This guide is for you if you want both Torres del Paine and the Milodon Cave and are wondering whether to do them on the same day. It covers what the combination costs you in time, when in the year it works best, what the cave actually is, and what to sort out before you leave Puerto Natales.
One long day or two shorter ones
The cave and the park sit on the same road. The Milodon Cave is about 24 kilometres from Puerto Natales, and CONAF puts it 61 kilometres short of Torres del Paine. Adding it on the way home costs you about an hour more than our park-only day. The day runs twelve hours, from 07:00 to about 19:00.
Combine them if your time in Puerto Natales is short, or if you are happy with long days and want one fixed plan. Split them if any of these apply:
- You arrive in Puerto Natales in the afternoon. The cave makes a good first outing, and our half-day tour runs at 07:00 or 13:00.
- You are travelling with young children or anyone who tires on long drives.
- You want time on the trail to the viewpoint above the cave, which needs more than the short stop at the end of a park day allows.
If you split them, the park itself is our Torres del Paine day, eleven hours with the same stops in the park.
When the long day works best
The season decides how much of this day is in daylight. In December there are about 18 hours of light, so you drive home in full sun. By April it is about 11 hours. In June it is barely nine, and much of the drive back will be in the dark.
Summer has its own cost. December to February is the busiest time in the park, and the wind is at its strongest. Late March and April are quieter, with the wind easing and the autumn colours out, and the light still covers most of the day. That makes them good months for a combination this long.
Check the cave's hours against the season. CONAF lists two timetables for the monument:
- From 15 September to 30 April: 08:00 to 19:00, last entry 18:30.
- From 1 May to 14 September: 09:30 to 18:00, last entry 17:30.
Our arrival at about 16:30 fits inside both, but the winter window is tighter, and a slow afternoon in the park eats into it. CONAF warns that hours can change with the weather or for safety, so check its official site before you go.
What you see at the cave
The Milodon Cave is a natural monument on the slopes of Cerro Benítez, run by CONAF. It was named a historical monument in 1968 and joined the national protected areas as a natural monument in 1993. The protected area covers 189.5 hectares.
In 1895 the settler Hermann Eberhard found a strange piece of hide with thick hair in the cave. It belonged to the mylodon, an extinct ground sloth. CONAF describes it as a toothless herbivore on four legs, weighing about a tonne, with long, thick fur. The big animals of this area lived here around 14,500 years ago and disappeared about 10,000 years ago. The first people reached the area around 11,000 years ago, and when European settlers arrived, the land was Aónikenk territory.
CONAF lists a short trail through the main cave of about half an hour. That is the part that fits at the end of this day. CONAF has also closed part of the inside trail of the main cave for safety after cracks were found, so you may not walk as far in as earlier visitors did.
Passes and tickets
Neither entry is included in the tour price, which covers the vehicle, the driver, fuel, tolls and parking.
- Torres del Paine: passes are sold online only through CONAF and must be bought before the day. Since 1 May 2026 there is a single-day entry, which is the one you need. Bring the QR code and your passport, because there is no internet at the gate.
- Milodon Cave: the entrance is separate from the park pass. Tickets are sold online through CONAF, so buy yours before the day.
The price of the tour depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to carry for twelve hours
Pack for a whole day away from shops. There are no fuel stations inside or near the park, and lunch at Lago Pehoé is not included.
- Windproof layers and a waterproof jacket. The weather changes fast.
- Snacks and water for the afternoon, since the cave comes after a long day in the park.
- Shoes with grip for the Lago Grey beach and the cave paths.
- Your park pass QR code and passport.
- A warm layer for the cave in the late afternoon.
Leave the drone at home. It is banned in the cave monument, and in the park it needs authorisation. Smoking and fire are also prohibited in both places.
Who should think twice
This is a lot of time in a vehicle. Think twice if you suffer from motion sickness on long drives, or if anyone in your group needs a rest in the middle of the day. Splitting the day costs one extra pick-up and gives you two calmer days.
It is also not a walking day. If your goal is the foot of the towers, you need a separate day for the Base Torres hike.
Groups of more than 16 travel in two vehicles on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Questions people ask
Is the cave dark inside?
Not like a tunnel. It is a large cavern, 30 metres high, and the visit follows a short trail.
Is the mylodon at the entrance real?
No, it is a life-size replica. The original find was the hide and bones found in 1895.
Can we cancel if the forecast is bad?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up for a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
If you decide on the long day, choose a date with plenty of daylight and buy the park pass before you travel. For help choosing between our days from town, read our guide to day trips from Puerto Natales. Timings and inclusions are on the Torres del Paine and Milodon Cave private day trip page, where you choose your group size and book.
