Carretera Austral Final Stretch — Coyhaique to VillaO'Higgins.

Distance

620 km

Duration

3 days

Climb

4,500 m

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Carretera Austral Final Stretch — Coyhaique to Villa O'Higgins.

The southern half of Chile's legendary Carretera Austral — 620km from Coyhaique to the literal end of the road at Villa O'Higgins. Three days of mostly gravel through Cerro Castillo's basalt spires, past the turquoise marble caves of Lago General Carrera, over the milky Baker River to the cypress-boardwalk village of Caleta Tortel, then across the free Mitchell Fjord ferry to the loneliest 100km in Chile. Beyond Villa O'Higgins there is no road south — only boats, glaciers, and a footpath into Argentina.

Quick facts

SurfaceMixed

Distance620 km

Days3

Total climb4,500 m

Fuel stops1 along route

DifficultyExpert

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Day-by-day

3 days, 3 moods.

A suggested split across 3 days with 12 waypoints to discover along the way.

DAY 01

Coyhaique → Cochrane

4 stops

CoyhaiqueStart · Start in Coyhaique — only sizeable city on the Carretera Austral. Last reliable bike repair shop and ATM. Fuel up; services thin out fast south of here.

Cerro Castillo National ParkScenic Point · The road climbs into the dramatic basalt spires of the Castillo range. Andean condors regularly soar overhead. Park visitor centre at the south entrance.

Puerto Río TranquiloPhoto Spot · Lakeside village on Lago General Carrera. Boat tours to the Marble Caves leave hourly — 90 minutes among bizarre wave-carved marble columns. Worth the stop.

CochraneOvernight · Overnight in Cochrane — last town with reliable services for 200km south. Stock fuel and food. Hospital available. Dinner at one of two main restaurants.

DAY 02

Cochrane Out → Caleta Tortel Lodge

4 stops

Cochrane OutFuel Stop · Top up fuel before leaving Cochrane. Next reliable petrol is in Villa O'Higgins (200km + a ferry away). Carry a 5L jerry can if your tank is small.

More routes in Chile

Torres del Paine Circuit — Puerto Natales LoopCL · 350 km Lauca National Park — Arica to Lago ChungaráCL · 220 km Chiloé Island Circuit — Chacao to QuellónCL · 230 km Paso de Jama — San Pedro de Atacama to the AltiplanoCL · 165 km Valle del Elqui — Pisco, Stars & Andean FoothillsCL · 200 km Pucón Volcano Loop — Lago Caburgua & Termas GeométricasCL · 190 km

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DAY 03

Puerto Yungay Ferry Terminal → Villa O'Higgins

4 stops

Puerto Yungay Ferry TerminalFerry · Free 35-minute Mitchell Fjord ferry. Departures at 10:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00 in summer. Wind can cancel sailings — have a Plan B and arrive 30 min early.

Río Bravo South BankScenic Point · Disembark on the south shore. The final 100km is the loneliest stretch of the entire Carretera. Almost no traffic and no services until Villa O'Higgins.

Lago Cisnes ViewpointPhoto Spot · Glacier-fed lake along the southern stretch. Pavement gives way to graded gravel through dense Patagonian rainforest. River fords possible in spring melt.

Villa O'HigginsEnd · End at Villa O'Higgins — literal end of the Carretera Austral. Population 600. Argentina is reachable only by boat across Lago O'Higgins and a footpath. Beer earned.