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Puerto Natales may have the look of a quaint fishing village, and in many ways the atmosphere is befitting of one, but adventure is never far away, amplified by the icy Patagonian vistas. Sitting on the shore of the serene Ultima Esperanza Sound, the town is a springboard for activities of every kind. Set sail on a ferry ride through the frozen Chilean fjords, trek across the Southern Ice Fields to stand, dumb-struck, in the shadow of one of over 45 glaciers, and watch ice turn to pockets of emerald forest while hiking or kayaking in Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. For the ultimate view of the fjords laid out below, make your way to the top of Cerro Dorotea - and keep an eye out for condors who nest on its sheer cliffs. Back in Puerto Natales, get warm over a dish of fire-roasted lamb Magallanico and relish the vistas once more.
It's hard to believe the scenery is real, from towering glaciers in every direction to near-untouched forests where shy wildlife dwells.
Let your inner paleontologist out to explore the mysterious Mylodon Cave, and learn about the giant sloth that inhabited this region over 10,000 years ago.
The wilderness that surrounds it is by far the biggest draw for a visit to Puerto Natales, but linger a little and get to know its history and people over a boutique beer.