Photo by: O'car Johann Campos on Unsplash

Carretera Austral 🏔️

Beautiful overlook of the river and mountains.

activity

Nice waterfall a short hike from the road.

activity

Daily, basically 24 hours a day from 6 am to 4.30am, at least two ferries every hour, take 30min. Price CLP 10000/US$ per car, passengers/pedestrians don’t pay.

From: https://stingynomads.com/hitchhiking-carretera-austral/

No reservation required.

transportation

“The best in Carretera Austral is really Tortel and Villa O´Higgins, don´t miss it” - https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/americas-south-america/chile/carretera-austral-need-for-a-4x4?page=2

Locations 💯 activity

Summer: Mid November to late March

Vehicle Rental

Car rental
Soul Van
Wicked South America
Condor Campers
Rolling Patagonia
Andes Campers
Chile Motorhomes
Get necessary insurance and documents to cross into Argentina. This will need to be arranged ahead of time, not last minute when picking up the vehicle.

Driving

Reserve ferries in advance. Good info here
Buy paper maps at COPEC gas stations. For the full route, buy Map Number 6 (Villarica, Llanquihue & Chiloé) and Number 7 (Carretera Austral) source. They also sell an annually-updated guide to the roads and attractions in the south called Chiletur COPEC Zona Sur
Check road statuses here and at tourists offices in Puerto Montt and Coyhaique
Refill fuel every time you see a gas station
Refill cash every time you see an ATM
Some of the gravel sections are very rough. I blew a tire on both sides of Rio Tranquilo. I strongly recommend buying a full-size spare tire and tire repair kit so you don’t have to limp along with the poor quality spare tire for too long. “gomeria” is spanish for tire repair shops.

Misc

4G is fairly common in even small pueblos. I had a solid connection several times every day of driving.
World Nomads travel insurance

Route Variants

Instead of going straight from Puerto Montt to the Hornopieren ferry, curve through Puerto Varas to Petrohue, then south to Cochamo and Tagua Tagua

Best Resources

other

activity

Beautiful waterfall just outside of Hornopiren. It’s a short 30-minute hike in from the parking area. You have to pay the man across from the gate a few lukas for access.

https://www.tiktok.com/@rutadron/video/6919127014473485573

activity

4-day hike compared to the W in Torres del Paine.

https://stingynomads.com/cerro-castillo-circuit-4-day-trek/

There’s a ton of information on the park’s official page. The cost (as of December 2021) is 27.000/29.000 pesos for Chileans/foreigners. It’s easiest to fill out the forms and pay your fees on site at Sendero Patagonia in Villa Cerro Castillo.

activity

Lakes, volcanoes, parks.

other

This town like Puerto Río Tranquilo is located on the shore of General Carrera Lake so stunning views are guaranteed.

https://stingynomads.com/hitchhiking-carretera-austral/

other

Town near rivers, mountains, lakes. The Cochamo valley is compared to Yosemite valley, with waterfalls you can slide down and world-class rock climbing. There’s a long hiking route over the mountains into Patagonia.

Parks Puerto Montt other

Decent size pueblo with restaurants and grocery stores to stock up.

other

Large city roughly midway through the Carretera Austral. Good for gearing up at outdoor stores and supermarkets. It’s also one of the few cities with an airport.

Coyhaique Locations other

This city’s name means “big river” in the Mapuche language. The area is famous for top 5 rafting in the world.

Futaleufú Locations 💯 other

A hike on private land, ending in a tree-house village with hot tub overlooking a mountain lake.

Futaleufú activity

Daily, at 9 am, the journey takes 4 hours. Return daily at 3 pm. Price CLP 9200 per person, CLP 55000/US$ per car. Strongly recommended buying tickets five days in advance.

From: https://stingynomads.com/hitchhiking-carretera-austral/

transportation

The most popular excursion is the Islas Hermanas boat trip, which blew our socks off! You’ll be chaperoned by dolphins and see playful sea lions, funny penguins, energetic otters, several species of cormorants and literally thousands of pelicans! Orcas and blue whales also visit the Rául Marín coastal area.

https://www.getsouth.com/puerto-raul-marin-balmaceda-carretera-austral/

activity

Multi-day hike along a river valley, involving dozens of possibly deep river crossings.

activity

Beautiful waterfall with nearby campgrounds and refugios. It’s a four hour hike from the road.

Campgrounds:

activity

5-6 hour hike (maybe 10 by one comment), lakes, great scenery. Plan for plenty of daylight and include a map.

activity

Famous caverns you can visit by boat or kayak.

💯 activity

Beautiful but expensive lodge in Tagua Tagua. It has activities including paddleboarding.

lodging

On the coast, with sealife (penguins, seals, whales) and views of volcanoes.

Parks other

Beautiful park with lakes and ponds.

Parks Puerto Montt ❓ other

Park famous for the huge castle-like mountain. There are lots of day hikes here as well as some amazing multi-day ones.

