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We share the complete route to the Carretera Austral, probably the favorite destination for many tourists who travel by camper and want to visit the most beautiful corners of Chile.
Although this guide covers practically the entire Carretera Austral, it is possible to combine each place in a different way or shorten the sections.
Scenic route of Patagonia and unique in the world. More than 1,200 kilometers of natural beauty await you in the south of the world. The Carretera Austral falls in love with all those who visit it by car or bicycle, with pristine landscapes and an air that only those lucky enough to know this route can breathe.
Owner of an enormous diversity of landscapes, it is ideal for practicing adventure sports. Go rafting down the Futaleufú River, one of the most renowned on the planet for this discipline. Get to know the corners of this place touched by the magic wand with one of the many existing trekking routes and discover the incredible Palena National Parks and all the charms of Green Patagonia.
Combine this journey with a visit to the glaciers that adorn one of the last corners of the world. You will be surprised by Caleta Tortel, a town with cypress walkways, a unique landscape in the world.
And if what you are looking for is tranquility, a day of fishing in the Baker River becomes an ideal scenario to feel in contact with nature and let yourself be captivated by the wonders that southern Chile offers you. A piece of paradise.
From Puerto Varas / Puerto Montt, the first obligatory stop on the Carretera Austral is Hornopiren. It is the gateway to the Carretera Austral, since it is here where you have to take the barges to be able to cross the Comau Fjord, towards Caleta Gonzalo and continue by land.
It is important to reserve the barge from Hornopirén to Caleta Gonzalo in advance at barcazas.cl
The barge schedule changes sometimes, but they usually leave at 10am from Hornopiren. It must be considered that one arrives in the afternoon at Caleta Gonzalo, the entrance gate of Parque Pumalin.
Here there are several camping options and some must be reserved in advance.
Almost unexplored by man, these areas of temperate rain forest were declared a Nature Sanctuary. Follow its trails suitable for long journeys, practice trekking and canyoning through its fjords, and camp at the foot of isolated secret waterfalls.
Explore the Michimauda volcano on horseback, and delve into its lush larch forests through the paths and wooden bridges that run through the magical place. Sharpen your eyesight, the park is home to a large number of birds ranging from herons and flamingos to imposing condors.
Located in the middle of the Andes Mountains, Futaleufú in the Mapuche language means “big river”. A true paradise for adventure sports, the river of the same name is considered among the three best in the world for kayaking and rafting. Do you dare to challenge him?
If you want quieter activities, you can walk or bike the trails of the Futaleufú National Reserve, which protects two very important species in the area: the mountain cypress and the shy huemul, an endemic deer and national symbol of Chile.
A place where the trees seem to submerge between fjords and channels, where the so-called evergreen forest is born. That is the Queulat National Park.
On the lands that today give life to this protected area, ancient explorers searched among its fabulous surroundings for the mythical “City of the Caesars”, according to legend, a city full of gold that would have been founded by Spanish shipwrecked men. You too can explore this area trekking along its trails surrounded by water and forests.
Let yourself be enchanted by the perfection of the Hanging Glacier, glaciers, lagoons and waterfalls that seduce and allow a space for contemplation to enjoy the calm of these landscapes. If adventure is your thing, don’t miss out on the opportunity to practice water sports such as kayaking and rafting and then relax in the hot springs of the sector!
Cerro Castillo aspires to become the new Torres del Paine in southern Chile. Great trekkings, increasingly known and desired by hikers from all over the world, start from this town.
Although it is a very small town with almost no tourist infrastructure. For this reason, I consider that it is advisable to stay in Coyhaique if we want to do any of these hiking trails.
In addition, the section of the highway between Coyhaique and Villa Cerro Castillo, which crosses the Cerro Castillo National Reserve, is one of the most beautiful of the entire route.
Embark from Puerto Río Tranquilo and marvel at the Capilla de Mármol Nature Sanctuary, where the caves, the chapel and the cathedral will make you fall in love. Surprise yourself kayaking through its tunnels. Its particular colours, textures and dimensions will capture the attention of your camera. This wonder of nature is an undisputed postcard of Chilean Patagonia!
And if you are a lover of outdoor activities, we invite you to venture into sport fishing, or go horseback riding and trekking, to enjoy the flora and fauna that surrounds this great lake. And the rest? Relax and replenish your energy in excellent lodges, where you can stay and enjoy exquisite cuisine.
Glacier Leones is a glacier of Campos de Hielo Norte, which is much less visited than Glacier Exploradores. To do this excursion we recommend coordinating with Turismo Kalem, from Puerto Guadal. You have to wake up first thing in the morning in Rio Tranquilo and meet the guides for a full day hike.
We then recommend staying at Pared Sur Camp, on the shores of General Carrera Lake.
Known as the city of catwalks, Tortel invites you to explore the seven and a half kilometers of platforms, bridges and stairs made of cypress wood that interconnect the different parts of this picturesque place, declared a Typical Zone for its architecture and lifestyle.
Get to know the mouth of the Baker River, the mightiest in Chile, and navigate to discover the mysteries of the nearby Isla de Los Muertos, where you will find dozens of tombs and crosses that commemorate the workers who disappeared at sea after a tragic shipwreck.
Located in the evergreen Patagonia, this park offers cinematic landscapes with a biodiversity of singular richness. Meet animals such as the southern vizcacha, the wild cat and the elusive puma.
Live the adventure of trekking, touring the mountains on a mountain bike or simply witnessing the immense beauty of the place while you fly-fish or take a boat ride.
For us, one of the jewels of the Carretera Austral. A must. It is a former national reserve, which has now become part of the Patagonia National Park. With very few visitors, it has a privileged campsite on the shores of Lake Jeinimeni.
Leave early from Chile Chico and book the ferry to cross General Carrera Lake to Rio Ibañez.
The Río Simpson National Reserve is adorned with valleys and lush green areas that intertwine with peaks over 1,500 meters high. Its rugged geography surprises with endless possibilities to discover every corner of this area.
In this place, during the night you can camp under the brightest stars at the end of the world, and during the day walk along trails observing native species, such as the condor and the huemul.
The Simpson River runs through the reserve, and its natural coexistence with waterfalls and waterfalls make it one of the most desirable rivers for fly fishing, while its surroundings invite you to live the adventure in its maximum splendor.
Camping Las Torres Rio Simpson. A good intermediate place to camp, if you don’t want to drive from one to Coyhaique or Cerro Castillo. It is a good idea if, for example, you want to do some trekking that same day in the morning in Queulat.
The beauty of the emerald green of the southern waters and the possibility of sport fishing make Yelcho Lake one of the most surprising attractions in the region. Located in Puerto Cárdenas, a little more than 40 kilometers from Chaitén, Lago Yelcho is the right place to practice fly fishing and connect with nature. The purity and charm of the landscape that shelters it, its glacial origin, the barrier of fertile hills, the 70 meters high, the 11 thousand hectares of extension and its prodigious fauna, make it a refuge from nature.
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