3-week Carretera Austral trip, Chile

21 days – from €5,450 per person

driving - active - nature

• Go kayaking on Lake Llanquihue in the Meren District
• Drive along one of the most beautiful routes in the world
• Stop off for walks in primeval forests
• Take Ruta 40 to Bariloche in Argentina
• Enjoy panoramic views of high Andean passes

Day 3 | Santiago – Puerto Montt – Puerto Varas

After breakfast, you’ll be taken to Santiago Airport, where you’ll board your domestic flight to Puerto Montt. Here, you’ll be met by one of our local staff, and together you’ll collect your rental car. Once you have the rental car, it’s just under an hour’s drive to your hotel in Puerto Varas (approx. 35 km). Puerto Varas is a small town, beautifully situated on the southern shore of Lake Llanquihue. You’ll be staying at the Casa Molino hotel, a beautiful country house surrounded by nature. Casa Molino has a spacious garden and from the hotel you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the perfectly pyramid-shaped crater of the Osorno volcano.
Overnight stay: Hotel Casa Molino | bed and breakfast

Day 4 | Puerto Varas

Today you can explore the beautiful surroundings of Puerto Varas. Travelling along the eastern shore of the lake, you can easily reach Lake Todos los Santos, situated at the foot of the Osorno volcano. Be sure to visit the rugged Petrohue Waterfalls, situated in the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, which is renowned for its lush flora and abundant fauna. The waterfalls, with the Osorno volcano in the background, will give you a moment to reflect on all the stunning natural beauty that Chile has to offer.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Molino | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Puerto Varas – Caleta Gonzalo

(approx. 240 km | 9 hours’ driving and sailing)
A long day’s journey that takes you alternately by road and by water. Definitely worth it. First, you’ll drive towards Puerto Montt, after which you’ll continue on to Caleta Gonzalo. You’ll follow the route along Lake Llanquihue, heading south. When you arrive at the village of Hornopiren, you’ll board the first ferry, travelling past the Cholco Canal and the stunning Comau Fjord. This crossing takes about 4 hours, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the surrounding area. Once ashore, you’ll drive on and then board the final ferry, which will take you to Caleta Gonzalo. You will spend the night at the Cabañas Caleta Gonzalo hotel. This is a small-scale accommodation in a beautiful location on the Reñihué Fjord in the Pumalín Nature Reserve.
Accommodation: Cabañas Caleta Gonzalo | bed and breakfast

Day 6 | Caleta Gonzalo

Today you’ll have time to explore the area around Caleta Gonzalo. Pop along to the small organic farm where they grow the vegetables used in their own kitchen. You can reach the farm via the suspension footbridge from the accommodation grounds. You can also follow various walking routes through the nature reserve, which take you through the rainforest and past several viewpoints.
Accommodation: Cabañas Caleta Gonzalo | bed and breakfast

Day 7 | Caleta Gonzalo – Futaleufú

(approx. 220 km | 5-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive a little further south to Futaleufú. This charming little town is beautifully situated amidst lush green surroundings on the banks of the River Espolón. There are some lovely walks to enjoy in the area. You’ll be staying at the El Barranco Hotel. For a fee, this hotel offers various activities, such as fly fishing and horse riding.
Overnight stay: Hotel El Barranco | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Futaleufú

A day off is planned; enjoy the lush green surroundings with their many rivers and stunning views where you are staying. The town of Futaleufú is named after the nearby Futaleufú River, and in Mapundung (the language of the Mapuche) this means ‘big river’. The area is mountainous and green, and the rivers are considered to be among the best for rafting in the world. A lovely area for a good walk. From your accommodation, you can go on various walks along the southern bank of the ‘Futa’, past a gorge where you can admire the white-water sections and rapids.
Accommodation: Hotel El Barranco | bed and breakfast

Day 9 | Futaleufú – La Junta

(approx. 150 km | 4-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive along a stunning route to La Junta. La Junta is situated in a spectacular location in the heart of the Aysén region and is the perfect base from which to explore the unspoilt nature, particularly the forests, that surround this village.
Accommodation: Hotel Espacio y Tiempo | bed and breakfast

Day 10 | La Junta

You have the day free to spend as you wish. Here in La Junta, you’ll be able to witness the rich wildlife. In this area, you’ll find hummingbirds, condors and other bird species found nowhere else in the world. With a bit of luck, you might come across Huasos (traditional Chilean cowboys) tending their cattle. As well as its rich wildlife, this place is also renowned for its stunning natural beauty. Go for walks along the river or through the woods, or choose one of the activities available in the area, such as fishing, kayaking, mountain biking or horse riding.
Accommodation: Hotel Espacio y Tiempo | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | La Junta – Coyhaique