Park map: http://recorreaysen.cl/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Plano-Parque-Cerro-Castillo.pdf KMZ Map: http://www.parquenacionalcerrocastillo.cl/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Travesia-Las-Horquetas.kmz Hike info: http://www.parquenacionalcerrocastillo.cl/estado-sendero-parque-nacional-cerro-castillo/?lang=en Check conditions of trail: http://www.parquenacionalcerrocastillo.cl/estado-sendero-parque-nacional-cerro-castillo/?lang=en (currently closed due to snow)

Coyhaique Parks ❓ other

Park with large lake and volcano hike with panoramic views. The entrance is after a 7km hike across private property.

The volcano hike is a solid four-hour hike so it’s important to start the day early with plenty of water. I spent 11 hours in the park.

Parks other

Penguins, seals, sea birds.

The park can best reached by sea from the ports Puerto Cisnes or Puerto Puyuhuapi. On the island, no infrastructure exists.

Parks other

Famous for glaciers and sea life.

Parks other

One of the best maintained parks in Patagonia. Just driving through the park is a treat with the scenery and large herds of guanacos. It has a nice campground, lots of hiking, and a great interactive museum.

Parks 💯 activity

Beautiful park with lots of hiking

You won’t find a better maintained national park anywhere else in South America. Which means that superb camp sites and lodgings blend in seamlessly with the environment and hiking trails are well constructed and marked.

We’d suggest you spend at least two nights in the park, camping in both the northern section (before you reach Chaitén) and the southern section (beyond Chaitén).

https://www.aboveusonlyskies.com/carretera-austral-chile/

Parque Pumalin is worth a week at least

TripAdvisor comment in here

Parks 💯 activity

https://www.tiktok.com/@karoflores91/video/6933395452905688326

Parks activity

Park with a beautiful waterfall.

https://www.tiktok.com/@pacitafc/video/6940468003364523270

I couldn’t find a ton of information about it in English until I Found Patagon Journal and this great TripAdvisor post.

conservation area, heavily protected, including daily limit of 42 people
reservations are required for entry
can be done as a day trip, but is better done as a multi-day hike, staying in refugios, packing in your own food
famous lake with dead trees, waterfalls, panoramic views
complicated to reach- ferry, boat, reservation etc. Research ahead of time and make reservation

Needs Reservation Puerto Montt lodging

Short hike with great viewpoint. A local should come out and open the gate to charge a fee as well, 2000pp.

https://www.ioverlander.com/places/50596-trailhead-to-piedra-del-aguila

activity

Camp on the beach with glaciers and volcanoes in the background. Dolphins, whales, sea lions, otters.

https://www.getsouth.com/puerto-raul-marin-balmaceda-carretera-austral/

we’d recommend continuing to La Junta and taking a right turn for a two-hour side trip on gravel to the remote Puerto Raul Marin Balmaceda. https://www.aboveusonlyskies.com/carretera-austral-chile/

💯 lodging

“there is a new road from Villa Rio Tranquilo to the west, about 60 km of excellent scenery”

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/americas-south-america/chile/carretera-austral-need-for-a-4x4?page=2

Locations activity

Daily, from November to March at 10 am, 12 pm, 3 pm, and 6 pm. From April to October at 12 pm and 3 pm. The journey takes 45min. Price – free for everybody.

From: https://stingynomads.com/hitchhiking-carretera-austral/

transportation

Cute little town with an amazing view of the bay. There are several nice hot springs nearby, as well as Parque Quelat.

Locations lodging

A beautiful spot with very friendly owners. Definitely the nicest campsite I stayed in during my trip along the Carratera Austral. It’s also perfect for cyclists or bikers to stop and enjoy a coffee while they dry their soaked gear. Breakfast and dinner were very good value when I stayed. - https://g.page/RefugioRioCisnesPatagonia

lodging

Nice waterfall right off the road.

activity

Hike near Villa O’Higgins with panoramic views the rivers, lakes, glaciers, and mountains. The trailhead is just after the bridge to the south of town. Hiking to the last mirador takes 5 hours round trip.

activity

Park with camping, kayaking, and hiking. The hike along the river to the lake has great views and lots of good spots to stop and swim.

another hidden gem of Patagonia

https://stingynomads.com/hitchhiking-carretera-austral/

other

Hot springs right on a lake with great views.

Reservations are required ahead of time: +569 6860 3454

activity

Beautiful hot spring near Cochamó.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRsKtB3HTfS/

❓ activity

Famous hanging glacier. Just a 45 minute hike to reach it.

https://www.tiktok.com/@cityplan_chile/video/6940349627879263493

Reservations are required to enter the park: https://www.aspticket.cl

💯 activity

The southern end of the Carretera Austral.

other

Volcano you can hike to the summit of.

activity

App / website to get info on ferries, camping, etc.

other