The Carretera Austral — 770 miles of gravel road through Chilean Patagonia's most remote and stunning landscapes. Hanging glaciers, turquoise rivers, temperate rainforest, and volcanic peaks define this multi-day wilderness adventure. Fuel planning is critical.

Stops on This Tour (20)

1. 1
   Puerto Montt — Angelmo Fish Market The starting point of the Carretera Austral. Puerto Montt's fish market sells curanto — a traditional Chilote seafood stew. The Andes and the Reloncavi Fjord frame the journey south.
2. 2
   Parque Nacional Alerce Andino Ancient alerce trees — South America's equivalent of the giant sequoia — grow here. Some specimens are over 3,600 years old, making them among the oldest living organisms on Earth.
3. 3
   Hornopiren — Hot Springs A small town at the edge of the road where a ferry crossing is required. Natural hot springs dot the surrounding forests. Fuel and supplies are available here — stock up for the road ahead.
4. 4
   Chaiten — Volcano Town In 2008, the Chaiten volcano erupted without warning, burying the town under ash and lahars. The partially rebuilt town lives in the shadow of the steaming caldera — a reminder of Patagonia's volcanic violence.
5. 5
   Pumalin Douglas Tompkins National Park Named for the North Face and Esprit founder who bought and preserved 750,000 acres of temperate rainforest. The park's alerce groves, fjords, and volcanic peaks represent private conservation on an epic scale.
6. 6
   Futaleufu River One of the world's premier whitewater rivers — Class IV and V rapids through a turquoise canyon. The river's impossibly blue color comes from glacial rock flour. Kayakers and rafters travel from around the world.
7. 7
   La Junta A tiny crossroads town and reliable fuel stop. The Carretera here passes through dense Valdivian temperate rainforest — a biome found only in southern Chile and New Zealand.
8. 8
   Queulat National Park — Hanging Glacier The Ventisquero Colgante — a hanging glacier suspended between two rock faces — calves chunks of ice into the milky lagoon below. One of the most dramatic sights along the entire Carretera.
9. 9
   Puyuhuapi — Hot Springs Lodge A German-settled village on a remote fjord. The Termas de Puyuhuapi hot springs are accessible only by boat. German-style kuchen pastries are sold alongside Chilean empanadas.
10. 10
    Coyhaique The regional capital of Aysen — the only real city along the Carretera. A crucial resupply point for fuel, cash, and provisions. The Reserva Nacional Coyhaique offers easy trails through lenga beech forest.
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    Cerro Castillo — Basalt Castle A fortress of basalt spires resembling a medieval castle. The trek to the base of Cerro Castillo reveals a turquoise glacial lake at the foot of the basalt towers.
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    Puerto Rio Tranquilo — Marble Caves Swirling blue marble caves carved by the turquoise waters of General Carrera Lake — the second-largest lake in South America. Boat tours enter the caves at water level.
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    General Carrera Lake — Southern Shore The lake straddles the Chile-Argentina border. Its extraordinary turquoise color comes from glacial sediment. The surrounding mountains are reflected in waters so clear the bottom is visible at 30 meters.
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    Cochrane — Baker River A cattle ranching town on the Baker River — Chile's most powerful river. The turquoise Baker is a paradise for fly fishing. Fuel here — the final stretch south has no services for long distances.
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    Caleta Tortel — Cypress Boardwalk Village A village built entirely on stilts and connected by cypress boardwalks — no streets, no cars. Houses cling to the steep fjord walls. Glaciers calve into the fjord from the Northern Patagonian Ice Field.
16. 16
    Villa O'Higgins — End of the Road The Carretera Austral ends at Chile's most remote town. Beyond here lies the Southern Patagonian Ice Field — the third-largest ice mass on Earth. The road simply stops at the edge of the wilderness.
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    O'Higgins Lake Chile's deepest lake at 836 meters. The O'Higgins Glacier calves icebergs into the lake's milky blue waters. From here, only boats and trails continue south toward Torres del Paine.
18. 18
    Glacier Chico Viewpoint A viewpoint over the Northern Patagonian Ice Field — 4,200 square kilometers of ice. Glacier Chico flows into General Carrera Lake. The ice has retreated kilometers in the past century.
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    Baker River Confluence Where the Baker and Nef rivers merge — one turquoise, one silty grey — the two colors run side by side without mixing for hundreds of meters. A striking natural phenomenon.
20. 20
    Puerto Bertrand A tiny village at the outlet of General Carrera Lake where the Baker River begins its journey to the sea. Fly fishing guides launch from here into some of the best trout waters in South America.

Tour content is for entertainment and general information only. Verify practical details independently. Not a substitute for official guidance.