(approx. 280 km | 6-hour drive)
From La Junta, you’ll drive to Coyhaique. The first part of the journey takes you through Quelat National Park, where the road winds its way through a dense and unspoilt forest. The final section of the route runs through a wide valley. As you approach Coyhaique, the landscape becomes drier and more open.
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Patagonia House | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Coyhaique

This day is free to spend as you wish. Coyhaique (which means ‘camp between the rivers’) offers some of the most beautiful scenery in Patagonia, surrounded by the Simpson and Coihaique rivers and snow-capped mountains. The town itself serves as a regional shopping centre and features, amongst other things, a museum. Enjoy the stunning surroundings!
Accommodation: Hotel Boutique Patagonia House | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | Coyhaique – Puerto Guadal

(approx. 280 km | 7-hour drive)
You’ll continue your journey from Coyhaique to Puerto Guadal. Without stopping, you could cover this route in about 4 hours, but there’s so much to see along the way that it’s almost impossible to drive straight through. The first section of the route is tarmac and leads through Cerro Castillo National Park. You then drive on to Puerto Tranquillo. Along the main road, you’ll still see clear traces of the 1991 eruption of the Hudson volcano. From Puerto Tranquillo, you’ll continue to your lodge on the shores of Lake General Carrera.
Overnight stay: Mallin Colorado Ecolodge | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Puerto Guadal

Today you can enjoy the spectacular surroundings of Lake General Carrera. It is the deepest lake in South America and is teeming with trout and salmon. The lake lies on the border with Argentina and comprises both an Argentine and a Chilean section. The Argentines call the lake ‘Buenos Aires’. The lake is of glacial origin and is surrounded by the Andes mountains. You’ll get a very good impression of the immediate surroundings, an area with stunning viewpoints over the lake, and on sunny days you can even see the northern ice field. You can set out to explore the beautiful surroundings. The surrounding area features unspoilt forests with unique tree species such as coigues, nirres and lengas. We highly recommend taking a boat trip to the Catedral de Marmol, or the marble caves, a wonder of nature.
Accommodation: Mallin Colorado Ecolodge | bed and breakfast

Photo: Tim de Groot©

Day 15 | Puerto Guadal – Esquel

(approx. 730 km | 10-hour drive)
Today you’ll say goodbye to Lake General Carrera and travel on to the town of Esquel. This involves crossing into Argentina. You’ll drive through the Argentine pampas and along Ruta 40 to your next destination, Esquel. The town where you’ll be staying is known for its sheep farming.
Overnight stay: Las Bayas | bed and breakfast

Day 16 | Esquel – Bariloche

(approx. 300 km | 4-hour drive)
You’ll continue northwards along Ruta 40 to Bariloche. Snow-capped mountain peaks, deep-blue lakes, crystal-clear rivers and vast, dense forests. These are just some of the elements that make the Argentine Lake District such a wonderful destination. As well as the fairytale-like Lake Nahuel Huapi, this area is home to countless other spots of unparalleled, idyllic beauty.
Accommodation: Design Suites Bariloche | bed and breakfast

Day 17 | Bariloche

Bariloche, whose full name is San Carlos de Bariloche, is the capital of the lake district. You can set off by car to explore this beautiful area; there is more than enough to do in the surrounding region. For example, go for a relaxing kayak trip on one of the tranquil mountain lakes or take a boat trip to one of the islands for lovely walks. For the more active, there are also opportunities for horse riding or mountain biking along Lake Nahuel Huapi. You’ll find peace and quiet mainly outside Bariloche, but if you do choose to visit Bariloche itself, the highly acclaimed Patagonia Museum or one of the many restaurants serving cheese, meat or chocolate fondue are great options.
Accommodation: Design Suites Bariloche | bed and breakfast

Day 18 | Bariloche – Puerto Varas

(approx. 320 km | 5-hour drive)
Today you’ll drive back to Puerto Varas. The first part of the journey takes you along the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi towards Villa la Angostura. You will then cross the border back into Chile and drive the final stretch alongside Lake Llanquihue. Along the way, you’ll enjoy stunning views of the Osorno volcano.
Overnight stay: Hotel Casa Molino | bed and breakfast

Day 19 | Puerto Varas – Puerto Montt – Santiago

Today, you’ll drive the final stretch in your rental car to Puerto Montt Airport (approx. 30 km | 30-minute drive). On arrival at the airport, you’ll return the rental car and board your domestic flight to Santiago. You’ll be transferred from the airport to your hotel, and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure.
Overnight stay: Cumbres Lastarria | bed and breakfast

Day 20 | Santiago – Amsterdam

Unfortunately, your trip through Chile and Argentina has come to an end. After breakfast, you will be taken to the airport to board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam.

Day 21 | Amsterdam

You’ll be arriving in Amsterdam today.