Magic of the Austral Road, 12 days at the end of the world.

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Santiago de Chile

  

  Arrival of your international flight in the morning; time difference: 4 hours less in Chile during the austral summer, from late October to late March. Private transfer to the hotel, located in the historic center, a stone's throw from Cerro Santa Lucia and a 15-minute walk from the La Moneda Palace and the San Francisco Church. Free time to visit the heart of the capital. Meals at your leisure (not included).

• day 2

  Santiago/Balmaceda Flight - Austral Road - Puerto Río Tranquilo

  

  Transfer to the airport for the morning domestic flight (duration 2h30). Reception at Balmaceda airport, located in the middle of the pampa, 45 km from Coyhaique, the capital of the Aysen region founded in 1929. We take the southern Austral road: many stops and viewpoints. About 5h30 of driving, or 265 km. Beautiful views of Cerro Castillo (national reserve), the Rio Ibañez and the immense General Carrera Lake, the 2nd largest lake in South America, straddling Chile and Argentina (where it is called Buenos Aires). We leave the paved road for the track. Accommodation in a simple hotel in the village of Puerto Rio Tranquilo, on the edge of the lake. Meals are free (not included).

• day 3

  Puerto Rio Tranquilo – Puerto Bertrand

  

  In the morning, navigation (about 2h) on Lake General Carrera to visit the famous marble chapels, superb caves shaped by lake erosion, classified as a nature sanctuary. Beautiful range of colors: turquoise, gray-green, blue, yellow... An amazing geology! Back at the port, we follow a track northwest to the end, a dead end: the viewpoint over the Los Exploradores glacier. Walk. In the afternoon, road to Puerto Bertrand, about 2h on a track with stops. The southern road descends due south, parallel to the great Northern Ice Field, 3000 km² of glaciers, whose summit is Mount Saint Valentin peaking at 4058 m: it is also the highest peak in all of Patagonia, both Chilean and Argentine. Crossing the bridge where the turquoise waters of Lake General Carrera flow into Lake Bertrand. Accommodation in a beautiful lodge located in the forest 4 km from the village of Pto Bertrand, on the banks of the Baker River. Meals not included.

• day 4

  Puerto Bertrand - Caleta Tortel

  

  We follow the southern road due south towards Cochrane, about 2h of travel. On the way, walk to the confluence of the Baker River and the Neff River. The turquoise waters of the Baker, the most tumultuous river in Chile, mix with the milky green waters of the Neff River. The southern road then veers west, approaching the Pacific fjords, skirting the mountain range of los Ñadis. Little by little, the landscape becomes greener and more humid, with an alternation of dense forests and peat bogs. 2h30 of travel from Cochrane; in total, it is 172 km to reach Caleta Tortel, a village founded in 1955. Accommodation in cabaña or hostel. Meals not included.

• day 5

  Caleta Tortel

  

  In the morning, we cross the village via the walkways and stairs to reach the port of Caleta Tortel: about 2 hours of navigation towards the Island of the Dead, with strange lights on the waters of the Baker and the ocean that mix and, depending on the place, are transparent or a milky light green; the fjords and channels form a real labyrinth between the mountains that plunge steeply into them. The vegetation is dense, the air very humid. Walk on the Island of the Dead, among the large trees hosting ferns, vines, and mosses on their trunks. A mysterious place whose story the guide will tell you… Visit this small, atypical port at the end of the world, wedged between the Northern Ice Field and the Southern Ice Field, located on the edge of the tumultuous Río Baker and in the middle of fjords and other channels! The site is astonishing! No streets, just wooden walkways and stairs: 8 km of walks and bridges between the seashore and the steep hills where the small houses are staggered. In the afternoon, a 2.5 km hike to climb to Cerro Vigia and discover a 360º panoramic view of the mountains, the fishing cove, the Baker delta, the islands, and channels. Night in Tortel, same accommodation, meals not included. Another option, as an extra: a navigation to the Jorge Montt glacier.

• day 6

  Caleta Tortel – Villa O'Higgins, right at the end of the AUSTRAL ROAD!

  

  Beautiful journey from Tortel, including 2 land transfers and the ferry crossing of the Mitchell fjord in 40 minutes of navigation. In total, it is 155 km. Accommodation in a cabaña in Villa O’Higgins, at the very end of the Carretera Austral, which is 1240 km long, the end of the end of the world! This small village is located on the shore of Lake O'Higgins, very close to the glaciers and Argentina. Meals not included.

• day 7

  Villa O'Higgins – O'Higgins Glacier

  

  Route to the bay of Puerto Bahamondez, 7 km away; a great and beautiful day of sailing awaits you! 2h45 on Lake O’Higgins, one of the deepest in America (836 m!) to reach Puerto Candelario Mancilla. From there, excursion to the O’Higgins glacier, 3 km wide and 70 m high! It is part of the Southern Ice Field, 13,000 km² straddling both countries, a remnant of the ancient ice cap that covered all of Patagonia more than 10,000 years ago. It is 2 hours of sailing one way to reach the foot of this giant, among the icebergs calving from its side. 1 hour on site, then 2 hours of sailing back to Candelario, arriving around 5 p.m. From there, return by land to Villa O’Higgins. Same accommodation. Meals not included.

• day 8

  Villa O'Higgins – Cochrane

  

  We will take the southern road north again, beginning the return journey. Other lights, other views, different from the way there… waterfalls, snow-capped peaks... The landscape and the climate are always changing: 4 seasons in one day, that's Patagonia! 237 km to Cochrane, 3,000 inhabitants, the most important town in the region, offering all services. Accommodation in a cabaña (fully equipped bungalow) or in a hostel, meals not included.

• day 9

  Cochrane - Puerto Guadal

  

  Self-guided hike in the Tamango National Reserve, which is now part of the new Patagonia National Park. This park is the habitat of one of the only deer species in Chile, the huemul, endangered due to the disappearance of its habitat. The peaks of Tamango and Tamanguito dominate the area, at 1,722 m and 1,485 m in altitude. In the afternoon, drive to Pto Guadal, 75 km. Stops along the way. Accommodation in a beautiful lodge, very close to the village, on the southwest shore of Lake General Carrera and facing Mount St Valentin! Meals are free (not included).

• day 10

  Puerto Guadal – Coyhaique

  

  Following the lake to enjoy more beautiful panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks of the Northern Ice Field, we continue north along the southern road to reach the capital of this Aysén region, Coyhaique, located in the middle of the pampa on a plateau at 500 m altitude. 277 km, 5h30 of travel, the track becomes a paved road. Overnight in a hotel in Coyhaique. Meals are free (not included).

• day 11

  Coyhaique – Flight Balmaceda / Santiago

  

  Depending on the time of the domestic flight, free time in the city or the possibility to visit the surrounding lakes or the local forest reserve… Transfer by regular shared service to Balmaceda airport, 1 hour drive. Domestic flight (2h30) to Santiago. Transfer to the same hotel as on arrival. Meals at leisure (not included).

• day 12

  Santiago - International flight

  

  Free time in the capital. Private transfer to the airport for your international flight or a domestic flight to continue your visit to CHILE.