In Patagonia the weather is usually cold and windy, especially during the summer. It is very important to carry with you a polartech or fleece jacket, a water repellent jacket, comfortable trekking pants, a warm cap and most importantly, comfortable shoes from trekking.
In the Chilean Austral region, the UV rays are dangerous so you should always wear sunglasses with UV protection and a good sunblock with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 45.

There are three ways to arrive in Puerto Natales

By Air:
There are daily flights from Santiago (capital city) or Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas which is 250 kms (156 miles) away from Puerto Natales. During the high season there are 3 weekly flights from Santiago to Puerto Natales.
Airlines that operate this distance:
www.lan.com
www.skyairline.cl

By Sea: The journey Starts in Puerto Montt aboard a ferry specially equipped to transport passengers and cargo. This ferry arrives in Puerto Natales after a 3 day trip passing through the Patagonian channels.
www.navimag.cl

By Land:
If you want to travel by land you can take a bus from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales or rent a car. It is also possible to get to Puerto Natales from other cities of Chile along the Carretera Austral (Chile¥s Route 7), but you will need to pass through Argentina.
www.busesfernandez.com
www.busespacheco.com
www.bus-sur.cl
www.chileaustral.com/rentaauto.html

Foreign tourists receive an entry stamp that allos a stay of up to 90 days. Tourists from Canada, USA, Mexico and Australia must pay a Reciprocity fee. This measure was implemented by the Chilean government and it is charged to the countries that charge Chileans for visas.

There are no compulsory vaccinations for Chile. However, it is recommented to check your Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Diptheria immunizations before you leave for Chile.

In Chile, tips are not included in the prices. When you go to a pub or restaurant it is customary to tip between 10-15% (optional) of the total price.

Credit cards are widely used and accepted in Chile and you do not have to pay an extra charge for using them. Many businesses accept Visa and Mastercard, while fewer accept American Express and Diners Club. Generally, the exchange rates used by the credit cards are economically convenient.
ATMs are accessible 24 hours a day at any bank, many pharmacies, supermarkets and gas stations also have ATMs.

During winter: -4 hours GTM
During summer: -3 hours GTM
Chile uses the European wa to write the day (day, month, year). For example September 14, 2009 will be 14-09-2009.

Chilean plugs have 220 volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second (250V 50Hz). So, if you travel to Chile wtih devices that work with 110V you will need a voltage converter (transformer); this can also be purchased in Chile.

The official currency of Chile is the Chilean peso. The peso comes in bills of $1000, $2000, $5000, $10000, and $20000 and coins of $1, $5, $10, $50, $100 and $500. Its approximate value against the US$ is 560 pesos for each dollar.