If you're interested in traveling 1,943 miles (3,128 km) miles north of Torres del Paine to the colorful city of Valparíso, the best option is to take a flight. You have three airports to choose from for your departure—Puerto Natales (PNT), Punta Arenas (PUQ), or Argentina's El Calafate International Airport (FTE). If you can find an available flight from Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas (they are very limited), then you can expect the fastest total travel time as both have direct flights to Valparíso.
Buses to Valparaíso also run from Torres del Paine, and the journey will take about two days, but this route makes for great sightseeing and works well if you'd like to weave in a couple of overnight stays. All of the buses to Valparaíso stop in Puerto Natales, and some also stop in Puerto Montt and Osorno.
If you want to take a dip in a hot spring, see panoramic views of volcanoes, and visit the Pichillancahue Glacier, consider this 6-day trek that begins right outside of Valparaíso.
By Plane and Private Transfer or Bus
Duration: 7 hours, more depending on season and layover
To travel by plane from Torres del Paine to Valparaíso, you have several options. Each of these requires you to combine the flight with either a private transfer or bus.
If you're traveling during the peak season (November-March), then you'll have better luck going from Puerto Natales, but you won't be able to choose this option during the off season. First, take a private transfer for the 37-mile (60 km) journey from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales, which will take about an hour. You'll take a nonstop flight to Santiago, and then you'll need to book one more private transfer for the final 72-mile (116 km) leg of your journey. This route takes about seven hours.
The first option is to take a private transfer or bus to Punta Arenas, which is about 185 miles (299 km) from Torres del Paine. From Punta Arenas, you can take a direct flight to Santiago and then book a transfer or take a shuttle the final 72 miles (116 km) to Valparaíso. This route takes about 9 hours.
The second option is to take a private transfer to El Calafate, which takes about two and a half hours, and then fly to Santiago. There are no direct flights from El Calafate, so you'll have at least one layover on this route. As the fastest flight to Santiago is about 7 hours with a layover, this whole route takes about nine and a half hours.
If you're interested in seeing more of Patagonia's natural wonders, consider this 8-day itinerary that includes both Torres del Paine and El Calafate.
By Bus
Duration: 2 days
If you choose to take a bus, you'll begin your journey by taking a private transfer to Puerto Natales. Consider planning out which cities you'd like to book overnights in before you buy a bus ticket, as your desired route will influence which ticket you should purchase as different routes will make different stops. You can spend a couple of hours in Puerto Natales or immediately head to the bus station on Avenida España.
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