Carretera Austral — Chile's SouthernHighway.
Distance
620 km
Duration
3 days
Climb
5,800 m
Carretera Austral — Chile's Southern Highway.
Chile's Carretera Austral (Route 7) is one of the world's greatest adventure motorcycle roads — 1,200km of mostly unpaved highway through Chilean Patagonia, built by Pinochet's military in the 1970s. This 3-day highlights run covers the northern section from Puerto Montt to Coyhaique, passing fjords, hanging glaciers, ancient Alerce forests, and the permanently erupting Chaitén Volcano.
Quick facts
SurfaceMixed
Distance620 km
Days3
Total climb5,800 m
Fuel stops1 along route
DifficultyChallenging
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3 days, 3 moods.
A suggested split across 3 days with 11 waypoints to discover along the way.
Puerto MonttStart · Start in Puerto Montt. Take the Caleta La Arena–Caleta Puelche ferry (30 min) to begin the Carretera. Check ferry schedule the night before.
Caleta La Arena Ferry CrossingFerry · Short ferry across the Reloncaví estuary. Required to access the Carretera Austral.
Cochamo ValleyScenic Point · Granite walls rising 2,000m from the valley floor. Chile's Yosemite. Gravel track leads to world-class climbing.
ChaiténOvernight · Overnight in Chaitén, rebuilt after the 2008 volcano eruption buried much of the town under ash. The volcano still smokes.
Lago YelchoPhoto Spot · The road follows this stunning turquoise lake through dense Valdivian rainforest.
La JuntaScenic Point · Carved from the forest in the 1980s. Small but perfectly serviceable for fuel and lunch.
Puyuhuapi Hanging GlacierPhoto Spot · The Queulat Hanging Glacier overhangs a cliff face in a fjord — one of the most dramatic sights on the Carretera.
PuyuhuapiOvernight · Overnight in Puyuhuapi. German-founded village on the fjord. Hot springs at Termas de Puyuhuapi across the water.
Cisnes ValleyScenic Point · The road climbs to the high pampa — open steppes after days in rainforest. The contrast is stark.
Villa MañihualesFuel Stop · Fuel here. Last reliable station before Coyhaique.
CoyhaiqueEnd · End in Coyhaique, the largest city on the Carretera. Well-equipped for repairs and rest. Excellent lamb asado.
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