Buckle up for one of the world’s great road trips, driving through some 800 miles of pristine Patagonian wilderness.
Through remote villages, past glaciers and volcanoes, deepwater lakes, rivers and fjords, a journey along the Carretera Austral showcases some of the wildest landscapes on Earth. It carves its way south through the pristine provinces of Palena and Aysen, before hitting O’Higgins, where the road quite literally runs out. It is impossible to drive any further south in Chile without crossing the Andes into Argentina.
This is a journey for adventurous spirits: swim in pristine mountain rivers, picnic on the shores of vast electric-blue lakes, hike active volcanoes, raft white-water rapids, cast a line in remote creeks and ice-trek on glistening glaciers in the southern wilderness.
FUTALEUFÚ
Fly into Esquel, Argentina, and collect your car for the journey across the Chilean border into Futaleufú. Here, on the banks of a river famed for its rapids, PATA Lodge offers a warm welcome.
Set off with a guide into the Futaleufú Nature Reserve, where two pristine lakes – Lonconao and Espolón – invite kayaking, fishing, and wild swims. A day trip rafting is highly recommended if you like a bit of adrenaline, as the combination of turquoise waters against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains isn’t easily matched.
MELIMOYU
After breakfast, the road trip begins in earnest with a drive south to Melimoyu Lodge. Here, you’ll spend two or three days exploring this remote stretch of Aysén – set on horseback or mountain bike, paddle across Rosselot Lake, or follow a guide into the rainforest in search of secluded hot springs, accessible only by boat. The fishing here is exceptional, with brown and rainbow trout and the powerful Chinook salmon waiting in the clear waters.
COYHAIQUE
An early start for the journey south, stopping en route in Queulat National Park, where a short walk leads to the Hanging Glacier, a sheet of ice cascading down the cliffs. Lunch is a picnic in the wilderness before continuing on to Coyhaique, a growing city ringed by mountains, serving as a gateway to Patagonia’s most far-flung corners.
Here, enjoy gentle hikes in the Coyhaique National Reserve and explore the forests, rivers, and glacial lakes on foot or by bike.
PUERTO GUADAL
Hop back into your car and head onwards. Heading first to Puerto Ibañez, board a short ferry to Chile Chico. Upon arrival, continue on to Puerto Guadal, skirting the southern edge of Lago General Carrera for much of the way.
Spend your days exploring the region’s hidden corners: a trip across General Carrera Lake by boat, followed by a walk through native forest to Leones Lake, where a zodiac will take you up close to the glacier. Other adventures include fly-fishing, visiting the Escondida mine or hiking to Los Maquis Waterfall.
EXPLORA PATAGONIA NATIONAL PARK
Drive a couple of hours over to Explora Patagonia National Park, where you’ll be spending the next two days. In 2017, the Tompkins Conservation partnered with the Chilean government to create this new National Park totaling over 700,000 acres. It is centred around the Chacabuco River Valley where grasslands give way to sprawling steppes and forests, deep-blue waterways and the snow-capped mountains of the Andes. Abundant wildlife includes many varieties of birds, along with guanaco, the endangered huemul deer, puma and the massive Andean condors.
MALLIN COLORADO
Your final stop is Mallin Colorado, a family-run eco-lodge on the shores of Lago General Carrera. Mallin Colorado is about simplicity and connection with nature – there’s no WiFi, food is grown in the on-site greenhouse, and a reforestation project ensures the lodge treads lightly on the land. Spend this last day of your road trip exploring the landscape on horseback, hiking through native forest or kayaking to the breathtaking Marble Caves, where sculpted rock formations glow in the reflected light of the water.
After a tranquil final evening, it’s time to head north. Drop off your vehicle at Balmaceda Airport before catching a flight to Santiago to finish your journey.
WHERE TO STAY
Interested in planning a bespoke adventure of your own? Reach out to our Chile experts to guide you through some of the most unexplored corners of South America. We can provide a driver or pilot to shepherd you from A to B, or we can design a route for you to self drive by 4×4.
CONTACT US
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Conde Nast Traveler Specialists every year since 2017
