrounds require prior reservation).
  • Visit the shearing shed and the Monument to the Horse.
  • Experience homestay tourism to experience country life, ride a horse and feast on roast Patagonian lamb.
  • Visit the Cerro Castillo Museum, which has paleontological collections (fossils from Cerro Guido and Sierra Baguales), archaeological remains (lithic and bone material), and artifacts from rural Patagonian life.
  • Attend the Chilean party that takes place every year at the end of January, with horse rides, music and local folk musicians.
    Be dazzled by winter sunrises and long summer sunsets

How to get

Route 9 is the main access road connecting Cerro Castillo with Puerto Natales (54 km away) and with Punta Arenas (302 km away). The road is fully paved. Another important access road is the Río Don Guillermo border crossing to El Calafate, in Argentina.

There are several daily buses from Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales, from companies such as Buses Fernández and Bus Sur. In the summer season, daily transportation from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine (Laguna Amarga gate) passes through the town of Cerro Castillo (to get off here, please notify the driver in advance). The route is operated by Bus Sur, JB, María Jose and Juan Ojeda.

Throughout the year there are tours twice a day from Puerto Natales to Villa Cerro Guido, passing through Cerro Castillo. For more information, consult Turismo Zaahj, in the Puerto Natales traffic circle.

Ferries depart from Puerto Yungay, with some space for some vehicles, at the lower end of the Carretera Austral, navigating the Patagonian channels in a trip of approximately 41 hours to Puerto Natales. From there, access to Cerro Castillo is by land.

Multiple airlines have daily services to Punta Arenas. Check national airline websites for flights between Santiago and Puerto Natales.

Dap Airlines offers two flights per week between Balmaceda, near Coyhaique, and Punta Arenas.

Tips

  • There are no banks, exchange offices or gas stations in Villa Cerro Castillo, the closest services are in Puerto Natales.
  • Plan your trip in advance due to the lack of some services in Villa Cerro Castillo.
  • Phone signals are intermittent in the town and its surroundings. Not all companies have coverage (Entel has the best signal).
    For more information about the community, visit: www.munitorresdelpaine.cl
  • In Chile, the closest airports are in Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas; in Argentina, in the city of El Calafate.
  • There are car rental options in Puerto Natales and at the Punta Arenas airport, with options here.
  • For more information on border crossings, check www.pasosfronterizos.gov.cl
  • It is not necessary to reserve entry to Torres del Paine National Park, but it is mandatory to have a reservation to stay in the camps or mountain refuges located on the trekking circuits.
  • The reservation system of www.parquetorresdelpaine.cl is only for free campsites managed by CONAF. Reserve other campsites and mountain refuges in the park at www.verticepatagonia.cl and www.fantasticosur.com.
  • Confirm entry fees to the Torres del Paine National Park in advance and bring cash in Chilean pesos for payment. Tickets can be bought in advance online or at the point of sale on the Puerto Natales highway. For more information: www.parquetorresdelpaine.cl

Basic Services

  • Police Station (133 / +56 61 2 761167)
  • Community Health Center (+56 9 91446104)
  • Cell Service
  • Tourist information offices (+56 9 40018256)
  • Firefighters
  • Rural Bank Services

Visitor’s Center

Torres del Paine Municipality Tourism Office: Due to covid 19, the office will not serve the direct public.
Address: El Pasajero #268
turismo@munitorresdelpaine.cl
+56991954383


Sernatur Puerto Natales Office
High Season Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm.
Low season: Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm.
infonatales@sernatur.cl
+569 40018256

Important Dates

«Celebration of the Fiesta a la Chilena in Villa Cerro Castillo»
last weekend of January.
«Winter solstice biathlon»
June.
«Mistraliana Route Cycle»
February.
«Community anniversary»
October.
For more information visit: www.munitorresdelpaine.cl

Copyright 2018 Ruta de los Parques de la Patagonia