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Published: 17-11-2022
Traveling the Carretera Austral or Route 7 in Patagonia is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. One of the most dynamic and epic road trips in South America, if not the world, is the Carretera Austral Chile, in Chile´s southern Patagonian region. If you’ve always longed to experience the vast landscapes, glacial fields and mountains of Patagonia, this legendary road in Chile offers incredible scenery, a unique ecosystem, and a thrilling feeling of being in the wilderness. If you want to go off the beaten track, discover new places, do wild hikes and meet wonderful people, the Carretera Austral route is the perfect activity for you in Chile.
Carretera Austral
Where does the Carretera Austral start and end?
The Carretera Austral starts in Puerto Montt, a beautiful town in the Lake District in southern Chile. From Puerto Montt, and ends in Villa O’Higgins, a small town in the Aysen Region of Chilean Patagonia. The Northern route will take you as far as Balmaceda along the northern section of the Carretera, taking in all the impressive natural sights along the way!
Osorno Volcano
How long does it take to drive the Carretera Austral?
It depends on how many stops you want to make on your road trip and how long you want to stay in each place. We recommend having at least 1 week to drive the Carretera Austral. It gives your time to see the highlights of the region, do a couple of day hikes, and enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of Chilean Patagonia. Spending 2 weeks driving the Carretera Austral would be perfect. In fact, the more time you have the better, as there are so many amazing places to visit that you could easily spend a month or two in the region!
River View from The Carretera Austral
Is the Carretera Austral paved?
The Carretera Austral is largely a paved road, however, due to difficult and rocky terrain, narrow fjords, mountains, rivers, and lakes it takes a lot of time to pave the road, and there are sections that are often in need of attention. Add these to the unpredictable Patagonian weather; snow in winter, strong wind and rainfalls in summer, and its isolation, all add to the spirit of adventure along the Austral highway. Ruta 7 can be divided into two parts. The northern part from Puerto Montt to Coihaique 660 km/410 mi is paved with a bit of gravel road here and there. The southern part from Coihaique to Villa O’Higgins 580 km/360 mi is still mostly gravel road. It’s planned to complete paving the Carretera Austral in the next years. Some parts between the towns have already been paved. When planning your trip keep it in mind for obvious reasons it is much faster to travel on paved roads than on gravel.
Carretera Austral, Aisen
The Carretera Austral is an unspoiled and incredibly beautiful region. There are many outdoor activities to do here like hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, cycling, etc. It’s a real paradise for nature lovers, and the long driving times are made all the more interesting for the impressive activities all along the route. There are many amazing day hikes in Patagonia; the majority of them don’t require special permits or guides. Despite being a wild region there are no dangerous animals like bears or wolves to be worried about. There are pumas living in the area but they’re very shy and try to stay away from people. Traveling the Carretera Austral is a lifetime experience for those looking to travel independently and with a spirit of adventure.
Rafting the Futaleufu River
When is the best time to travel The Carretera Austral Route?
The spring/summer months of November to March are the best time to travel the Carretera Austral. Average daily temperatures reach 20°C. At night it goes down to 15°C. It’s warm and sunny, the days are long, and all tourist facilities are open. Patagonian weather is very unpredictable even in the peak summer season you can get days with heavy rainfalls and heil. The wind is something to consider as well. December and January are the windiest months of the year. Even if it’s warm and sunny it can be very windy. It’s not a big problem if you travel by car or buy and stay indoors. If you cycle and camp you might have to adjust your plans according to the wind forecast. January and February are the busiest months on the Carretera Austral it’s summer holiday time in Chile and Argentina. If you decide to visit during that period it’s highly recommended to book accommodation and activities with us, way in advance. If you’re planning to visit Torres del Paine and hike the famous W trek November to March is the best time to visit the park.
Chaiten Volcano Erupting
Car Rental
Renting a car is the most comfortable and free way to travel the Carretera Austral Route. The Va Expeditions 8-day trip includes set destinations and takes care of your hotel bookings along the way, which is of a bed and breakfast style service, in standard 3-star accommodation. The 8-day journey along the Carretera Austral route begins in Puerto Montt and finishes in Balmaceda, where there is an international Airport. You can carry on along the Carretera Austral Route as long as you wish, just ask our Travel Designer for details. Along the way, there are impressive stop-offs including the Petrohue falls, Osorno volcano, Chaiten volcano, Tronador Lagoon, Laguna Espejo, Futaleufu, Puyuhuapi, Queulat National Park, The hanging glacier, Puerto Chacabuco, the San Rafael Glacier, and the Marble Caves, amongst many other spectacular sights.
Stopping for a Photo
If you like an element of independence and freedom on a tour of Patagonia, then this 8-day adventure along the Carretera Austral route could be your slice of paradise in Chilean Patagonia. Find out more here, if you are interested in driving the Carretera Austral route with Va expeditions!
Marble Caves
